HALF MARATHON COURSE

Course Map

Please note the half marathon route is subject to change.

 

Course Description

Get ready for beautiful water views, breathtaking communities and tranquil runs down country lanes! All this and more when you run the St. Michaels Running Festival Half Marathon.

You have to experience for yourself the flattest certified half marathon in the mid-Atlantic region. On SMRF's half, you can set a new PR on our USATF certified FLAT and FAST course. With an elevation that averages between 8 and 10 feet (with its highest peak at 16 feet) you are certain to enjoy the scenic views and serene setting while cruising along our course.

You'll start out at the St. Michaels school campus and head right down the center of historic and charming main street. After leaving town, the course heads out to the Martingham community before heading to Chance Hope Farm community traversing the Miles River! After leaving the breathtaking waterfront community of Chance Hope, you gently wind around the tranquil golf course community of Martingham and head back toward town. As you make your way back to St. Michaels, you'll head down a gentle and tranquil country road culminating in a loop through another waterfront community of Mt. Pleasant Landing. The route then returns you to the heart of St. Michaels where you'll be greeted by spectators cheering your finish and a rocking after party.

Course Time Limit: 3 hours 30 minutes (16:01/mile pace)

Aid Stations

 
 

First Aid and Medical Stations

The Talbot County DES, EMS and medical services will be stationed at the start, finish, and various locations on the half marathon course. First aid stations will be located at the start and finish. If you feel like you are having a medical problem which requires assistance, please head to the one of the first aid stations for assistance.

If you are on the race course and experience a problem and cannot finish the race, please head to the nearest water station. Let the station captain know you cannot complete the race and they will contact 911 and request immediate help. EMS, medical personnel and local authorities can withdraw any participant who they feel is at risk of personal health hazard or safety.

Half Marathon Course Records

Record Holder Home Town Course Record Date est.
Peyton Hoyle Thomaston, GA 1:08:13 May 16, 2015
Natalie Atabek Baltimore, MD 1:21:26 August 21, 2021

Course Certification

The St. Michaels Running Festival half marathon (13.1 miles) is run on a USATF certified course (MD15010LMJ).
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What is course certification?

The purpose of the USATF course certification program is to produce road race courses of accurately measured distances. For any road running performance to be accepted as a record or be nationally ranked, it must be run on a USATF-certified course. In addition, the certification program is very important to the average road racer, as well as those of exceptional speed. Most runners like to compare performances run on different courses, and such comparisons are difficult if course distances are not reliable. No one can truly establish a personal best if the course distance is not accurate.

Above text taken from the USATF website - Click here  to find out more about USATF certification

Course Management. Safety, and Support

We want to send out a huge amount of appreciation to our local authorities, EMS personnel, volunteer fire departments, race crew volunteers and locals who make this race possible. Let’s take a moment to recognize and appreciation a few of the organizations and people that run “the marathon” before the race:

  • The Commissioners of St. Michaels

  • The St. Michaels Police Department

  • Talbot County DES

  • The St. Michaels VFD

  • The Maryland State Police

  • The Talbot Count EMS

  • Talbot Count Department of Tourism

  • Tilghman Island VFD

  • Over 300 race crew volunteers

  • Residents of St. Michaels

  • The Saint Michaels Tourism Board

  • Residents of Bay Hundred Community

  • Residents of Martingham and Chance Hope

Everyone listed above works incredibly hard as a team in order to make SMRF a fun, worry free and safe race. We have received so many compliments since our 2012 inaugural event highlighting how safe runners felt along our courses and what an enjoyable experience it is. This is a direct result of the efforts by this team, volunteers who were excited/friendly/enthusiastic, and several communities cooperating patiently to welcome our runners and to cheer them on along the course.

If you have a moment while you’re in town, please let the volunteers, EMS personnel and authorities know what a wonderful job they’re doing and how much their efforts are recognized and appreciated.