Featuring a run through the urban parkland areas of Rockville and Bethesda, Maryland, the Parks Half Marathon takes runners on a point-to-point race through the city’s parks that follow along the Rock Creek Stream Valley, which flows through one of the most populated areas of Maryland’s Montgomery County.
Made up mostly of a mix of flat stretches and gently rolling hills, the course begins north of Rockville and takes runners southward along the Rock Creek Stream Valley to the finish line in nearby Bethesda, and a changing mix of surfaces, from fast and flat paved roads to crushed gravel trails at some points.
From the starting line near the intersection of Redland Road and Sommerville Avenue over the metro overpass, runners begin the course along Needwood Road before entering Needwood Park around mile 2.
The course continues along the paved surfaces of the park before heading onto the hiking and biking trail inside the park, which organizers request that participants run just two runners abreast, to allow those running at faster or slower paces to move up and back among the field.
Along the 13.1-mile race route, runners will run past many of the area’s tourist attractions and through several of its scenic parks, including the Audubon Society sanctuary, Dewey Park and Ken-Gar Palisades Parks, and the Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase.
Runners follow the course all the way along the stream valley before turning onto Beach Drive just north of Bethesda and crossing the finish line there.
