NCR Marathon & Half Marathon
- Date
- November 28, 2026
- Distance
- NCR Marathon · NCR Half Marathon
From the Organizer
Welcome to the 37th running of the NCR Marathon presented by the Baltimore Road Runners Club.
The 2026 NCR Trail Marathon & Half will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2026
NEW FOR 2026: $1- price increase across the board! Running is already expensive enough with carbon shoes & the cost of travel IN 2026.
We get it, so we've made the 2026 registration just a $1- increase from 2025.
The NCR Marathon is Baltimore’s oldest continuously running USATF certified marathon held annually on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.
BRRC also presented the historic Maryland Marathon dating back to 1973 before moving to the Northern Central Railroad Trail in 1990.
The Northern Central Railroad Trail, officially known as the Torrey C. Brown Trail, covers nearly 20 miles in Maryland, stretching from Hunt Valley to the Mason-Dixon Line. The out and back marathon course offers a scenic wooded run on a crushed gravel and dirt trail alongside the waters of Big Gunpowder Falls—an idyllic setting to cruise 26.2 miles.
During the first few years, the race originated at the Old Sparks Elementary School. After fire destroyed this historic school, the marathon start and finish moved to mile four on the trail before relocating up the hill to the new Sparks Elementary School.
In 2003, the marathon relay was introduced. For the 25th anniversary, an 8K event was added to the marathon and marathon relay. In 2017, the marathon course was re-certified and its start moved to the beautiful Oldfields School campus, our host site since.
A lot has changed over the years, but one thing that has stayed the same: this is a runner’s race. And, as runners we take pride in continuing to make the NCR Marathon and Half Marathon a first-class event.
This is a FAST course and a great fall Boston Qualifier.
Race finishers receive a large blanket. This isn't your average beach blanket: this will be the most coveted piece in your home. Warm & soft, even your fur babies will lay claim to this piece once it's in your home. You will receive your finishers blanket after crossing the finish line.
You must present your race bib to receive your blanket.
Every participant will receive a NCR hoody (unisex sizing) at packet pickup.
Additional information (including parking, packet pickup, etc) can be found on our website, brrc.com
Events
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
49°
Typical Low
33°
Chance of Rain
35%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Millers 4 Ne, 13 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Sparks Glencoe, MD
Elevation
419 ft
Nearest Airport
BWI
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport · 26 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at NCR Marathon & Half Marathon, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
173
Days to train
- Race
- NCR Marathon & Half Marathon
- Date
- November 28, 2026
Coming Up
More Running races near Sparks Glencoe, MD
SocaRobics® Runners Forrest Gump Fun Run
10 miles away
BRRC Women's Distance Festival
8 miles away
Tom LaMonica Memorial 5K Trail Run
5K
7 miles away
Shootout for Soldiers Baltimore
Less than a mile away
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.
The half marathon is the distance where you find out what you're actually made of. Long enough to demand real preparation. Short enough that it doesn't consume your life to train for it. Most people who run their first half describe it as the race that changed their relationship with what they're capable of. Once you cross this finish line, the bar moves. That's not a warning — that's the point.
Race day energy varies by event size, but the finish line feeling is the same regardless. Big races keep the noise going the whole way. Smaller races give you stretches where it's just you and the miles — and that solitude becomes its own kind of fuel.
The half marathon rewards people who show up for the boring training miles.
How long to train: 10–14 weeks. If you're already running consistently, 10 weeks of structured buildup is enough. If you're building from a casual base, give yourself 14.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most 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 NCR Marathon & Half Marathon?
- NCR Marathon & Half Marathon is a running race held in Sparks Glencoe, Maryland on November 28, 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 NCR Marathon & Half Marathon?
- Saturday, November 28, 2026 in Sparks Glencoe, Maryland at 1500 Glencoe Rd, Sparks Glencoe, MD. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the NCR Marathon & Half Marathon?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
NCR Marathon & Half Marathon
Nov 28, 2026