Parks Half Marathon

Welcome to the MCRRC Parks Half Marathon!

The race begins just before sunrise, at 6:45 AM, on a scenic Montgomery County road and quickly transitions into a tour of beautiful Rock Creek Park. As you run through the park, you’ll experience the sun rising through the tree cover and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Mile markers help keep you on track, and we also have an excellent pace team ready to help you reach your goals.

Our thoughtfully placed hydration stations, complete with awesome volunteers, will keep you hydrated and motivated. 

Everyone always loves our FREE, high-quality race photos, so be sure to wear a smile along the course because we will have photographers along the way capturing race memories.

At the finish, catch up with your friends to exchange race stories at our Finish Festival.

Need a pacer?

We’ve arranged for pacers to bring you to a finishing time from 1 hour and 30 minutes (1:30) to 2 hours and 45 minutes (2:45). Just look for the Official Pacers holding signs and wearing lime green singlets with finish times on their backs. 

SATURDAY

Saturday, September 20th from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Where:

RnJ Sports, 11910-R Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852

SUNDAY (RACE DAY)

Sunday, September 21st RACE DAY from 5:45 am to 6:30 am

Where:

Somerville Road, outside the Shady Grove Metro parking lot.

To make this process as expeditious as possible, please look up your bib number before entering RnJ or before picking up on race day. You can look up your bib number using RunSignUp’s ‘Find A Participant’ feature or check the runner instruction emails that will be sent three days before the race. You may pick up a bib for a friend.

We STRONGLY encouraged you to use advanced packet pickup at RnJ Sports on Saturday before the race.

The 19th Annual Parks Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, September 21. The race will take you through a scenic course traversing Rock Creek Park and ending with a festive post-race bash at the finish line on Beach Drive just south of the Grosvenor Metro.

The race is a result of several organizations, including the Montgomery County Road Runners, the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Montgomery County Recreation and our fantastic sponsors, working together to deliver a half-marathon in the crown jewel of Montgomery County – Rock Creek Park. We are supported by many energetic sponsors and volunteers all with the same mission – to deliver a fun and challenging race.

But enough about why we’re doing this, here’s what you’ll want to know for the weekend.

Refunds, Deferrals, & Transfers

The deadline for deferrals and transfers has now passed. We are unable to process any further deferrals or transfers, as race preparation has already begun. We are sorry if you are no longer able to join us - the Parks Half Marathon has a NO REFUND POLICY.

Where To Stay

We can suggest the following, which are located within close proximity to the race:

                ·         Hilton Garden Inn Rockville-Gaithersburg, (240) 507-1800

                ·         Courtyard by Marriott Rockville, (844) 631-0595

                ·         Sheraton Rockville Hotel, (240) 912-8200

Packet Pickup

We STRONGLY encourage you to use the advanced packet pickup at RnJ Sports on Saturday before the race. A very limited Packet Pickup will be available on race morning, but all participants are advised to stop by RnJ to avoid lines and delays on race morning. Packet Pickup will be available as follows: 

·         Saturday, September 20th from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm at RnJ Sports, 11910-R Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852

·         Sunday, September 21st (RACE DAY) from 5:45 am to 6:30 am on Somerville Road, outside the Shady Grove Metro parking lot.

To make this process as efficient as possible, please look up your bib number - before entering RnJ or before picking up on race day. To find it, use the ‘Find A Participant’ feature.

You may pick up a bib for a friend.

Timing Information

You will receive a “timing bib chip” on your bib at packet pickup. Your bib must be worn on the front of your body- not in a pocket or on your back or they will not read as you cross the mats.

Getting to the Start

Parking will be available in the Shady Grove Metro lot, which is free on the weekend. Parking is not available in the neighborhoods near the starting line! Taking Metro will not get you to the start. The race will start on time at 6:45 a.m., so please arrive early.

