2023 Chasing the Unicorn Marathon & Alternative Half Marathon

The tenth anniversary of Chasing the Unicorn is expected to be the last. The Alternative Half Marathon is expected to continue) Come be part of the last last-chance to BQ! This race was for the runner and continues to be for runners. We know how important it is to BQ and earn the opportunity to run in the most historic distance running event on the planet.

We’re going out with a big celebration

Participants will not only get a small, friendly, low hassle race, the swag package for both the full and the half marathon will include your very own Spike plush!

The course is mostly on canal towpath with about a half mile at the start of each out-and-back on blacktop.

Overall Awards to the top three finishers and top three men and women in mostly five year age groups which reflect the BAA Boston Marathon Age Groups.

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 JULY 14, 2023. 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.

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 2023 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. In 2023 THERE WILL BE NO DEFERRALS

2022 DEFERRERS NEED TO OPTION THEIR CODE BY JUNE 04, 2023 OR FORFEIT THEIR POSITIONS

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 JULY 14, 2023 

Due to scheduling conflicts the DCNR is allowing us this date

More information to come

The Chasing the Unicorn Marathon is USATF sanctioned and run on a USATF certified course. Those two facts make it Boston Qualifying worthy