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Founders Half Marathon

Founders Half Marathon is a running race on December 13, 2026 in Potomac, MD, with an entry fee of $10.

Date
December 13, 2026 (159 days to go)
Price
$10
Sport
Running
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From the Organizer

The lowest-priced half-marathon in America! Still a full 13.1 miles and full-service on quality and support!

This is race #2 of the DCRR Snowball Series. In past years, it's been the Gar Williams Half Marathon; now it honors all the Club's founders. 

Course: Out-and-back along C&O Canal Towpath. Previously-USATF certified course, click here for map. We intend to recertify the course before race day, subject to completion of construction in the vicinity of Canal Lock 5. We'll make sure the course is accurately measured to account for the slightly-different path through the construction site if they're still digging. 

Water Stops: There will be two water stops: one at Lock 10 and one at Lock 6. These locations correspond to approximately mile 3, 5, 8, and 10 of the race. You will run by each water stop twice.

Registration: Online registration only.

Timing and Results: Timing and results will be compiled on a real-time basis and friends and family will be able to track runners throughout the race via social media.

We will provide a link for live results in our final instructions to runners..

Fees: Online advance registration through 24 hours before the race (9:00 AM on 12/12). After that, late registration will be open until the moment the race begins, at a slightly higher price.
¶ Advance registration: $0 for DCRRC members, $10 for non-members.
¶ Late registration: $5 for DCRRC members, $15 for non-members.

Refund policy for Snowball Series: In the event the race is canceled, pre-paid non-members will receive a credit to be applied to a future Snowball Series race.

Location: Carderock Recreation Area (not Park), Carderock, MD. 

Raceday Timeline:
7:30 Packet Pickup opens
9:00 Race Start
11:00 Awards
12:00 Course Closes

Amenities and extras: We will have a great breakfast spread post race, including bagels, cream cheese, Nutella, PB&J, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, Gatorade, bananas, and more.  

T-shirts and Medals: Come on people, it's a $10 race... No, there are no t-shirts or medals. 

Directions: Take the Capital Beltway (I-495), to the Clara Barton Parkway headed west, outside the beltway.  Make a right on the first exit which is for both Carderock and the Naval Surface Warfare Center (Carderock Division). Turn left at the stop sign at the top of the ramp to cross the parkway. After passing under the canal, turn right and proceed to the last parking lot. If it's full, park in one of the other lots and walk back to our registration area. 

Volunteers: We need many volunteers to help coordinate the race events. Please "pay it forward" by helping if you're not running, or have a friend or relative volunteer. Remember, this counts as your Snowball Series volunteer requirement.

Events

Half Marathon13.1 mi$10

Weather

Typical Conditions

It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.

Typical High

46°

Typical Low

31°

Chance of Rain

32%

Based on US Climate Normals data from Rockville 1 Ne, 3 mi from the venue.

Sunrise 7:19 AMSunset 4:46 PMDaylight 9h 27m

Host City

About Potomac, MD

City Elevation

445 ft

Nearest Airport

IAD

Washington Dulles International Airport · 17 mi

Time Zone

Eastern Time

From Endurance Grid

Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.

Race Location

Approximate location — pin shows the host city, not the exact venue.

Your Next Start Line

What Are You
Waiting For?

Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Founders Half Marathon, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.

159

Days to train

Race
Founders Half Marathon
Date
December 13, 2026

Plan your trip

Make it a Racecation

Coming from out of town? There's more to Potomac than race day. We'll help you line up nearby lodging, flights, a rental car, and things to do so you can make the most of your racecation.

Plan your trip to Potomac
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From Endurance Grid

About This Sport

Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.

With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.

Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.

Read the Guide

Running

From 5K to marathon, running races are an accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Founders Half Marathon?+
Founders Half Marathon is a running race held in Potomac, Maryland on December 13, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more running races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
When and where is the Founders Half Marathon?+
Sunday, December 13, 2026 in Potomac, Maryland at North Parking for Carderock Cliffs. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
How do I register for the Founders Half Marathon?+
Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.

Founders Half Marathon

Dec 13, 2026

Register →