Annapolis RUN for The Light House

The 17th annual Annapolis RUN for The Light House provides scenic half-marathon and 5k routes along the trails of Quiet Waters Park and through the beautiful Chesapeake Bay-front community of Hillsmere Shores. This race event is unlike any other in the greater Annapolis area!

All proceeds from the RUN for The Light House will benefit The Light House in Annapolis, a well-known public charity working to end the cycle of homelessness and poverty. The race is organized by Friends of The Light House, Inc., also a public charity, and timing and race management are provided by T3 Race Management.

Location 

Sassafras Pavilion in Quiet Waters Park - 600 Quiet Waters Park Rd, Annapolis, MD 21403

Dates

In-Person - Sunday, September 20, 2026

Virtual - Friday, September 18 - Sunday, September 20, 2026

Race Starts

8:00am Half Marathon - 11:00am (must finish in 3 hours)

8:45am 5K

9:00am 1.25 mile Walk

All Half Marathon participants should be at the starting line no later than 7:45am and 5K by 8:30am.  All participants must finish by 11:00am.

Registration and Race Entry Fee Information

Half Marathon

Until July 1st - $99.58 (includes fees)

July 1st - September 1st  - $115.48 (includes fees)

From September 1st to Race Day - $129.26 (includes fees)

5k

Until July 1st - $49.76 (includes fees)

July 1st - September 1st  - $54 (includes fees)

From September 1st to Race Day - $64.60 (includes fees)

1.25 Mile Walk - $27.50 (includes fees)

Virtual Half Marathon - $32.80 (extra fee for shirt)

Virtual 5K - $32.80 (extra fee for shirt)

Please note that registrations are limited.  Registration is available online through September 16, 2026, or until we SELL OUT!  If the race is not filled by this date, late registration may be available at packet pick-up and race day until sold out.  Shirts are not guaranteed if ordered past August 1st.

In-Person Race Fee Includes

Commemorative race running shirt  
       5k - Technical Short Sleeve
       Half Marathon - Technical Long Sleeve
Finisher Medal In-person Half Marathon and 5k Finishers 
Race support and beverage stations  - Post Race Breakfast 
Timing bib (5k and Half Only)  

Rules

• All participants must finish by 11:00 AM
• All participants in the Half Marathon must be at least 12 years old
• All participants in the 5k must be at least 6 years old
• No headphones
• Runners only, no wheels, no strollers
• No pets
• Stay to the right unless passing
• The timing bib must be worn as directed to be officially scored.

Packet Pick Up Instructions  - Saturday, September 19th at The Light House Shelter, 10 Hudson

(Half Marathoners and 5K runners Only!) ~ (Walkers: There is NO packet pick-up for you, we look forward to seeing you on race day!)

DATE: Saturday, September 20, 2026

TIME: 8:00am - Noon

LOCATION: The Light House, 10 Hudson Street, Annapolis, MD 21401

(Note: this is a different location than the race)

DRIVE THRU Pick-Up - Stay in you vehicle

Turn on to Hudson Street
Turn Left into The Light House parking lot 
Pull up to Table, please stay in your car and someone will bring your Packet to you
Please pull straight ahead; take a left to exit out of the parking lot onto Willow St.

There is no mailed race packet option. For in-person participants, packets include BIB and safety pins, a race shirt, and a swag bag. 

Awards

●      There will be finisher medals for the Half Marathoners and 5k!
●      Super cool Awards will be for the top 3 finishers in various age categories

Volunteers

Volunteering at the RUN is super fun and a great way to help The Light House! Students can receive service hours for volunteering! (children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult)  

Please click the link and fill out the VOLUNTEER FORM.  HERE

Photos!

We love seeing your pre and post-race photos! TAG US at @FriendsOfTheLightHouse .

You can post them directly to the RunSignup photo page HERE, or email them to events@friendslhs.org with your permission to post.

Race Results

In-person race results will be monitored by T3 Race Management and posted to RunSignUp.com.  

Virtual race participants must submit results by heading to the RunSignUp.com Results Page by Sunday, September 14th at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.  Click Here

BREAKFAST Donation Drive 

Help fill our Light House Food Pantry:  Donations can be dropped off at Packet Pick-Up or on Race Day.

• Boxed cold cereal - smaller boxes are best
• Instant oatmeal - packets or microwave cups
• Cereal/breakfast bars
• Canned fruits/fruit cups - preferably pop tops
• Shelf-stable milk - 32oz box most needed size
• Shelf stable fruit juice - 100% juice, 32oz or smaller bottles

Parking

Parking can be found throughout Quiet Waters Park.  There will be signs and volunteers directing you to parking options on Race Day. No parking is allowed on the grass or anywhere that is not a designated parking spot.

Virtual Option
We are excited to offer a Virtual option for the Half Marathon and 5K.  Virtual races are fun and convenient!  Run anytime and anywhere - solo or with your team between Friday, September 12th and Sunday, September 14th.

