Half Marathon:
$70 entry fee through Oct 31st
$75 Nov 1-30
$80 Dec 1-9
$85 Dec 10-11
$100 on Dec 12
Half marathon entry includes a finisher’s medal, a winter hat, and post-race beers from Mighty Squirrel at our after-party.

Half Marathon Relay:
$120/team through Oct 31st
$130 Nov 1-15
$140 Nov 16-30
$150 Dec 1-9
$160 Dec 10-11
$180 on Dec 12
Relay entry includes winter hat for each team member, and post-race beers from Mighty Squirrel. The Relay will be capped at 30 teams. (2-5 members per team)

NUMBER PICK-UP :

Saturday, Dec. 12th
7:30 am – Number pick-up opens
8:30 am - Number pick-up closes
9:00 am – Half Marathon START
9:05 am - Half Marathon Relay START
11:00 am – Awards Ceremony @ Start/Finish – Overall Winners (top 3 m & f)
11:05 am - Pinocchio's Pizza arrives
12:00 pm – Awards Ceremony @ Start/Finish – Age Group Champions (1st m & f) & Relay Teams (1st all male, 1st all female, & 1st mixed)
12:30 pm - Last Call
1:00 pm - Party Ends

The Charles River Half is held at the ​DCR's Charles River Reservation and the Cambridge Marsh Post, and uses a course similar to our Boston 5K Summer Series. Each lap is 2.62 miles, so it's a five lap race. We will have portable toilets near the start/finish line. There are also portable toilets along the path near the Northeastern University Boat House as well as near Charles River Canoe and Kayak, although we cannot guarantee they'll be available.

Interactive course map here

BODYARMOR Hydration Stations: There will be two BODYARMOR stations on the 3.27 mile loop: one on the Boston side near the Artesani Playground, and one at the start/finish line in Cambridge. Each BODYARMOR station will have sports drink and water.

Self-Serve BYOB Station: There will be a self-serve bring-your-own-bottle station (four tables) near the start line on the left. We'll have tape and sharpies to mark your bottle with your bib# and last name. We'll also have some colored tape to help you further identify your bottle from others. If possible, place just one bottle on the table; you can have someone else refill it or replace it with a full bottle during the race. You may place two bottles if they're small (less than 20oz). If you place more than two bottles, they will ALL be removed.

During the race, grab it and go--no need to stop, because you can drop the bottle in one of our two drop zones which will be marked with signage further (~100 & ~200 meters) down the course. Volunteers will return all bottles to the table so it's there for your next lap.

Save yourself some time by labeling your bottle with your last name and bib number before you arrive.  

Half Marathon: Top 3 female & male overall, and age group champions: 18&U, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+. Overall awards are based on gun time. AG awards are based on chip (net) time. Trophies/medals can be picked up at our office but any other prizes may only be claimed at the awards ceremony. Due to permitting and volunteer constraints, the half marathon will have a time limit of 3 hours.

Half Marathon Relay: Fastest female team, fastest male team, and fastest mixed team (at least one female and one male.) We’ve competed in enough relay races to recognize how difficult it can be to recruit enough people, let alone make sure they all show up on race day. For that reason, we’re doing things differently at the Charles River Half Marathon Relay. Teams can consist of two, three, or four runners per team, male or female. Each runner may run one, two, or three, laps of the course, for a total of four laps per team. Any runner completing more than one lap must do so consecutively. So runner #1 on a 4-runner team cannot complete lap #1, then rest up and also complete lap #4. Team size and lap assignments must be finalized before the start of the race. Please submit your team's roster and lap assignments form here.

5K: Female and male champions

Dogs and strollers: Sorry, while dogs and strollers are typically welcome in our events, sadly we can’t allow either in this event.

We love our volunteers!
This race would not be possible without the generous support of over 30 volunteers. If you're running, please thank them! If you'd like to volunteer, THANK YOU!

Volunteer roles and responsibilities typically go something like this:

Registration

Registration volunteers assist with setting up the registration area, which includes tables, signs, bib numbers, safety pins, pens, and race swag items which may includes t-shirts or other wearables. As runners arrive, volunteers will help runners retrieve their number from a list, get their bib number, distribute safety pins, and distribute appropriate swag items. After registration is complete, volunteers will clean up any remaining items and store them until they can be returned to the truck. Tables used for registration are often used for the post race party, and often re-arranged rather than put away.

Bag​ ​Check

Volunteers will help with checking in runners bags in the Bag Check area. Before the race, volunteers will help set up a secure area that is large enough to arrange many bags. Materials needed include bag tags, markers, and trash bags. Runners will be given a tag to write their bib number on which should be attached to their bag. Bag Check volunteers will take the bags and arrange them numerically so they can be easily found when the runners return. The bag check area must always be attended and secure.

Course​ ​Marshals

Course Marshals assist with setting up the signage and cones along the course before the race. During the race, course marshals direct the runners along the correct course and ensure the safety of the runners by alerting other walkers, cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. After the race is complete, course marshals help clean up the signage, cones and any other materials along the race course.

Water​ ​Stations

Water Station volunteers assist with setting up the water stations along the course before the race starts. Water stations are equipped with tables, paper cups, gloves, water, and trash bags. Water should be pre-poured into cups (half-filled) before the runners arrive. Some volunteers should hold out half-filled cups and offer them to runners as they pass as others fill additional cups. After the last runners have passed, volunteers should clean up all cups and place them in garbage bags. All materials should be broken down and returned to the Start/Finish area.

Start/Finish​ ​Crew

Volunteers assigned to the start/finish area will assist with setting up the start/finish line banners, signage, cones and other materials. Volunteers will help runners line up for the race and ensure the race starts smoothly (with the assistance of the race director and staff). When the first male and female runner finishes, volunteers will hold a finish line tape for the runner to run through. After the race, volunteers will help clean up the start/finish area and load race equipment and materials into a truck.

2025 Results / Photos

2024 Results / Photos

2018 Results

2018 Photos album 1 // 2018 photos album 2

The recently renovated Studio Allston Hotel is conveniently located nearby on Soldier's Field Road.

Location: American Legion Marsh Post #442 - 5 Greenough Blvd, Cambridge, MA

Public Transportation: Plan your trip with the MBTA's Transit Near Me site. Harvard Square MBTA Station is less than one mile away. The 71 & 73 buses will drop you off .4 mile away at Mount Auburn Hospital, and the 66 & 86 buses will drop you off .5 mile away by Harvard Stadium.

Parking:
There's a free public parking lot across the street on Greenough Boulevard next to the BB&N School
There are four free public parking lots across the river on Soldiers Field Road, the largest being lot #4 at 1101 Soldiers Field Road, which is also the turn exit for Everett Street. Lot #4 is a .75 mile walk from the Marsh Post.
There's ample street parking in the neighborhood around Mount Auburn Hospital.

In the event of inclement weather, the event may be postponed to another date. No refunds will be issued due to conflicts with the postponement date. If RACE must cancel the event due to circumstances beyond their control, no refunds will be issued. Please remember, all proceeds go to charity.