Is the Annapolis Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the course is USATF certified and qualifies for Boston. Roughly 16 percent of finishers have hit the BQ standard in recent years, so it is achievable but not a given on this rolling course.

What is the time limit?

The time limit is 5.5 hours from the start.

What is the course like?

It is a certified out-and-back route through Annapolis with rolling terrain and 700 feet of cumulative elevation gain. Because you retrace the course, the hills you climb in the first half come back in the second half, so even pacing is important.

How large is the field?

The race is on the smaller side, with around 320 finishers in recent years. The intimate field size means a quieter, more self-directed race experience.

What should I expect from the weather on race day?

Late March in Annapolis is typically cool, with morning temperatures in the mid-to-upper 40s and afternoon highs in the upper 50s. Conditions are generally good for racing, though wind off the water is possible.

Where does the race start and finish?

The race starts and finishes at Severna Park High School, which has ample parking and indoor facilities. The nearest major airport is BWI, about 30 miles away.

Mar 2027 · est.Annapolis, MDSince 1992

Annapolis Marathon

A true out-and-back through the Maryland waterfront city, the Annapolis Marathon rewards patient runners with a compact, honest course and a genuine shot at a Boston qualifier on a cool late-March morning.

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ANNAPOLIS · US

Annapolis

MAR 2027

estimated

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Race Overview

EST. 1992

The Annapolis Marathon is a small, no-frills race that rewards runners who do their homework. You start and finish at Severna Park High School, which means indoor facilities and real parking, both things you appreciate on a cold March morning. The course rolls through Annapolis neighborhoods on an out-and-back route. It is not flat. There is 700 feet of climbing spread across the whole thing, and because it is an out-and-back, every hill you run up on the way out is waiting for you on the way home. Be honest with yourself at the halfway turn. The field is small, which means fewer people to hide behind when things get hard in the back half.

This is a Boston qualifier, and a meaningful share of the field is chasing that standard. Late March in Annapolis usually gives you decent conditions, cool enough to race well if the weather cooperates. Open registration means you just sign up, but the field caps out, so don't wait until the last week. Entry fees go up as the race gets closer, so register early and save the money for training. If you want a quiet race where you actually have to run your own pace from the gun, this one fits.

Field size

~320

320 finishers

BQ rate

16%

Above national average

Time limit

5:30

Tight cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:28:21

Daniel Rowe

2023

Women

2:58:14

Joy Lewis

2023

The Course

700 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑700 ft

Total descent

—

Net elevation

—

Highest point

—

Lowest point

—

Course shape

Out and back

Same route, both directions

The course is an out-and-back, so the second half mirrors the first in reverse. With 700 feet of cumulative gain and no net elevation advantage, you earn every flat stretch. Expect rolling terrain through Annapolis neighborhoods, with climbs distributed across both halves rather than concentrated in one place. The return leg often catches runners who went out too fast, since the same hills you climbed heading out are waiting on the way back. Pacing conservatively through mile 13 is the main lever here. The course is USATF certified, and road surfaces are consistent throughout.

DIFFICULTYROLLINGPR-FRIENDLYMODERATE

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

46°F

High

58°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

Late March in Annapolis runs cool, usually in the mid-to-upper 40s at the gun and climbing into the mid-to-upper 50s by the time you finish. That is a solid racing window if you dress for the start without overdoing the layers. The second half can feel warmer once you have been moving for two hours, so a light throwaway layer at the start is smarter than a heavy jacket you are stuck carrying. Wind off the water is possible, and on an out-and-back it will be a factor in one direction or the other. Most years this is a weather-friendly day, but check the forecast the week of the race.

Entry

OPEN

Open registration available through RunSignup until capacity is reached. Race day registration is not available. Entry fees increase at set deadlines before the race date.

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Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

BWI

17 mi

from the start

≈ 27 min transferEasy transfer

What to expect

Thurgood Marshall Baltimore Washington International (BWI) Airport is the closest airport, approximately 30 miles away. The race starts and ends at Severna Park High School with ample parking and indoor facilities. Hotel accommodations available throughout Annapolis and the BWI airport areas.

Frequently Asked

7 questions

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