     Here's how the virtual race works:

1. Register for the virtual event.

2. Commemorative T-shirts are available for an additional fee and will be available for pickup at our Saturday, September 13th packet pickup. You may also choose to have your t-shirt mailed to you for a fee. Race swag bags are not available to be shipped.

3. Run your race and submit your results by heading to the Runsignup Results Page by Sunday, September 20th at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Click Here

4.  PHOTOS - We love seeing your pre and post-race photos! TAG US at @FriendsOfTheLightHouse. You can post them directly to the RunSignup photo page HERE, or email them to events@friendslhs.org with your permission to post.

Virtual race performances are not eligible for the overall event awards.

Weather

Since when has a little rain stopped a group of dedicated runners?  The Run for The Light House will be run rain or shine.  Unfortunately, no reschedule date is available if cancellation occurs due to extreme weather conditions or other force majeure.

COVID Precautions

The safety of participants, volunteers, sponsors, and staff is of utmost importance to the Annapolis Run for The Light House Committee. We will be following local and state guidelines as they relate to COVID-19.  Participants will be informed of any changes to the race as soon as we become aware of such changes.  In the event, we are forced to cancel the in-person race due to COVID-19 restrictions all registrants will be automatically switched over to the virtual race option. 

Refunds & Transfers

No refunds or transfers.

BECOME A SPONSOR

For information on Sponsorships please visit - SPONSOR PAGE

For more information on Friends of The Light House please visit FriendsLHS.org

Thank you for your support of this event!

Running with a Group is FUN and MOTIVATING!

If you have a group of (10) or more participants, please contact us at events@friendslhs.org for a 10% coupon code. 

***Coupons may not be used for the Walk, only the Half Marathon and the 5K.

Start of Race and Timing

• Start will be a “Gun Start”

• Slower runners are asked to start towards the back of the pack. Line up 10 minutes prior to the race start time.

• “Timing Chip” will be attached to the back of your numbered bib. This bib must be worn on the front of your body, above the waist - not in a pocket or on your back.

• Be sure to cross the mats under the arch at the start/finish so your times can be correctly recorded.

• Participants in the Half Marathon must be able to complete the course in 3 hours.

• All participants in each event must be finished by 11:00 AM.
  

Safety and Course Information

• There are four water stations throughout the course, some you will pass more than once. Plus water at the start/finish

• Medical services are available at the race start/finish, and bikers with two-way radios will be monitoring the racecourse. Police will be assisting with traffic at the entrance to the park where the Half Marathon enters Hillsmere subdivision.

• Bib colors are different for each race – Yellow for Half Marathon and Blue for 5K. Be sure your bibs are visible as course volunteers will be looking for bib colors to direct runners where the Half Marathon and 5K courses diverge. There are also places where trail chalk markings will be in yellow for Half Marathon and blue for 5K.

• There will be mile/kilometer markers for both races throughout the courses.

Course Guidance for Half Marathon Runners

• The Half Marathon course begins with one complete circuit of the entire Quiet Waters paved trail. After completing the circuit, runners will begin a second circuit and continue on the trail to the entrance to the park where they will exit into Hillsmere subdivision. After returning to the park from Hillsmere, runners will complete the second circuit of Quiet Waters Park and return to the start/finish. Directional signs and volunteers are placed throughout the course to assist with directions and course turns.

Course Guidance for 5K Runners

• The 5K course consists of one shortened circuit of Quiet Waters Park on the paved trail, with no exit out of the park. Around the 4k mark, there will be a right-hand turn where the 5K runners turn right and the Half Marathon runners will continue straight. There are directional signs and volunteers at that turn to assist.

• A second deviation toward the end of the 5K run is very close to the start/finish area, where 5K runners will be directed to the left down the “Compost Trail” where they will run until the sign marking a U-Turn is located. At that point, they will return to the finish line. This short “out and back” is necessary to ensure a full 5 kilometers in the run. Please stay to the left when running down and back on the compost trail to avoid collisions with other 5k runners. Again, signs and volunteers will assist at each location.

Other Important Safety Announcements!

• All participants in the Half Marathon must be at least 12 years old
• All participants in the 5K must be at least 6 years old
• No headphones
• Runners only, no wheel
• No strollers
• No pets
• Stay to the right unless passing
• Be aware of your surroundings

COURSE MAPS - 

For more information on joining our Race Committee please email Events@FriendsLHS.org

The Light House is a place of belonging and hope for our most vulnerable neighbors.
 
We specifically tailor our services for each client who comes through our doors.

The integrated care provided at The Light House helps clients stabilize their health, maximize income, and secure safe and stable housing.

Beyond providing food, clothing, and shelter, we also address the underlying causes of homelessness such as lack of marketable job skills, addiction, and the debilitating effects of both mental and physical health issues.
 
Our Programs Include:

• Housing - emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, and transitional housing
• Employment - tools to achieve sustainable employment
  
• Social Enterprise - Light House Bistro, our restaurant, and catering social enterprise, provides training and employment opportunities
  
• Support Services - food, clothing, and other basic needs

For more information on the Annapolis Light House please visit annapolislighthouse.org