Lower Potomac River Marathon
(2016 FB page)
Sunday, March 13, 2016 by Chesapeake Bay Running Club |
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Start/Finish at Paul Hall Center, Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, Piney Point, MD.
Enjoy a post-race hot meal and a waterfront view in the well-appointed dining room of the
Paul Hall Center, and linger at your table for the awards presentation. Showers available.
Medals to all finishers. Cash prizes ($250, $150, $100) to the top three men and women overall. Awards to the top three finishers in ten-year age groups up to age 60, and 60-64, 65-69, and 70 and over. New in 2016, $100 cash prizes to the top male and female Senior Grandmasters (age 60 and over)! There may be a course record bonus (watch for updates). The men’s record is 2:31:28. The women’s record is 2:58:25. Race Start: 7:15 a.m. Reminder - Daylight Saving Time starts at 2:00 a.m. on March 13, so you'll be losing an hour the night before the race. Don't forget to set your clock AHEAD one hour the night before. Packet pickup will be held on Saturday, March 12, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm at the Paul Hall Center, Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. You may pick up your packet at the venue on race morning beginning at 6:30 a.m. Scenic course (course overview map / USATF certification map), mostly flat (see elevation profile), offers wonderful views of the lower Potomac River from charming St. George Island and Piney Point, and a fast out & back route past farms and fields on a rural highway. There will be water/aid stations approximately every two miles, and portable toilets on the course. Boston 2017 Qualifier - USATF Certification Number MD15004LMJ. Map. Safety: There are no road closures. Traffic is generally very light on Rte 249, St. George Island, and Lighthouse Road. Rte 249 has 12' wide, paved shoulders to safely accommodate runners. Runners will run on the left side of the roads, facing traffic, throughout the marathon course. St. George Island and Lighthouse Road are residential. The roads are paved, but have no shoulders. Stay to your left at all times. Course marshals will be on hand to direct any traffic to ensure unimpeded passage by the runners. A police officer will be stationed at the north turnaround point to ensure that runners cross Rte 249 unimpeded by traffic. Bicyclists will also patrol the course. Although you head out and back on Rte 249, please consider this segment of the course a loop, and DO NOT CROSS RTE 249 except at the policed crossover at Mile 18.8. There are ample water/aid stations, so you shouldn't need to cross the highway for water or drink. If you absolutely must cross in an emergency, please remember that there are no road closures, and exercise caution - look both ways! Please, no headsets/earbuds or other portable listening devices, pets, strollers, baby joggers, bicycles (other than official bicycle marshals), Sherpas, unregistered runners, or rollerblades/skates on the course. Water/Aid: There will be water/aid stations approximately every two miles, and portable toilets on the course.Gatorade will be served at each water station. Carb Boom energy gels will be served on the course at the Cedar Cove station (Mile ~14.6). Special Needs Tables: Do you concoct your own special marathon drink? Do you crave a banana at Mile 15 or (like me) a Diet Coke at Mile 23? We'll indulge you by having your special need available for you at the Cedar Cove Lane aid station, Mile ~14.6, or the one across from it at Mile ~23. You provide the item, and for a small donation, the club or charity in charge of special needs (to be determined) will place it at the designated aid station. Bring your special item(s) to the Special Needs desk on race morning, and we'll do the rest. Time Limit: We have set a time limit of 5 hours and 45 minutes. Our road permit stipulates that the course closes at 1:00 pm, and that the deputy sheriff directing traffic at the Rte 249 crossing may leave his post at 11:30 am. This is to ensure that all runners finish in time to enjoy the post-race hot buffet at the Paul Hall Center's dining room, and to ease the workload on our dedicated volunteers. (The buffet must close at 1:15 pm so the crew can begin preparing the evening meal.) All runners must make the crossing at the Rte 249 turnaround (~18.8 miles) by 11:30 am, and reach the aid station at the corner of Drayden Rd (~21.8 miles) by 12:05 pm. Runners who have not reached these checkpoints by the cutoff times may be 'swept' at the discretion of the Race Director and/or Director of Course Operations, and provided transportation to the finish. Weather: Average temperature for race day is 49° F. Click here for the local forecast.
COURSE SUMMARY: Mile ~8 to ~11, Rte 249 and Lighthouse Road: Continue north on 249 for approximately .9 miles; turn left on Lighthouse Rd. and run approximately 1.1 mile to the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum. Turn around and return to Rte 249. Mile ~11 to ~18.8, Rte 249 and Batman's Head: Run north on Rte 249. There's a gradual climb to around Mile 16, then a gentle downhill (Batman's ear) to the crossover at approximately Mile 18.8. Mile ~18.8 to the finish: Run south on Rte 249, back over Batman's ear. It's a gentle downhill slope from here, and a straight shot back to Harry Lundeberg School. Around Mile 26 you'll sight the course marshal who'll wave you left, back through the same gate where you started, and to the finish line!