Bag Check

We’ll be glad to take your bag! We’ll even give you the bag. Baggage Check will be located near Packet Pickup on Somerville Drive, before you get to Redland Road, on the morning of the race. This is just beyond the Metro parking lot. We will need to see your bib number for you to use this service. Bags must be dropped off by 6:35 am and will be waiting for you at the finish line. Once your bag is checked, you will not be able to retrieve it until after you complete the race. Backpacks or bags weighing over 5lbs, as well as bags containing liquids or any of the items listed below, will not be accepted. No bikes, strollers, or infant car seats will be accepted at bag check. You must have your race bib to retrieve your bag at the finish area, so be sure to keep it with you.

For security & liability reasons, please do not check the following items:

      ·         Liquids

       ·        Electronics, including phones

       ·        Large bags or bags weighing more than 5 pounds

       ·        Valuables

       ·        Breakables

       ·        Anything you need during the race (shoes, race bib, etc.)       

Race officials and/or law enforcement may refuse or destroy any bag or contents deemed suspicious. We encourage you to make plans in advance to meet friends and family at a specific time and place, so you won’t need your phone.

Restrooms

Port-o-johns will be available near the starting line. We are guests in the neighborhoods surrounding the starting area, and both police and volunteers will be on alert for anyone self-irrigating in the neighborhoods.

Pacers

Need a pacer? We’ve arranged for pacers to bring you to a finishing time from 1 hour and 30 minutes (1:30) to 3 hours and 15 minutes (3:15). Just look for the Official Pacers holding signs and wearing bright singlets with finish times on their backs. 

When the Gun Goes Off

The race will feature a mass start. Even though the race is “bib chip” timed, it’s critical that participants get to the starting line on time due to the re-opening of roads during the race. Please plan to arrive early and be ready to run when the starting gun goes off promptly at 6:45 am.

The Course

It’s all on the race website, just a click away….

Race Time Limit

To comply with our permits, all participants must maintain a minimum pace of 15:00 per mile to finish within three hours and fifteen minutes. Anyone exceeding this pace will be requested to obey pedestrian traffic laws, should they choose to continue running, as roads will start to be reopened. Please be aware that aid stations will close based on the 15:00 min/ mile pace. 

Needwood Road

The first 2 miles of the course will be on local neighborhood roads consisting of golf courses and churches. While safety is always our concern, it is imperative that participants clear the first two miles in a timely manner. Late starters will need to run on sidewalks to catch up with rest of the runners.

Aid Stations & Medical

Aid stations will be located approximately every two miles on the course with water and lemon-lime Gatorade. If you have an allergy that requires you to use an Epipen, please carry your own on race day. We do not have a supply of Epipens. We do have ambulances and paramedics. In the event of their use, you should speak to the closest medical volunteer on the course, and they will call an ambulance to take you to the hospital. Anytime Epipens are used, it is important to seek medical attention. Allergic reactions don’t always respond, and you may need further treatment. Epinephrine elevates your heart rate, and you should stop running.

Runners with asthma should carry their own inhalers. If you use your inhaler and don’t feel like your breathing is improving, please go to the nearest aid station or tell one of the bike spotters or Emergency Medical Bikers. 

When running, please listen to your body. If you show signs of heat-related illness or dehydration, stop and get help. Live to run another day. Headache, extreme weakness, dizziness, heat cramps, chills/lack of sweating, nausea, vomiting, fainting, hyperventilation, impaired judgment, muscular incoordination, and confusion are all signs that you may need medical attention. 

There are multiple medical aid stations on the course. There will be bike spotters and emergency medical bike medics on the course. If you need help, any medical volunteer will have a phone and can assist you.

Medical Volunteers will be wearing bright orange or yellow vests that say “Medical.”

The No-No's of Running Parks

We kindly request that you leave your headphones at home. If you must participate with headphones, please consider lowering the volume and using only one earbud. We’re not just looking out for your safety, but the safety of everyone around you. The course is narrow in parts. Please run aware. 

The following are prohibited during the race:

·         Making or accepting phone calls on the course

·         Texting on the course

·         Posting to your Facebook fans, Instagram followers, etc. If you absolutely MUST share with the waiting masses, please stop and step off of the course to do so. Otherwise, you will cause a backup and a safety issue.

