2026 Hua Sports 5K, Half Marathon and Marathon
Date and time
Saturday, October 3, 2026 · 7:00 PM
Location
3701 Canal Road, Point Of Rocks, MD
Date and time
Saturday, October 3, 2026 · 7:00 PM
Location
3701 Canal Road, Point Of Rocks, MD
Date and time
Saturday, October 3, 2026 · 7:00 PM
Location
3701 Canal Road, Point Of Rocks, MD
REGISTRATION LINK
Join us for a 5K, half marathon, or marathon along the scenic C&O Canal Towpath, starting and finishing in Point of Rocks, MD. This out-and-back course follows the Potomac River on a wide, semi-paved gravel path—flat, shaded by trees, and perfect for setting a personal record. It is a USATF-sanctioned event on USATF-certified courses and can be used for qualifying for the Boston Marathon.
Organized by the Chinese running community in the greater Washington, D.C. area, this is one of the most friendly and best-supported races around. Enjoy delicious food and drinks after the run, along with T-shirts and medals for all finishers. Cash prizes will be awarded to top finishers—and lucky runners too!
USATF Course Certification: MD25003NP(5k); MD24002NP (half-marathon); MD25002NP (marathon).
The Course
The course follows the C&O Canal Trail to the east—a flat, shaded gravel path—before returning to the start. The start and finish lines are the same for the 5K, half-marathon, and marathon. There are no significant hills on any of the race courses. While the C&O Canal Trail is closed to motorized vehicles, it remains open to walkers, cyclists, and other runners; please remain alert and courteous to all trail users.
Packet Pickup
You can pick up your packet on race day, Sunday October 4, 2026, from 6:00 AM to 6:45 AM. If you are local and in the Hua Sports running club, we ask that you make an effort to pick up your packet before the race day up to 2 weeks ago. We ask that you provide a photo ID at packet pick up. You may pick up packets for other runners if you provide a photo of their ID and a note (which can be an e-mail or text) authorizing you to pick up the packet for the other person(s).
Age Limit
Runners must be at least 8 years of age on race day for the 5k, at least 13 years of age on race day for the half-marathon and at least 16 years of age on race day for the marathon.
Race Conditions
The average high temperature for Point of Rocks, Maryland for the early of October is 70 degrees, and the average low temperature is 47 degrees. Of course, weather is unpredictable, and snow and rain or other conditions are possible. If the conditions are icy or snowy resulting in unsafe conditions the race will be canceled and will be notified by email in advance.
Time Limit and Timing
Time limit: The marathon and the half-marathon will start promptly at 7:00 AM & 7:15 AM. The marathon course will remain open for 5 hours 30 minutes (approximately a 12:36 pace). Course support will be withdrawn at 12:30 PM. If you don't think you can complete the marathon course within the specified time limit, please consider switching to the half-marathon. There is no time limit for the half-marathon and 5k.
Race timing will be provided by Blue Cheetah, and the results will be available on Run Sign Up website on the race day.
Questions concerning results can be e-mailed to: info@huasports.org
Medical Aid
First Aid personnel will be stationed at the finish line and all water stations; additionally, mobile medical teams will be roving the course to respond to any emergencies.
Aid Stations and Porta Pots
There will be two aid stations on the half-marathon course each of which the runners will pass twice. One is located at Nolands Ferry. (approximately mile 3.6 heading east and mile 9.5 heading west). The other is located at Monocacy Aqueduct (approximately mile 6 heading east and mile 7.1 headed west).
Marathon runners will also have access to the two above-mentioned aid stations, and three aid stations that are only on the marathon portion of the course, all of which runners will pass twice. There will be aid stations: (1) Dickerson Conservation Park (approximately mile 8.5 heading east and mile 17.7 heading west); (2) close to Marble Quarry Campsite. (approximately mile 10.5 heading east and mile 15.7 heading west); (3) White Ferry. (approximately mile 12.6 heading east and mile 13.6 heading west).
All aid stations will have water, Gatorade and bananas available.
Porta pots will be placed at the start and finish location.
Race Rules
You must run the race for which you are registered. If you register for the marathon but decide mid-race to only run the half-marathon you will be scored DNF for the marathon and will not be considered to have run the half-marathon.
IMPORTANT: No headphones; no strollers; no animals that are not service animals. This applies to the marathon, the half-marathon and the 5k.
If you feel you need to use ear buds, we ask that you only wear one. We want you to be fully aware of ambient sounds as you run. The C&O Canal Trail is open to the general public so, in addition to those running the race, other runners, bikers, walkers, and roller bladers will be free to use the trail. We want you to be fully aware of your surroundings at all times.
Because the trail will be open to the general public during the entire marathon and half marathon, we ask that you observe common rules of running etiquette. Please, do your best to keep to the right side of the trail. If you have items you want to dispose of, we ask that you do so at one of the aid stations. If that is not possible, please try to leave any discarded items by a mile maker so we can pick them up when we retrieve the mile markers.
Awards
All participants receive a race premium t-shirt (T-Shirt is not available for registration after 9/4/26). All finishers will receive a commemorative medal.
There will be awards for the male and female overall top 3 winners of both the marathon, the half-marathon and the 5k. In addition, there will be awards for male and female runners who finish at the top 3 of the below categories for the marathon and the half-marathon.
Master - 40 & over Grand Master - 50 & over
Runners who place top 3 overall in their race are not eligible to also win the above categories.
Bag Drop
We will not be offering a bag drop. Please leave your bag in your car and the parking lot is not far from the starting line.
Parking
Parking is available in the start location. Volunteers will direct traffic on race day. Please follow the directions given by the volunteers.
Travel
The closest airport to the race is Thurgood Marshall Baltimore Washington International (BWI).
Post Race
Post race refreshments will be available at the finish area.
Free photos for the race so you can memorialize your run!
Registration Rules:
No Refunds, No Deferrals, No Bib Transfers
If you registered for the Marathon, the Half Marathon or the 5k and, for whatever reason you are unable to run with us on race day, you will not be entitled to a refund of your registration fee, you will not have an opportunity to defer registration to a future race, and you will not be allowed to transfer your bib to another runner. Please carefully consider this policy when registering for either the Marathon, the Half Marathon or the 5K.
Changing Registration from Marathon to Half Marathon or Half Marathon to Marathon If you register for the Marathon and decide that you would rather run the Half Marathon, you may switch your registration via your RunSignup account. You can make this change until August 31, 2026, thereafter you can request a change at packet pick up. There is no refund if you downgrade.
If you registered for the Half Marathon but would like to switch your registration to the Marathon you can do so via your RunSignup account up until August 31, 2026. You may also change your registration at packet pick up.
REGISTRATION LINK
5K
Half marathon
Marathon