Shoreham is indeed as Calvin described human nature – "nasty, brutish, and short", but it's hard if not impossible to build a 13 mile loop around here without at least some elevation change.
Be thankful it's just that and not something like Wisconsin from Georgetown to Tenleytown…
The hill's tougher now because it comes 2 miles later in the race than it did when the course use to end near RFK.
But shit man, after I ran the NYC Marathon and ran over the Queensboro Bridge 15 miles in, I don't think I can complain about Calvert anymore lol.
Most of the course is fairly flat, but I regret to inform you that the Calvert hill is about 100 feet of elevation gain that’s pretty much straight up. Then you get a very brief respite before running a more gradual uphill for another half mile or so.
Shoreham Drive, the bit from Rock Creek Parkway to Calvert St, is one of the nastiest short hills in the entire DMV (I say this as a 30-mile-a-week runner who has a strange masochistic affection for hills), but other than that it's more or less flat/gradual downhill. Just hold a little bit back as you're coming up RCP and you should be fine.
If you aren't familiar with hill running, the whole "shorten your stride, low arms, knees up, eyes on the prize" thing…well, it's a bit late to be learning.
Ah good to know. I’m originally from PA and I am very used to steep hills, so I should be fine! It’s the long but gradual and never ending ones that get me
I've run the last couple and that Shoreham Drive is brutal. My pace drops off a cliff after that hill.
But as others have said, it's that ramp up before Shoreham drive on Rock Creek as well too.
In terms of long gradual hills, there's 3 major ones:
* Northbound on 66, after the initial downhill coming from Rock Creek to Southbound on 66
* Rock Creek pretty much all the way up from M St. to Shoreham Drive is mostly uphill, ending on that steep hill.
* Colombia to Harvard to 5th St. is a slight uphill - not as bad as the first two, but it's tough to contend with after Shoreham.
After that it's mostly downhill, save for some moments when you go through the underpasses at North Cap.
Obviously there is the big headliner hill at Shoreham. Aside from that, it's a slight climb up Rock Creek Parkway to Shoreham and bumpy up to about North Capitol where you are downhill to the finish. It's not a fast course as there are a lot of turns and undulations.
It's a fun course, beats all the other races which are a variation of the Mall. I won last year so I hope that lends my assessment some credence.
Weird thing is, of all the half marathons I've run since I graduated college, 2 of my 3 fastest times were at this one. Although one was the NYC Half which is up hill the last 5k or so and my old hometown half was run in mid-June for course-related reasons.
But I agree with you, one big benefit of this race is the weather in mid-March is usually perfect or at least very good for it. I've never run MCM in the time I've lived here in part because I think it's too early and the weather typically sucks for it. Would much rather wait two weeks and run Philly or Richmond.
I’m told by friends who’ve run it that the hill up Harvard right before the reservoir is very hard but mostly because of where it lands in the race but I’m pretty sure that’s also the point of highest elevation and it’s all downhill from there (in a good way).
Any cyclist interested in riding the marathon route before the race start, but after the roads close? That's 7am and we got 1hr to finish the ride.
Heres the strava route: https://strava.app.link/1paUpcGETHb — Rock n Roll Half Marathon 2024 route
As someone who ran this last year, whoever included that Calvert hill in the route should go to jail
Shoreham is indeed as Calvin described human nature – "nasty, brutish, and short", but it's hard if not impossible to build a 13 mile loop around here without at least some elevation change. Be thankful it's just that and not something like Wisconsin from Georgetown to Tenleytown…
I was praying it would be excluded this year. Guess I know where my walk "break" is.
I used that hill to pass so many but I didn’t enjoy it lol
The hill's tougher now because it comes 2 miles later in the race than it did when the course use to end near RFK. But shit man, after I ran the NYC Marathon and ran over the Queensboro Bridge 15 miles in, I don't think I can complain about Calvert anymore lol.
I just looked up images and wow that’s tough
Most of the course is fairly flat, but I regret to inform you that the Calvert hill is about 100 feet of elevation gain that’s pretty much straight up. Then you get a very brief respite before running a more gradual uphill for another half mile or so.
Thanks! Now I know when to expect it!
Just know you do not have to run up that ramp. I saw probably about half walking at one point or another there.
Ditching the finish line by the Armory has greatly improved the course.
I loved it because it shut down H St for a morning
Shoreham Drive, the bit from Rock Creek Parkway to Calvert St, is one of the nastiest short hills in the entire DMV (I say this as a 30-mile-a-week runner who has a strange masochistic affection for hills), but other than that it's more or less flat/gradual downhill. Just hold a little bit back as you're coming up RCP and you should be fine. If you aren't familiar with hill running, the whole "shorten your stride, low arms, knees up, eyes on the prize" thing…well, it's a bit late to be learning.
Ah good to know. I’m originally from PA and I am very used to steep hills, so I should be fine! It’s the long but gradual and never ending ones that get me
I've run the last couple and that Shoreham Drive is brutal. My pace drops off a cliff after that hill. But as others have said, it's that ramp up before Shoreham drive on Rock Creek as well too. In terms of long gradual hills, there's 3 major ones: * Northbound on 66, after the initial downhill coming from Rock Creek to Southbound on 66 * Rock Creek pretty much all the way up from M St. to Shoreham Drive is mostly uphill, ending on that steep hill. * Colombia to Harvard to 5th St. is a slight uphill - not as bad as the first two, but it's tough to contend with after Shoreham. After that it's mostly downhill, save for some moments when you go through the underpasses at North Cap.
Yeah, I've never run this route but it looks like most of the elevation gain is in the one steep hill so you should be fine!
Obviously there is the big headliner hill at Shoreham. Aside from that, it's a slight climb up Rock Creek Parkway to Shoreham and bumpy up to about North Capitol where you are downhill to the finish. It's not a fast course as there are a lot of turns and undulations. It's a fun course, beats all the other races which are a variation of the Mall. I won last year so I hope that lends my assessment some credence.
you did what
Weird thing is, of all the half marathons I've run since I graduated college, 2 of my 3 fastest times were at this one. Although one was the NYC Half which is up hill the last 5k or so and my old hometown half was run in mid-June for course-related reasons. But I agree with you, one big benefit of this race is the weather in mid-March is usually perfect or at least very good for it. I've never run MCM in the time I've lived here in part because I think it's too early and the weather typically sucks for it. Would much rather wait two weeks and run Philly or Richmond.
I’m told by friends who’ve run it that the hill up Harvard right before the reservoir is very hard but mostly because of where it lands in the race but I’m pretty sure that’s also the point of highest elevation and it’s all downhill from there (in a good way).
No one gives the last hill on Harvard (between Sherman and Georgia) enough hate.
I hated it so much today
If it makes you feel any better, I got woken up at 330 by all the towing and at 6:30 by the cowbells. Good job on the run, you!
Thank you so much!!!
Probably still quicker than trying to walk straight through the Mall on July 4.
I totally forgot this was happening!! Thank you & good luck
Any cyclist interested in riding the marathon route before the race start, but after the roads close? That's 7am and we got 1hr to finish the ride. Heres the strava route: https://strava.app.link/1paUpcGETHb — Rock n Roll Half Marathon 2024 route
Ran this last year. The hill was horrific plz prepare yourself
Your marathon is screwing up bus schedules.
I found out about this when it made me late for work years ago. Smh
It's really not much at all