3H Trail Half Marathon + DHRT 50K
Saturday, August 8, 2026
3H Trail Half Marathon
Course Description
The race is run entirely on the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail which is a converted railroad bed and provides solid footing with little or no roots. This trail is flat, smooth, and fast with a variety of surfaces ranging from dirt, gravel, grass, and pine needles.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND - WE ARE STARTING ON THE EASTERN END AGAIN!!!
The course is an out and back that starts at the eastern end of the trail and heads west from the start for ~6.5 miles before turning back. The volunteers from Friends of the Dahlgren Rail Heritage Trail do an excellent job of ensuring that the trail is in peak shape for the race!
The trees along the trail ensure almost 100% shade during the run.
About the Trail
The 16 mile Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail follows the route of the old Dahlgren Branch rail line, stretching across King George County just south of the Potomac River in Virginia's Northern Neck. The trail is open for walking, running, cycling and other recreational non-motorized uses while preserving 240 acres of wildlife and natural beauty.
The Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit group that is volunteer-based and works to develop, preserve, and maintain this historic rail-to-trail greenway.
Please consider joining us in support of the Friends of the DHRT by donating to the trail HERE!
Race Swag
All participants will receive a custom finisher medal and a technical tank top or t-shirt. Be sure to register early to beat the shirt deadline! Shirts are not guaranteed after July 21, 2026.
We'll have food and drinks waiting for you at the finish line!
Price Increases
3H Half Awards
Overall: Top 3 Men and Women.
Cash prizes of $100, $75, $50
Age Groups: Top 3 Men and Women
19 & Under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 & Over
Overall awards are based on gun time - the first 3 males and first 3 females to cross the finish line.
Age group awards are based on chip times. Runners not receiving an overall award are eligible for age group awards.
DHRT 50K Awards
Cash Awards: Top three male and female finishers
1st Place: $200
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $50
Course Record Bonus: First person running faster than:
Male: 3:10:26
Female: 3:39:26
Fastest person in each category who runs faster than the existing record will receive a $100 cash bonus.
Age Group Awards:
Top 3 Male and Top 3 Female finishers in the following age groups will receive an award: 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 and over.
Road Crossings & Aid Stations
There will be a crossing guard that will help at major road crossings, but please make sure you look both ways before crossing.
There will be water near miles 3.3, 6.5, 9.8 and 12.2. There will also be Gatorade at miles 3.3, 6.5, and 9.8. Food at the Panorama
Aid Station food is mainly there for the 50K participants, but if you are desperate for a burst of energy at mile 9.8, please grab a snack!
Packet Pickup and Race Day Parking
Packet Pickup:
August 1, 2025: Fleet Feet, 1993 Carl D. Silver Pkwy, Fredericksburg, VA from 12pm-3pm
August 1, 2025: Anytime Fitness, 16453 Merchants Lane, King George, VA from 4:30pm-6:30pm
August 2, 2025: UMW Dahlgren Parking Lot, 4224 University Drive, King George, VA 6:30am - 7:15am
Race day parking is available at the King George Gateway Shopping Center. There is plenty of parking at the shopping center and it's located near the race start!
Enjoy Some Wine After Your Race
Our great friends at The Estate at White Hall are offering an exclusive offer to our athletes! You'll be able to enjoy sampling 5 of their wines August 1-3. Show them your race bib and you'll be treated to a complimentary tasting!
Cupless Racing from 2024 Onward!
We were grateful to partner with HydraPak in 2024 to bring you cupless racing! As an organization dedicated to maintaining a clean race and doing our part to keep our trails clean, starting in 2024 will be going cupless. This means we are eliminating the use of disposable cups at the 3H Half and DHRT 50K. Runners will have the option of carrying their own hydration vessels or using a HydraPak SpeedCup. Please bring your own SpeedCups. We will have a limited number available if you forget yours!
