RUNNING THE RACE
RACE START
The DC Half Marathon start is 7:00 AM. Plan to be in the start corral area and ready to run by no later than 6:45 AM. Self-seeding, placing yourself in the start area by your predicted pace per mile, will ensure that all runners can confidently begin their race. Pace teams will be visible at benchmark times within the runner field for reference. Any final announcements and our National Anthem will be presented. The start line will have a hard close at 7:15 AM. Any runners who do not cross the start line by then will not be able to receive a finish time for their race.
The 5K start time is promptly at 7:40 AM. The 5K start line will close at 7:45 AM. Any runners who do not cross the start mat by then will not be able to receive a finish time for their race. Plan to be in the start corral area and ready to run by no later than 7:30 AM. Self-seeding, placing yourself in the start area by your predicted pacer per mile, will ensure that all runners can confidently begin their race.
BAG DROP
Bag drop will be located near the start/finish line at West Potomac Park. You will be able to use your CLEAR provided Tee Shirt bag for this or ask for a bag at packet pickup. (Only clear bags will be allowed to be left in Bag Drop please!) Bags must be collected post-race by 11:00am.
RESTROOMS
Restrooms will be available near the start/finish line. Restrooms will also be on course at all aid stations.
AID STATIONS
All aid stations will provide water. Aid stations 2, 3, 4 and 5 will also provide electrolytes.
POST-RACE
Pre-packaged post race refreshments and water will be available at the finish line. Please make your way through the finish area once you have collected your medal and refreshments. You will NOT be allowed to wait at the finish line for family/friends. Please plan to meet outside of the finish line area in West Potomac Park.
PACE TEAMS
The DC Half Marathon will have 13 pace teams comprised of two members each for each pace per mile time. The pacers will be wearing special identified singlets and you can run with any pacer. Each pacer will also run while holding a pace stick sign overhead indicating their specific planned pace time.
If you want to run with a pace group, there is no need to sign up or declare in advance. Just select the pace per mile that you want to maintain from the following: 1:30; 1:35; 1:40; 1:45; 1:50; 1:55; 2:00; 2:10; 2:20; 2:30; 2:45; 3:00; 3:15
On race morning look for that team’s pace signs in the start corrals and line up to start your race with the group!
TIME LIMITS
The Half Marathon course cutoff is based on a 15 minute per mile pace. This roughly equates to a 3:30 half marathon. Depending on where in the race you fall behind, there may be options to be moved up on the course or finish with a slower average pace.
DOGS AND STROLLERS
Unfortunately, due to the size of the event, we no longer allow dogs or strollers on course. Dogs and strollers are allowed as spectators as well as in the post-race festival area. Dogs must be up to date on vaccines, well behaved around other people, and kept on a leash at all times.
Service dogs are exempt from this policy. However, if you plan to run with a service dog, please notify us ahead of time by emailing events@runpacers.com so we can best accommodate you.
