B&A Trail Marathon and Half Marathon

The course will run approximately two miles on residential streets with the remainder on the B&A Trail; an asphalt rails-to-trails bike and running path.  There is only one significant hill on the course for both the half-marathon and the marathon.  The marathon course and the half-marathon course are each USATF certified (the marathon course is a Boston qualifier). We will make an effort to have volunteers act as course monitors/traffic controllers at turns and places where the B&A Trail intersects at grade with local roads. Although the B&A Trail is closed to automobile traffic, it is open to walkers, bikers, and other runners so we ask that you stay alert and courteous.

USATF Course Certification: MD23001LM (half-marathon); MD21001LM (marathon).

You can pick up your race packet on Saturday, March 23,2024 between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM at Severna Park High School.  You can also pick up your packet on race day, Sunday March 24, 2024, from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM.  If you are local, we ask that you make an effort to pick up your packet on Saturday so as to avoid congestion on Sunday morning. We ask that you provide a photo ID at packet pick up.  You may pick up packets for other runners if you provide a photo of their ID and a note (which can be an e-mail or text) authorizing you to pick up the packet for the other person(s). 

Runners must be at least 13 years of age on race day for the half-marathon and at least 16 years of age on race day for the marathon.

If you registered for the marathon but would like to switch your registration to the half-marathon you can do so via your RunSignup account. You can make this change until March 19, 2024, thereafter you can request a change at packet pick up. There is no refund if you downgrade.

If you registered for the half-marathon but would like to switch your registration to the marathon you can do so via your RunSignup account up until March 19, 2024.

There will be NO refunds, deferrals, or discounted entries.

Late registrants are not guaranteed a premium. If there are extra premiums late registrants can pick up one after the race. The race field size is limited by our permit with the B & A Trail Park.

Race day registration is not available. 

The average high temperature for central Maryland for the end of March is of 57 degrees and the average low temperature is 43 degrees. Of course, weather is unpredictable and snow and rain or other conditions are possible. If the conditions are icy or snowy resulting in unsafe conditions the race will be canceled and will be announced on this page and on the B&A race Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/batrailrace/

Time limit: The marathon and the half-marathon will start promptly at 7:30 AM.  The marathon course will remain open for 5 hours and 45 minutes (approximately a 13:10 pace). Course support will be withdrawn at 1:15 PM. A 30 minute early start (7:00 AM) will be offered, but if you opt to start early, you will be ineligible for awards. If you don't think you can complete the marathon course within the specified time limit, please consider switching to the half-marathon. There is no time limit for the half-marathon. 

Race timing will be provided by Maryland Timing and the results will be available from Maryland Timing. http://www.mdtiming.com/2024/B&AMArathonINformation.htm

Questions concerning results can be e-mailed to: rhall@mdtiming.com

The Anne Arundel and City of Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will provide First Aid support for this race. First Aid personnel will be stationed at the finish line and throughout the course for any medical emergencies. They have their own communications equipment, and their First Aid Support Team (FAST) is CPR/AED and First Aid trained.

There will be two aid stations on the half-marathon course that the runners will pass twice, once headed south on the B&A Trail towards Annapolis, and then again returning north on the B&A Trail back to Severna Park High School.

Marathon runners will also have access to the two above-mentioned aid stations, and four aid stations that are only on the marathon portion of the course.

All aid stations will have water and Gatorade available.  In addition, aid stations on the marathon only portion of the course will have packets of GU, Vaseline, and band aids.  

Porta pots will be placed on the course and the precise placement will be announced at packet pick up. In addition, restrooms are available on the marathon only portion of the course behind the ranger station at Earleigh Hights, approximately 0.3 miles past the 14-mile marker. 

You must run the race for which you are registered. If you register for the marathon but decide mid-race to only run the half-marathon you will be scored DNF for the marathon and will not be considered to have run the half-marathon.

IMPORTANT: No headphones; no strollers; no animals that are not service animals. This applies to the marathon and the half-marathon.

All decisions of the race director are final.

All finishers will receive a commemorative medal.

Ther will awards for the male and female overall winners of both the marathon and the half-marathon. In addition, there will be awards for male and female masters runners of both races, and awards for male and female runners who finish at the top of their respective age groups.

No cash prizes are offered.  

Each runner will receive a red hoodie with the B&A Trail logo on the front, and a runner's cap (not shown) featuring a Maryland flag motif.

We will not be offering a bag drop. Please leave your bag in your car.

Parking is available in the school parking lots. There is also street parking in the neighborhoods adjacent to the school. Volunteers will direct traffic on race day. Please follow the directions given by the volunteers. 

The closest airport to the race is Thurgood Marshall Baltimore Washington International (BWI). Hotel and bed and breakfast accommodations are available throughout the Annapolis and BWI airport areas. There will be no road closures in the morning affecting driving to the school.

Post race refreshments will be available in the high school.

Volunteers are always needed and always welcome.  Please sign up on RunSignup to volunteer.

Tom Lyden is the race director. To contact him, please e-mail: ba_marathon@annapolisstriders.org