Rivers & Rails - Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K

Brunswick, Maryland is the anchor of a race weekend that spills across state lines. The half marathon traces the C&O Canal Towpath along the Potomac River, slips into the streets of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and threads through neighboring Bolivar — three historic communities stitched together by water and rail.

The course crosses the Potomac and the Shenandoah twice each, so the geography stays with you the whole way: canal on one side, river on the other, mountain views rising behind the towns. Harpers Ferry's Civil War history and the region's railroad heritage give the miles a story, and the towpath's long uninterrupted stretches let you settle into a rhythm instead of fighting for position.

This is a weekend rather than a single race — a full marathon and a Veterans Challenge 5K share the calendar, and the organizers pitch it as welcoming to runners of all abilities. Chip timing and on-course aid stations handle the logistics; a commemorative shirt and a custom finisher medal handle the reward. Come for a fast time if that's your goal, but come expecting the scenery to be the thing you talk about afterward.