·         Pets and strollers

·         Walking sticks, selfie sticks, scooters, skateboards or any other wheeled devices. These items are a hazard to your fellow runners.  

At the Finish

Once you cross the finish line and collect your finisher’s medal, participants are invited to enjoy some great food, including Call Your Mother bagels, Summer House cookies, bananas, and more, while you rest your weary legs and party with the friends you made over the last 13.1 miles at the post-race celebration! Please note that post-race refreshments are for participants only. 

Awards

The Parks Half Marathon offers awards for MCRRC Members, Place Finishers, Masters, and Age Groups as listed on our website. Please note that awards will not be available on-site and will be mailed in the weeks following the race.

Returning to the Start After the Race

Your best bet is to take Metro back to the Start, i.e. Shady Grove Metro. Grosvenor Metro station is located a few hundred yards north of the finish festival. Please note that you must have a plastic SmarTrip card or have it on your phone, as paper fare cards are no longer available. You can also purchase SmarTrip from your mobile phone using Apple Wallet and Google Pay, and this allows you a contactless way to purchase a transit card to pay for Metro. Please see www.wmata.com.

Race Proceeds

MCRRC is proud to donate a portion of the proceeds from the Parks Half Marathon to several local charities, as part of our mission to uphold social values and responsibilities.

Thank You, Sponsors!

This event would not be, possible without the generous support of our sponsors, which can all be viewed on our website. Please take a moment to view their page and give them your business when and where the opportunity arises.

We look forward to seeing you at the finish line and hope you have a great race!

Parks Half Marathon Race Committee

The Parks Half Marathon has a NO REFUND POLICY; however, participants may elect to defer to the next year's event or transfer to another person. The deadline to request a deferral or transfer is Monday, September 8 at NOON - NO EXCEPTIONS! Please understand that requests that do not contain a date/ time stamp before September 8, 2026 at 12:00 PM will be denied.

To request a deferral, please contact parkshalfmarathon@mcrrc.org (by Monday 9/8 at Noon)

To request a transfer, please contact parkshalfmarathon@mcrrc.org (by Monday 9/8 at Noon) with your full name, the name of the person you are transferring to, and the email address of the person you are transferring to. Please note we are unable to handle the financial aspects of the transfer - this must be done privately, if desired.

We’ll be glad to take your bag! We’ll even give you the bag.

Bag Check will be located near Packet Pickup on Somerville Drive, before you get to Redland Road, the morning of the race. This is just beyond the Metro parking lot. We will need to see your bib number for you to use this service. Bags must be dropped off by 6:35 am and will be waiting for you at the finish line.  Once your bag is checked, you will not be able to retrieve it until after you complete the race.  Backpacks or bags weighing over 5 lbs, as well as bags containing liquids, will not be accepted. No bikes, strollers, or infant car seats will be accepted at bag check. You must have your race bib to retrieve your bag at the finish area, so be sure to keep it with you. 

For security and liability reasons, please do not check the following items: 

• liquids
• electronics, including phones 
• large bags or bags weighing more than 5 pounds
• valuables
• breakables
• anything you need during the race (shoes, race bib, etc.)

Race officials and/or law enforcement may refuse or destroy any bag or contents deemed suspicious.  We encourage you to make plans in advance to meet friends and family at a specific time and place, so you won’t need your phone.

The Parks Half Marathon is one of the Montgomery County Road Runners Club’s premiere racing events.  The race attracts over 2,000 participants, over 500 volunteers, and hundreds of spectators.  The course showcases one of the most extensive metropolitan park systems in the country while providing all participants with a competitive, top-notch race and ending with a fantastic finish festival on Beach Drive, north of Grosvenor Lane.  

 

Your business can reach each of these participants, families, and friends by joining MCRRC as a sponsor of the Parks Half Marathon.  To secure your sponsorship, please return the completed form to parkshalfmarathon@mcrrc.org.  

