Additional Information
The Northern Central Trail Marathon and Marathon Relay are held the Saturday after Thanksgiving in northern Baltimore County, Maryland.
The race is an out and back course primarily along the Northern Central Railroad Trail. The start and finish are at Sparks Elementary School, and the first and last few miles of the race are on rural paved roads. A few hills occur on the paved roads that begin and end the course, but most of the race is on the flat stretches of the NCR Trail. The trail surface is a compacted combination of dirt and fine stone. The trail winds along the Gunpowder River, through quiet farmland.
The Two-Person Relay covers the same route at the same time as the marathon. Each team member runs a 13.1 mile leg of the relay. The Two-Person Relay is limited to 50 teams and always fills up early, typically by November 1st.
RRCA Maryland State Marathon Championship and
State Grand Prix Series race
PACKET PICKUP
Friday November 28th @ Charm City Run 2045 York Road, Timonium MD from 10 AM until 6 PM
Packet Pickup on race day is @ Sparks Elementary School beginning @ 7:30 AM.
AWARDS:
Top 5 Men & Women Open Category and to top 2 Masters, Men & Women. NO duplication of any awards.
AGE GROUP AWARDS
to top 3 finishers in the following age groups: 16-19, 20-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59,
60-64, 65-69 & and 70 Plus.
TEAM AWARDS:
Top two teams in each of the following four categories: Male, Female, Coed and Senior (Total age 110 years)
Cash Awards of $150 for new event records in male, female, Open and Masters. Event records are as follows:
Open Men: 2:25:18 Open Women: 2:47:25 Masters: Men: 2:36:03 Masters Female: 3:04:02
NOTE: AWARDS WILL NOT BE MAILED
COURSE
Starts & finishes @ Sparks Elementary School. First 1.8 Miles on road to get to trail, travel north on a dirt &
crushed stone trail for 11.7 miles before returning for 11.2 miles with last 1.5 Miles on road to return to
the school. Slight upgrade on trail going out and slight downgrade on the return.
AMENITIES
Course is certified and is a Boston qualifier. Hot soup and other foods at the school on your return. Water
and Gatorade on the trail approximately every 3 to 3.5 miles. If you require additional fluids plan on
carrying your own product. Unique Railroad awards to award winners. (This is a “Rails to Trails”
course.) PREMIUM: TBD
TIMING/SCORING:
By Charm City Run Timing with AMB-it chip. Chip must be worn on ankle and returned at finish line.
Runners will be invoiced for $60.00 for failure to return chip.
PARKING:
All parking the school is for volunteers & staff ONLY! We will provide shuttle bus service from the parking lot at 14550 York
Road (Western Run Business Park) beginning @ 7:30 AM and shuttle bus service back to the parking
lot post race.
DIRECTIONS:
From I-83 South. Exit east on Belfast Road go past Sparks Elementary
School (the start/finish). Turn right on York Road (MD 45) for 1.3 miles on your right. From I-83 North
Exit east on Shawan Road, past Hunt Valley Mall to York Rd (MD 45) Turn left and parking is 2.1 miles
north.
RULES & RESTRICTIONS:
Marathon is limited to 450 entrants and Teams limited to 50. No one less than 16 years of age
allowed in marathon. No one under 14 allowed as team member.
Course Time Limit:
5 hours and 30 Minutes (a 12.35 minute pace)
Runners will not be allowed to continue after official cut-off time. Finish Line closes @ 3 PM.
A runner can not run as an individual and as part of a team. Each team member runs 13.1 Miles and 2nd runner will be
transported to exchange point by bus and first runner will be transported back to the school.
