2022 Chasing the Unicorn Marathon & Alternative Half Marathon

We are back, and this may just be the last year for Chasing the Unicorn Marathon, a race we added on to our THE ALTERNATIVE HALF MARATHON at a time after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, as a last chance opportunity for people to BQ!

We expect THE ALTERNATIVE HALF MARATHON to endure after this year.

According to FindMyMarathon.com: 

The Chasing the Unicorn Marathon was the 135th largest marathon in the U.S. IN 2020 and was the 470th largest in 2019.

In 2020 51.5% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 27.6% of runners qualified for Boston in 2019.

This gives the Chasing the Unicorn Marathon the 3rd highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in the U.S. in 2020 and the 19th highest percentage in 2019.

SHIRTS AT PACKET PICK-UP DEADLINE IS AUGUST 14, 2022. REGISTER AFTER AND YOU MAY HAVE TO WAIT TO HAVE YOUR SINGLET MAILED TO YOU AFTER A SECOND PRODUCTION RUN.

CHASING THE UNICORN MARATHON

was created as a last chance for runners to qualify for the Boston Marathon or improve their current seed times.

We ask that participants expect to be within ten minutes of their BQ times.

THE CHASING THE UNICORN MARATHON COURSE TIME LIMIT IS 5 HOURS 10 MINUTES

The Chasing the Unicorn Marathon is a double out-and-back course and runs concurrently with

The Alternative Half Marathon

Course: from Washington Crossing Historic Park along the Delaware Canal towpath (Delaware Canal State Park) to the south end of New Hope Pennsylvania and back. Course is concurrent with the Chasing the Unicorn Marathon, we ask that slower participants in the half marathon stay in single file and allow faster runners on their second lap of the Marathon to pass. 

IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR BQ QUALIFIERS IN THE CHASING THE UNICORN MARATHON

THE TIME LIMIT FOR THE ALTERNATIVE HALF MARATHON WILL BE 3hrs15min

RACES START AT 7:30AM. DON'T ASK FOR EARLY START TIMES. There are reasons we start at the time we do. Also remember that this marathon is designed for people who are close to, and still need a BQ time. This is NOT the race to come run your first marathon, if you just hope to finish

We will update Pick-Up procedures and the PASTA PARTY and meet-and-greet with Frank Shorter as the race gets closer.

To reduce touchpoints, we anticipate using the RunningWater hands free filling station for water, with fewer volunteers.

Please consider carrying your own hydration, with refill locations along the course...

SATURDAY PACKET PICK-UP WILL BE AVAILABLE THIS YEAR. LOCATION: TBA

As the planning for the 2022 are still a bit dynamic, please consult last year's Runners Guide, located for download in the tabs to your left.

THERE ARE PARTS OF THE COURSE WE ASK YOU TO TAKE YOUR EARPHONES OUT For your safety and the safety of all park users, and taking them out let's volunteers know you can hear them and the potential hazards 

WE DON'T OFFER DISCOUNT CODES. We like to offer everyone the lowest prices we can. The earlier you register the more you save. Let's face it those other races are artificially inflating their fees so they can track where you found out about their event, and that data is often flawed.

THERE ARE NO REFUNDS or TRANSFERS. FOR DEFERRAL INFORMATION SEE runBUCKS.com policy page.

Packet Pick-Up info TBD

PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE 2022 RUNNERS GUIDE for now! IT WILL ANSWER LOCATION and COURSE , WHERE TO PARK AND WHERE NOT TO PARK!

DOWNLOAD IT HERE: https://runsignup.com/Race/2018ChasingtheUnicornAlternativeHalfMarathon/Page/RunnersGuide

DEADLINE FOR CRACKEDBELL SINGLET IS AUGUST 14, 2022 

PARTNER HOTEL: CURRENTLY THERE IS A TON OF WEDDING PLANNING "BLOCKING" ROOMS. WE WILL GET YOU ROOM INFO AS IT COMES TO US