This one is a half, not a full, so treat it as the Maryland tune-up on your list rather than a marathon. You start at 7:00 am at the Frederick Fairgrounds, where the early-May air smells of cut grass and funnel cake from the night before, and run into a downtown of church spires and red brick. Market Street is lined with people on their porches, and Baker Park gives you a stretch of creek-side path under old sycamores before you pass the minor-league ballpark and climb gently through the Hood College campus. There are rollers but nothing cruel, and the 3-hour-15-minute limit is generous enough for walk breaks. The finish is a lap back into the fairgrounds with the festival party waiting. It caps at 3,000 and sells out most years, so register early.
Starts and finishes at the Frederick Fairgrounds and tours downtown Frederick's Market Street, Baker Park, the minor-league ballpark and Hood College before returning to the fairgrounds.
Registration opens 2026-06-15. Closes 2027-05-01. Half marathon $95 (Jun 15-Aug 31, 2026), $100 (Sep 1-Dec 31), $105 (Jan 1-Feb 28, 2027), $115 (Mar 1-Apr 26), $130 (Apr 27-May 1). Online registration closes May 1, 2027 at 3:00 pm or when full; no refunds or transfers. Half capped at 3,000, 5,000 across all events. Minimum age 13. Register ↗
- All races finish at the Frederick Fairgrounds, and the half tours Market Street, Baker Park, the ballpark and Hood College. ↗
- Runners must finish the half in under 3.25 hours (15:00 per mile). ↗
- The half is capped at 3,000 runners with 5,000 across all events. ↗
- The event is produced by Corrigan Sports, the same organizer as the Baltimore Running Festival, and is pitched as 'a big time race with small town charm'. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.