You start at 7:00am on the Christina River at Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park, with the old brick warehouses of the Wilmington Riverfront at your back. The first half is the scenic, lumpy part: up through downtown past Rodney Square, into Brandywine Park where the course crosses the Brandywine River and runs under the trees along its banks, then out along the parkways and through old neighborhoods to Rockford Park and its century-old stone tower. Expect real hills here, about a thousand feet of climbing over the whole race. The second half is the opposite: flat, quiet and long on the paved Jack Markell Trail, heading south through marshland almost to New Castle before turning back. That stretch can feel lonely, so pack your own motivation. A seven-hour limit makes this a kind race for first-timers, and the small field means a bib and a spot are rarely a problem.
First half loops through downtown Wilmington, Brandywine Park, the parkways, historic neighborhoods, Rockford Park's tower and Rodney Square; second half is an out-and-back on the Jack Markell Trail almost to New Castle, returning to Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park; rolling, max elevation under 300 ft. Course map ↗
Registration opens 2026-05-26. Price tiers: Marathon $115 (5/26-8/31), $120 (9/1-12/31), $125 (1/1-2/28), $135 (3/1-4/12), $145 (4/13-4/18). The pricing page also states 'Registration closes on November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm EST and re-opens on December 1, 2026 at 12:00am EST.' Deferrals (with fee) until April 2, 2027; no refunds or transfers. First 50 marathon/half registrants paid $50. Register ↗
- The marathon is USATF certified (#DE20002NP) with a 7-hour limit; the organizer says historically 10%-12% of its marathoners have qualified for Boston. ↗
- The first half crosses Brandywine Park on the Brandywine River, passes the 100-year-old tower in Rockford Park and Rodney Square; the second half runs the Jack Markell Trail almost to New Castle. ↗
- Marathon finishers: 461 (2024), 439 (2025), 643 (2026); Boston-qualifying rate 7.3% (2025) and 5.3% (2026); elevation gain and loss 1,025 ft. ↗
- The event is produced by Corrigan Sports Enterprises, Inc.; the marathon's largest field as of 2022 had been 604 finishers in 2012. ↗
- The 2026 medals paid tribute to America's 250th birthday, and the site now brands the event 'Delaware Running Festival' and 'The First State's Original Marathon'. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.