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| Entry Fees | ||||||||||||||||||
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| $10 discount to Chesapeake Bay Running Club, Pax Velo, and Pax Tri members. Entry fees are non-refundable. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Contact race director about discounts for Marathon Maniacs, 50-Staters, and 50+ DC members. | ||||||||||||||||||
| A limited number of complimentary entries are available for runners experiencing financial difficulty (job loss or slowdown). Contact the race director. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Directions | ||||||||||||||||||
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Piney Point is in St. Mary's County, a little over an hour south of the Capital Beltway.
St. Mary's County is served by the three airports serving the Washington, DC metro area:
Baltimore-Washington International (BWI),
Reagan National (DCA), and
Washington-Dulles (IAD).
Although limo service is available, we recommend renting a car.
Lexington Park is the commercial center of St. Mary's County, and is an easy 20-minute drive from the race venue. Hotels, chain restaurants, office parks and shopping centers are located on Rte 235, the main thoroughfare, near the Patuxent River Naval Air Station.
From Points North: From 395: Take 295 South to Suitland Rd. Exit 3A, then take the Branch Ave/Rte 5 South exit just past the Naylor Rd. Metro Station. You'll be about 3 miles north of the Beltway. Continue as above. From Annapolis and North: Take Rte 2/4 south, following signs to Prince Frederick. Continue past Prince Frederick on Rte 4 south. About 20 miles south of Prince Frederick, you'll pass the town of Solomons. Continue on Rte 4 on the Thomas Johnson Bridge across the Patuxent River to St. Mary's County. About five miles later, Rte 4 crosses Rte 235. Turn left on Rte 235 and head south for about 1-1/2 miles to Chancellors Run Road (Hickory Hills Shopping Center on your right). Turn right at Chancellors Run Road and continue to the end at Great Mills Road (about 3 miles). Turn right on Great Mills Road and follow it to the end at Rte 5 (about 1 mile). Turn right at Rte 5 and go north about 1-1/2 miles to Rte 249 (Shell Station on corner); turn left and go 7.3 miles. Turn left on St. George's Avenue. The entrance to Harry Lundeberg school is 1/10 mile on your right.
From Points South: |
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| Relay Details | ||||||||||||||||||
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The relay event has been eliminated. If you’d like to run a shorter distance race on the
marathon course we offer the Lower Potomac River 10-Mile Run in October. Stay tuned to our website for details.
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| Volunteer | ||||||||||||||||||
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Volunteers are needed as course marshals, bicycle escorts, water/aid station crew, and
for various duties at the finish line, such as handing out medals and serving "immediate replenishment"
food and drink to the finishers. Volunteers will receive a commemorative race t-shirt and effusive thanks
from the runners and race organizers, and are welcome to join in the post-race festivities.
Volunteering is a fun and rewarding way for non-runners to get involved in road racing. Runners, if your support crew wants to do more than cheer from the sidelines, we'd love to have them help out. They can staff a water/aid station in the early miles of the course, and return to the finish line in time to give you your finisher's medal. We also need volunteers for pre-race activities such as bag stuffing (bib #'s, t-shirt, and course info) and registration. If you're an EMT, or CPR or Basic First Aid certified, you're especially needed at an aid station on the course, or at the finish line. Volunteers can also win an award without running on race day. A prize will be given to the best water/aid station based on spirit (loud cheering!) and efficiency. We'll provide the water, sports drink, and gels - you provide the cheers, and anything else that runners might like - Gummi Bears, M&M's... This is a great opportunity for sports teams, scout troops, charitable organizations, or any group of friends to show support for our runners and give them a Southern Maryland welcome! We'll train you for your race-day duties. If you're interested in volunteering, contact Liza Recto at cbrcliza@hotmail.com or by phone at (301) 863-8431. We'll put you on the volunteer list and keep you updated. |
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| Sponsors | ||||||||||||||||||
| The Lower Potomac River Marathon benefits the Friends of the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and the historic skipjack Dee of St. Mary's. We thank our sponsors for supporting these organizations. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thank you to our 2015 Gold sponsor:
If your organization would like to sponsor the 2016 CBRC Lower Potomac Marathon, please contact Liza Recto. |
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| Registration | ||||||||||||||||||
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| TRAVEL/ACCOMMODATIONS | ||||||||||||||||||
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Piney Point is in St. Mary's County, a little over an hour south of the Capital Beltway. St. Mary's County is served by the three airports serving the Washington, DC metro area: Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), Reagan National (DCA), and Washington-Dulles (IAD). Although limo service is available, we recommend renting a car. St. George Island Inn and Suites is our host hotel, and they're offering marathoners a special rate of $99 plus tax. If you've already booked your room, make sure you ask for this special rate. Visit their website at www.stgeorgeislandinnandsuites.com or call (301) 994-1234.come. Additional accommodations are available in Lexington Park, the commercial center of St. Mary's County, and an easy 20-minute drive from the race venue. Hotels, chain restaurants, office parks and shopping centers are located on Rte 235, the main thoroughfare, near the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. As a courtesy to our runners, we've provided the list below.
