How hilly is the Parks Half Marathon (Rockville)?
The Parks Half Marathon (Rockville) is described as net downhill. The course listing puts the climb at 116 m.
Parks Half Marathon (Rockville) Half Marathon
This race edition
- Race date
- Date not confirmed for this distance
- Race timezone
- Timezone not confirmed
- Edition status
- Status not confirmed
Entry options
2026 edition
Entry options are not yet confirmed for this edition. Check the organiser before making plans.
Decision summary
Parks Half Marathon (Rockville) Half Marathon at a glance
- Cut-off average pace
- 9:15/km
- Typical conditions
- 55/100
- Evidence depth
- 45 verified facts
3:15:00 total limit divided by distance. Check gun/chip timing and intermediate limits; allow time for stops.
Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast
Source facts available
Route details
Known course facts at a glance
Parks Half Marathon (Rockville) Half Marathon has known course details for its half marathon race. The summary below keeps the focus on what is confirmed for the course.
- Official distance
- 21.1 km
- Terrain
- Road, Trail
- Scenery
- Riverside, City, Parkland, Forest, Countryside
Quick answers
What runners ask first
Where does the Parks Half Marathon (Rockville) route go?
The Parks Half Marathon (Rockville) route starts at Metro overpass on Redland Road just north of Somerville Road, near the Shady Grove Metro station, Rockville, MD 20850 and finishes at Beach Drive just south of the Grosvenor Metro station, with a post-race festival; the Grosvenor Metro is a few hundred yards north of the finish. Underfoot, expect primarily asphalt; roughly 12 miles run on the asphalt Rock Creek hiker/biker trail, with some narrow sections and wooden bridges that can be slick when wet. It passes Shady Grove Metro, Needwood Road, Needwood Park, Rock Creek hiker/biker trail and Rock Creek Stream Valley. Post-race festival at the finish with refreshments (bagels, cookies, bananas) for participants.
What should runners know on race day for the Parks Half Marathon (Rockville)?
Baggage Check located near packet pickup on Somerville Road; bags must be dropped by 6:35am and are retrieved at the finish line. 6. Official pacers available for finishing times from 1:30 to 3:15. Post-race festival at the finish with refreshments (bagels, cookies, bananas) for participants.
Race character
Scenery
- Riverside
- City
- Parkland
- Forest
- Countryside
Atmosphere
- Community
- Scenic Tour
- Charity
Terrain
- Road
- Trail
- Elevation character
- Net Downhill
- Technicality
- Moderate
- Source-stated ascent
- 116 m
- Net elevation
- -30 m
Entry, logistics and records
Entry requirements
- Entry status
- Open entry: The held registration model is open entry and this edition is not marked sold out.
- Cut-off
- 3 hours 15 minutes; all participants must maintain a minimum pace of 15:00 per mile.
- Qualification status
- Half marathon distance; not a Boston qualifier. USATF Certified course.
Race day logistics
- Aid stations
- 6
- Pacers
- Official pacers available for finishing times from 1:30 to 3:15.
- Bag drop
- Baggage Check located near packet pickup on Somerville Road; bags must be dropped by 6:35am and are retrieved at the finish line.
- Expo / packet pickup
- Packet pickup the Saturday before race day (10:00am-6:00pm) at RnJ Sports, 11910-R Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852, with limited race-morning pickup outside the Shady Grove Metro parking lot.
- Medal
- Finisher's medals awarded at the finish line.
Access and course status
- Start
- Metro overpass on Redland Road just north of Somerville Road, near the Shady Grove Metro station, Rockville, MD 20850.
- Finish
- Beach Drive just south of the Grosvenor Metro station, with a post-race festival; the Grosvenor Metro is a few hundred yards north of the finish.
- Nearest station
- Shady Grove Metro (start) and Grosvenor Metro (finish); parking is free on weekends in the Shady Grove Metro lot
Course facts
- Course type
- Point To Point
- Surface
- Primarily asphalt; roughly 12 miles run on the asphalt Rock Creek hiker/biker trail, with some narrow sections and wooden bridges that can be slick when wet.
- Landmarks
- Shady Grove Metro, Needwood Road, Needwood Park, Rock Creek hiker/biker trail, Rock Creek Stream Valley, Beach Drive, Grosvenor Metro
- Notable features
- Continues the tradition of its predecessor event, Marathon in the Parks, and is administered by MCRRC, one of the largest non-profit running organizations in the country, which runs more than 50 races a year
- Post-race festival at the finish with refreshments (bagels, cookies, bananas) for participants
- The vast majority of the course travels through preserved parkland along the Rock Creek Stream Valley, an area of exceptional natural beauty, giving a new perspective for a major metropolitan race
What are typical race-day conditions?
- 19°CTypical temperature
- 15 kphTypical wind
- 5 mmTypical rainfall
- 55Favourability /100