
Founders Half Marathon is a running race on December 13, 2026 in Potomac, MD, with an entry fee of $10.
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
Weather
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.
Host City
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
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.
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Days to train
Plan your trip
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 PotomacComing Up
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From Endurance Grid
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.
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)
Founders Half Marathon
Dec 13, 2026