Official date status
The reviewed official source lists the October 17, 2026 edition, which has passed. A subsequent exact race date is not confirmed in that source. Treat the course and logistics below as previous-edition context until the organizer publishes the next edition.
Official date information checked on 2026-10-18. This check covers the date status, not entry availability or final race operations.
Potomac River Run’s autumn marathon and two towpath out-and-backs
The spring and autumn races share an organizer and course setting but have separate programmes. The autumn page confirms October 17; the spring page’s May date and references to 2027 Boston qualifiers do not announce a 2027 Potomac race. Use the autumn entry and participant instructions for this upcoming edition.
The half-marathon turnaround is approximately 6.55 miles from Fletcher’s Cove. Full-marathon runners complete the return and then repeat the out-and-back. Learn the turnaround and halfway continuation points, and keep your own progress count rather than following a half-marathon runner into the finish.
The organizer lists aid at Fletcher’s Cove and canal locks along the route. Check the current station positions and products before planning familiar supplies. The towpath is a shared recreational setting, so allow room when passing or approaching aid tables and follow any instructions for other trail users. Watch pace can vary under trees; use the official route and distance markers as your reference.
The autumn page advertises Friday, October 16 packet collection at Pacers in Arlington, separately from the Washington race venue. Check the final collection message and allow for travel between them. The page also describes an earlier hand-timed option, but runners seeking the competitive cash-award category must use the listed 08:00 start. Confirm timing and result eligibility directly if considering an alternative. Parking at Fletcher’s Cove is shared and limited, so review the permitted approach, any booked transport and a finish meeting point before race morning.
Last-known race profile
These details identify the race page; they do not establish the next edition's operations. The previous race date does not establish the next edition. Use the confirmed date above and recheck the final participant instructions before committing to a race-day schedule.