 

We look forward to your sponsorship!

The following streets will be affected during the race. Thank you for your patience!

• Redland Road will be closed for pre-race activities from Route 355 to Crabbs Branch Road (4:30AM until 7:30AM).
• Crabbs Branch Road will be closed at Indianola Road and traffic will be diverted onto Indianola Road for Rockville Pike access (4:30AM-7:45AM).
• Crabbs Branch Road will be closed at Shady Grove Road, not allowing traffic to turn onto Crabbs Branch Road.  Residential traffic on Crabbs Branch Road will be permitted to exit toward Shady Grove Road (4:30AM-7:45AM).
• Southbound traffic on Redland Road will be permitted and turned onto Crabbs Branch Road toward Shady Grove Road.
• Northbound Redland Road will be closed to Needwood Road (6:30AM-7:30AM).
• Westbound traffic on Needwood Road will flow as usual.
• Eastbound Needwood Road will be closed to vehicular traffic up to Beach Drive (6:30AM-7:45AM).  Residential side streets on the south side will be permitted to exit in between waves of participants, as safety allows. All side streets on the north side of Needwood Road will only be permitted to exit to the west toward Redland Road (6:30AM-7:45AM).
• Southlawn Lane will be closed from 15151 Southlawn Lane to the intersection of Avery Road (6:45AM-8:15AM).
• Avery Road will be closed at Norbeck Road. Southbound traffic on Avery Road will NOT be permitted into Needwood Parks or past the intersection of Southlawn Lane due to trail crossing. Southlawn Lane will also be closed to traffic: 6:45AM-8:30AM
• Baltimore Road will be closed in both directions after Parkvale Road on the north side and after White Gate Drive on the south side due to the trail crossing (7:05AM-8:30AM).  Traffic from Twinbrook Parkway will be permitted to travel onto Baltimore Road until the intersection with White Gate Drive.
• Viers Mill Road to Randolph Road will be closed to traffic (7:20AM-9:15AM).
• Randolph Road and Dewey Road will be closed to traffic (7:15AM-9:20AM).
• Randolph Road and Rocking House Road will be closed to traffic (7:05AM-9:45AM). On eastbound Randolph Road, traffic will be funneled into the left and right lanes. Westbound lanes are closed at Dewey Road. Traffic on Rocking Horse Road may proceed straight onto westbound Randolph Road.
• The crossing at Garrett Park Road will be closed (7:45AM-9:35AM).
• Garrett Park Road at Beach Drive will be closed (7:45AM-9:35AM).  Westbound traffic must make a u-turn or enter the parking lot. Eastbound lanes will be closed at Beach Drive.
• Beach Drive at Wexford Road will be closed (7:30 AM– 9:30AM).  Motorists will be directed east onto Connecticut Avenue.
• Wexford Drive will be closed at Mitscher Street (7:45AM-9:45AM).
• Beach Drive, Strathmore Avenue, and Knowles Avenue will be closed (7:45AM-12PM). No traffic will be permitted to turn southbound onto Beach Drive. Southbound Beach Drive will be closed (4:00AM-12PM).
• Knowles Avenue at Parkwood Drive will be closed (7:45AM-9:45AM). Vehicles exiting Parkwood Drive will be directed east on Knowles Avenue towards Kensington. Traffic exiting Howard Avenue may only proceed east. Traffic on Knowles Avenue toward Beach Drive will be directed onto Howard Avenue or Parkwood Drive.
• Beach Drive and Franklin Street will be closed (4:00 – 12PM). Traffic from Franklin Street will be permitted to exit towards Cedar Drive.