One of our club members hosts guests at her B&B on St. George Island, conveniently located 2.8 miles from the race venue. Click here for details If you don’t mind roughing it, there’s Camp Merryelande on St. George Island, with beach cottages (bring your own linens and towels) and a campground. It’s at the Camp Merryelande Road turnaround at approximately Mile 5.5. They have special winter rates from November through April. Visit www.campmd.com for details. Call 301-994-1722 or 800-382-1073, or e-mail escape@campmd.com. |
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| Marathon Weekend Activities | ||||||||||||||||||
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Saturday, March 12, 2015
Pre-Race Packet Pickup: Saturday, March 12, 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., Paul Hall Center, Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship
Pick up your bib and t-shirt
at pre-race packet pickup, then take the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the course.
Drive over St. George Island and visit the Lighthouse Museum Park at the end of Lighthouse Road.
You might catch a beautiful sunset! Please observe the posted speed limits.
Note: Please do not bring pets inside the Paul Hall Center.
If you can’t attend packet pickup on Saturday, you may pick up your packet at the venue on race morning from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m.
Drop-in Pre-Race Dinner:
Ruddy Duck Seafood and Alehouse, next to St. George
Island Inn and Suites, St. George Island;
see www.RuddyDuckBrewery.com
Drop into the Ruddy Duck on Saturday evening to carbo-load and mingle with other
marathoners. Chef Lisa Kelley and her staff will be serving some fine complex carb
dishes. Appetizer specials might include hummus with matchstick vegetable soup, or
house-made black bean soup with Vermont cheddar cheese. For dinner, you might
try asparagus and wild mushroom risotto; whole wheat penne pasta with concasse
of tomato, fresh basil and hand-grated parmesan cheese; or tortellini tossed in pesto,
artichokes, olives and asparagus. Top off your meal with fresh fruit compote over french
vanilla ice cream or a slice of apple-oatmeal pie.
Our congenial CBRC hosts, Perry and Crystal Rapp, will be there to welcome you and
share local knowledge.
Sunday, March 13, 2016 Race Morning Packet Pickup and Special Needs Check-In: 6:00 – 7:00 a.m., Paul Hall Center, Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship If you have a special item to be placed at either the Cedar Cove Marina aid station (Mile ~14.6) or the station across from there (Mile ~23), please bring it to the Special Needs Check-In table. The Special Needs staff will assist you in bagging and labeling your item for pickup. Any unclaimed items from the Cedar Cove aid station will be moved across to the Mile ~23 aid station. Race Start: 7:15 a.m., near the anchor on the driveway running west between the pond and grass field. After a short briefing, the start will be signaled by whistle or voice command. There are no road closures, but there is sufficient room to run on the 12-foot wide shoulders. Although we cannot close the course to non-racing pedestrians and cyclists who are not involved with the race, we do not allow companion cyclists/Sherpas/squires/ladies-in-waiting, pets, strollers, or rollerblades/skates. Regarding spectators/support crew: Vehicular traffic is generally light on the course, and we’d like to keep it that way. Please instruct your supporters not to cruise alongside you while you run, and to please avoid pulling over repeatedly on the course. It is especially dangerous to be pulling over at aid stations, and parking is limited there. We encourage spectators to cheer from areas where there is ample parking, such as the St. George Island Bridge (Mile ~7/10 and 8), Lighthouse Museum Park (Mile ~10.5), and Valley Lee Post Office (Mile ~16). The use of portable listening devices while in the race is strictly prohibited. The race staff reserves the right to disqualify any runner found to be in possession of a portable listening device while in the race (including via post-race photos). This is a safety issue – please comply. Runners must maintain pace to finish by 1:00 p.m. (13:10/mile pace). Runners not reaching the turnaround point at the top of Rte 249 by 11:30 a.m. will be swept from the course and provided transportation back to the Paul Hall Center. “Immediate replenishment” snacks (drinks, pretzels, candy) will be available at the finish line, but save your appetite for the… Post-Race Luncheon: Dining Room, Paul Hall Center, 11:30 a.m. The culinary staff at the Paul Hall Center serves a sumptuous buffet in the well-appointed waterside dining room. This is a restaurant setting, so swap your singlet for a shirt, or put a shirt on over it. Showers are available at the Paul Hall Center. The buffet closes at 1:15 p.m. to allow the galley staff to prepare for the evening meal. Awards Ceremony: 12:15 p.m. during the luncheon. |
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| Results | ||||||||||||||||||
| All results from past years are available here. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Questions | ||||||||||||||||||
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See the separate LPRM FAQ page for frequently asked questions and issues.
For other questions, contact the race director. |
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P.O. Box 635
Solomons, MD 20688