Boston's only other marathon,
where 33% BQ'd in 2019!
// 2021 RESULTS HERE //
Join us for the 5th annual Charles River Marathon on October 31st, 2021. This flat, fast BQ-eligible course attracts runners from across the United States and overseas to Boston's beautiful Herter Park. If you think 33% BQ'd is impressive, you should've seen our 2017 runners, when over 47% qualified for Boston!
The race is comprised of ten laps on a flat, fast 2.6 mile loop on paved paths around Boston's scenic Charles River, starting and finishing at the DCR’s Herter Park in Boston, MA. Our course is USATF-certified, and this eligible as a qualifier for the 2022 Boston Marathon.
Total cost = entry fee + fundraising (or additional donation)
Entry fee:
$60 Aug 25 to Aug 31
$75 Sep 1 to Sep 30
$100 starting Oct 1
Fundraising:
Additionally, each entrant must raise at least $100 via their personal fundraising page by October 30th. Entrants may "purchase" an additional donation during the registration process and have that applied to their fundraising page, or make the donation on their own fundraising page which is created when registering.
Perks
Race entry includes a finisher’s medal, an embroidered hat, a tech shirt, and post-race food & drink at the Marsh Post (H2O-2 on the course.) UPDATE 10/28: Due to the cancelation of the Cape Cod Marathon, we cannot guarantee hats or shirts to anyone who registered after 10:00AM Thursday 10/28. We will have enough medals!
Entry fees are non-refundable. Failure to meet the fundraising minimum by the deadline forfeits your race entry.
NUMBER PICK-UP :
You must show your photo ID to get your bib.
Saturday, Oct 30th: 3pm-5pm, Marsh Post #442 - 5 Greenough Blvd, Cambridge, MA (H20-2 on the course)
Sunday, Oct 31st: 5:30 am to 6:30 am - Registration tents at the race start/finish area, 1175 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA
RACE DAY SCHEDULE:
5:30 am – Check-in opens
6:30 am - BYOB station opens (just past start line)
6:45 am - Check-in closes
6:50 am - Start staging and pre-race announcements
7:00 am – START
10:30 am – Awards Ceremony at Start/Finish – Overall Winners (top 3 women & men)
10:35 am - Post-race food & drink opens at Marsh Post, (H2O-2 on the course)
11:30 am – Awards Ceremony at Start/Finish – Age Group Winners (top 3)
11:30 am - Time limit for runners age 59 and under
12:00 pm - Time limit for runners age 60 and over
12:30 pm - Post-race food & drink closes
The marathon course is USATF certified and thus eligible as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. We start the race with a .2 mile opening loop around the start/finish park at a controlled pace (no faster than 6:00/mile) before embarking on the first of ten laps of the 2.6 mile course. The course is primarily flat, running along the river. There's a short (about 50' long) climb with a sharp left to cross the Eliot Bridge, which may start feeling pretty steep later in the race. Other than that, it's flat and fast.
We will have portable toilets on the course at H2O-2 and H2O-3, as well as at 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.
Interactive course map here. // Course preview video here.
BODYARMOR Hydration Stations: There will be three BODYARMOR Hydration Stations on the 2.6 mile loop: two along Greenough Boulevard, and one at the start/finish line. The station at the start/finish line will have BODYARMOR Edge caffeinated sports drink and spring water. The stations on the Greenough Boulevard side of the course (H20-2 & H20-3 on map) will have Orange Mango sports drink, as well as spring water. We'll also have GU gels (vanilla, salted caramel, and more), and mini-pretzels at the water stations.
Self-Serve BYOB Station: There will be a self-serve BYO bottle station just before the start/finish line on the left. We'll have tape and sharpies to mark your bottle, which gets organized by bib range. Grab it and go, then drop it in the designated area further down the course and a volunteer will return it to the table for your next lap. Save yourself some time by labeling your bottle with your last name and bib number before you arrive.
Top 3 overall (women & men)
Age group awards (women & men): 18-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60+.
Overall awards are based on gun time. AG awards are based on chip (net) time. Prizes can only be claimed at the awards ceremony.
Time limits:
Due to permitting restrictions and volunteer constraints, the marathon will have time limit of 4 hours and 30 minutes for runners age 59 and younger. Runners 60 and older will have the time limit extended to 5 hours.
Dogs and strollers: Sorry, while dogs and strollers are typically welcome in our events, we can’t allow either in this event.
Pacing: We acknowledge that recruiting friends to help pace you during a marathon is common practice, and especially tempting on a ten lap course. We’ve capped the field size for safety reasons due to narrow paths, especially along the bridges. We may have pace groups if there’s enough demand. If you want someone to pace you, they must be an official entrant or you risk disqualification. For more info, refer to USATF rule 144 (page 58.) Since most runners will be chasing a BQ at this event, we expect there will be a USATF official in attendance.
If you plan to run with a place group, please sign up here.
We expect to have pace leaders for the following groups, aiming for a finishing time three minutes faster than each BQ time. Some groups are harder to fill than others and we can't guarantee coverage for every group for the entire race. If you know someone who can help, please direct them to sign up at racemenu.com/charles
- 6:45/mile (2:57 group)
- 6:56/mile (3:02 group)
- 7:08/mile (3:07 group)
- 7:31/mile (3:17 group)
- 7:43/mile (3:22 group)
- 7:54/mile (3:27 group)
- 8:05/mile (3:32 group)
- 8:17/mile (3:37 group)
- 8:39/mile (3:47 group)
- 8:52/mile (3:52 group)
- 9:14/mile (4:02 group)
- 9:48/mile (4:17 group)
- 10:23/mile (4:32 group)
Pacing: We acknowledge that recruiting friends to help pace you during a marathon is common practice, and especially tempting on a ten lap course. We’ve capped the field size for safety reasons due to narrow paths, especially along the bridges. If you want someone to pace you, they must be running as an official entrant or registered pacer, or you risk disqualification. Our pacers are capped at seven laps. No pacer is authorized to run more than seven laps. For more info, refer to USATF rule 144 (page 58.) Since most runners will be chasing a BQ at this event, a USATF official will be in attendance.
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! Please sign up at racemenu.com/charles
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.
Boston hotels are pricey, and our course is close to great residential neighborhoods, so we suggest starting with Airbnb.
The recently renovated Studio Allston Hotel is conveniently located across the street from the start/finish line.
The Residence Inn Boston-Watertown, built in 2017, is just one mile away from the start/finish line and close to shopping centers and several restaurants.
Location: Herter Park/Artesani Playground, 1175 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA
Public Transportation: Harvard Square Station is a 1 mile walk The 70, 70a, and 86 bus will drop you a .1 mile walk at Western Ave & Everett St. Plan your trip here: Google Trip Planner
Parking: There’s a large parking area (lot #4) at 1175 Soldiers Field Road – the dog-leg for Everett Street which is adjacent to the start/finish area.
In the event of inclement weather or a global pandemic, the event may be postponed to another date. No refunds will be considered due to conflicts with the postponement date unless your required fundraising minimum has been met. If RACE must cancel the event due to circumstances beyond our control, no refunds will be issued. Please remember, all proceeds go to charity.
Sorry, we do not allow bib transfers in the Charles River Marathon.
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