Because of the many road closures necessary on the course, many locations will be hard for spectators to reach - especially by car.  Here are the best places to cheer on your loved one:

• Starting Line. The starting line is located on the overpass on Redland Road, just north of Somerville Road, near the Shady Grove Metro Station. The local roads leading up to Needwood Park will have one side dedicated to vehicles and one side for runners.  We advise you to not stand on public roads to cheer for the participants. The park itself will be closed to vehicular traffic while participants are proceeding in those areas.
• Aspen Hill Park. Participants will be passing through Aspen Hill Park before taking the foot bridge over Veirs Mill Road. Spectator areas in the parking lot are available. This is a great spot to see participants as they come out of the trail, grab some water, and head towards Bethesda Hill.
• Finish Line. It is recommended that spectators park at Grosvenor Metro and take the short walk down the hill on the sidewalk to the finish area. Parking is free in Metro lots on the weekends. Participants will reach the finish line on Beach Drive just before the intersection with Grosvenor Lane, adjacent to Route 355 North. There will be a complete medical station with physicians, nurses, and emergency medical personnel as well as transportation, if required. 

Finally, wherever you choose to spectate, please give the race participants a clear path. As a courtesy to them, and for everyone’s safety, we ask that you pay close attention to instructions by Course Marshals and Police and please yield to race participants at all times. Above all, have fun out there! If you have fun, the participants will too!

The race is run through an area of exceptional natural beauty. The USATF-Certified Parks Half Marathon has been created to showcase that beauty, so please make use of the many trash bins along the course to deposit your used gel packs and water cups. Even tossing your cup to within a few feet of the trash bins will greatly assist the post-race cleanup effort.

• Point-to-Point Race. This is a point-to-point race, and the start and finish are close to Shady Grove and Grosvenor metros, respectively.
• Course Time Limit. The Course Time Limit/cutoff time to finish the race is 3 hours and 15 minutes. 
• Elevation Gain. The elevation gain is 380 feet, and elevation decline is 480 feet. While the course offers a net downhill finish, it also offers a mix of flat, fast and rolling hills.
• Water Stops. Water will be at the start and finish. Fully staffed, and entertaining, water stops are also positioned every two miles on the course, within a few yards of each mile marker (… just so you can hit your split before grabbing a cup of Gatorade or DrinkMore Water). We have six water stops in total on the course. Gatorade is offered at the first area of each water stop and then water is offered second. Water stops will close based on the sweep coming by them. 
• Medical Aid Stations. Four medical aid stations will be located at miles 4, 8, 10 and 12, in conjunction with the water stops are these points in the race. HAM Radio operators are all along the course and can summon medical help if needed via the use of a Gator from the local Rescue Squad.  
• Port-a-Johns. Port-a-johns will be provided at the start and finish. They will also be available on the course at water stops #2, #3, #4 and #5.
• Use of Headphones and Cell Phones. Use of headphones and cell phones during the race are strongly discouraged as the trail is narrow in parts and you will want to be aware of who is around you for safety reasons. Secondly, you will be running in the most scenic areas in this part of the country…Enjoy it!
  

And now for the course information….

• The race starts at the Metro overpass on Redland Road just north of Somerville Road.
• Participants will turn onto Needwood Road and enter Needwood Park (mile 2) and proceed on the paved surface of the park until reaching the hiker/biker trail.
• Participants will proceed all the way down the trail for approximately 12 miles before turning onto Beach Drive for the finish.
• The surface of the Rock Creek hiker/biker trail is asphalt. From the point when the course turns onto the hiker/biker trail, please maintain no more than two abreast in order to allow others to pass.
• In the case of heavy rains in the 2-3 day period prior to the Parks Half Marathon, participants can expect some water on the course…. and we’re not talking about the kind served in cups. While the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission does a wonderful job in maintaining the trail and preparing it for our race, there are several low-lying areas on the trail that present challenges in drainage following heavy rains. So, if presented, take the opportunity to do what every five year old would do and splash through the puddles! Some of the wooden bridge surfaces can be slick with rain if there is an early morning dew. Take those turns with caution.
• Enjoy your race and we look forward to seeing you at the finish!

Since this is a point-to-point race, your best bet to return to the start to get your car at Shady Grove Metro is to take Metro. Grosvenor Metro Station is located a few hundred yards north of the finish festival. Please note that you must have a plastic SmarTrip card, as paper fare cards are no longer available. You can also purchase SmarTrip from your mobile phone using Apple Wallet and Google Pay, and this allows you a contactless way to purchase a transit card to pay for Metro. Please see www.wmata.com for more information.

Timing & Scoring

Each participant will receive a timing chip that should be attached to your shoe prior to starting the race. Volunteers will be available in the finish chute to collect your chip after you complete the race, or you can drop your timing chip in designated boxes at the Finish Area.

Results

Unofficial results will be posted at the race site, as they become available. Official results will be posted on www.mcrrc.org by evening.

Awards

The Parks Half Marathon offers awards for MCRRC Members, Place Finishers, Masters, and Age Groups as follows:

FIRST PLACE MCRRC CLUB MEMBER

• Male/Female $200.00

* This award allows for "double dipping." An MCRRC member may win this prize in addition to another prize. Must be a member of MCRRC as of January 1, 2025.

OPEN AWARDS  * Cash Prizes

• 1st place Male/Female $500.00
• 2nd place Male/Female $350.00
• 3rd place Male/Female  $250.00
• 4th place Male/Female $200.00
• 5th place Male/Female $100.00

MASTERS * Cash Prizes

• 1st place Male/Female $100.00

AGE GROUPS  * Gift Card Prizes

Age Group Awards are given to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place MALE and FEMALE finishers in each of the following age groups: 18-24, 25-29, 30-34,35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80 & over.

• 1st place Male/Female $50 Gift Card
• 2nd place Male/ Female $35 Gift Card
• 3rd place Male/ Female $25 Gift Card

Awards will be distributed by US Mail following the event and results verification.  No duplication of Open, Master, and Age Group Awards.  Open and Master Awards will be determined by gun time. Age group awards will be based on net time.

Elite Runners

If you are an elite runner and are interested in participating, please contact Jim Whitnah at jimwhitnah@aol.com.

We suggest the following, which are located within close proximity to the race:

Hilton Garden Inn Rockville-Gaithersburg

14975 Shady Grove Road, Rockville, Maryland, 20850

(240) 507-1800

Courtyard by Marriott Rockville

2500 Research Blvd, Rockville, MD 20850-3209

(844) 631-0595

Sheraton Rockville Hotel

920 King Farm Blvd, Rockville, MD 20850-6610

(240) 912-8200

...Success
The Parks Half Marathon continues the tradition of success that started with its predecessor, Marathon in the Parks, drawing in both competitive and casual runners alike.  Created by the Montgomery County Road Runners Club (MCRRC), Parks Half showcases one of the most extensive metropolitan parks systems in the country while providing runners with a top-notch race.

The course is unique. Just outside Washington DC, Montgomery County is a community of more than 1 million citizens. While the race runs directly through the most populous area of Montgomery County, the vast majority of the course travels through preserved parkland along the Rock Creek Stream Valley. This unique course provides runners with a new perspective for a major metropolitan race. The course features gently rolling hills to a net downhill finish. 

...Value
Perhaps most exciting is our ability to provide a world-class half marathon for a modest entry fee! Thanks to our tremendous sponsors and non-profit administration, runners will receive every feature they could want from the best races in the world. The Parks Half Marathon is more than a 13.1-mile foot race, it is a simultaneous celebration of running, nature, and community in the place where all three come together every day – Montgomery County, Maryland!

... Partners
MCRRC is one of the largest non-profit running organizations in the country. MCRRC administers over 50 races a year, from low-key club races to the national class Pike’s Peek 10K in Rockville, Maryland. After more than 30 years of running in Montgomery County, MCRRC has put its considerable experience and resources toward the Parks Half Marathon, Montgomery County’s premier fall half marathon.

... Train With Us
The Montgomery County Road Runners Club offers several summer training programs including the First Time Marathon Program, the Experienced Marathon Program and the Half Marathon Training program which specifically target the Parks Half Marathon as its goal race.  Information relating to each of these programs can be found at www.mcrrc.org under "Training." 

General Registration: Long-Sleeved Tech Shirt