Cherry Pit - 10 miler

The Annapolis Ten Mile Run is a 10-mile foot race organized by the Annapolis Striders, Inc., a 1000 member, all volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Established in 1978 in Annapolis, Maryland, the club promotes physical fitness and mental well-being through distance running. The race is conducted according to the road racing guidelines of the Road Runners Club of America.

The race has been listed as one of the top ten 10-mile races in the country by Runner’s World Magazine. It is a beautiful run through historic Annapolis and over the Severn River. We celebrated our 50th annual running on August 24, 2025. A comprehensive history of the race, compiled by Club Historian Dan Symancyk, can be found here: https://www.annapolisstriders.org/the-history-of-the-annapolis-ten-mile-run-1976-2025/.

The Annapolis Ten Mile Run has been selected as the 2026 RRCA Maryland State 10 Mile Championship! We are grateful for the recognition of our continued commitment to excellence.

Volunteer

Hundreds of volunteers are needed to put on this event. If you have family or friends willing to help out, and get a great 2026 Volunteer’s shirt, please let us know. TO VOLUNTEER: Email Eva Coale, our volunteer coordinator, at a10volunteers@annapolisstriders.org.

The 17th annual Annapolis RUN for The Light House provides scenic half-marathon and 5k routes along the trails of Quiet Waters Park and through the beautiful Chesapeake Bay-front community of Hillsmere Shores. This race event is unlike any other in the greater Annapolis area!

All proceeds from the RUN for The Light House will benefit The Light House in Annapolis, a well-known public charity working to end the cycle of homelessness and poverty. The race is organized by Friends of The Light House, Inc., also a public charity, and timing and race management are provided by T3 Race Management.

Location

Sassafras Pavilion in Quiet Waters Park - 600 Quiet Waters Park Rd, Annapolis, MD 21403

Dates

In-Person - Sunday, September 20, 2026

Virtual - Friday, September 18 - Sunday, September 20, 2026

Race Starts

8:00am Half Marathon - 11:00am (must finish in 3 hours)

8:45am 5K

9:00am 1.25 mile Walk

All Half Marathon participants should be at the starting line no later than 7:45am and 5K by 8:30am. All participants must finish by 11:00am.

Registration and Race Entry Fee Information

Half Marathon

Until July 1st - $99.58 (includes fees)

July 1st - September 1st - $115.48 (includes fees)

From September 1st to Race Day - $129.26 (includes fees)

5k

Until July 1st - $49.76 (includes fees)

July 1st - September 1st - $54 (includes fees)

From September 1st to Race Day - $64.60 (includes fees)

1.25 Mile Walk - $27.50 (includes fees)

Virtual Half Marathon - $32.80 (extra fee for shirt)

Virtual 5K - $32.80 (extra fee for shirt)

Please note that registrations are limited. Registration is available online through September 16, 2026, or until we SELL OUT! If the race is not filled by this date, late registration may be available at packet pick-up and race day until sold out. Shirts are not guaranteed if ordered past August 1st.

In-Person Race Fee Includes

Commemorative race running shirt

5k - Technical Short Sleeve

Half Marathon - Technical Long Sleeve

Finisher Medal In-person Half Marathon and 5k Finishers

Race support and beverage stations - Post Race Breakfast

Timing bib (5k and Half Only)

Rules

• All participants must finish by 11:00 AM

• All participants in the Half Marathon must be at least 12 years old

• All participants in the 5k must be at least 6 years old

• No headphones

• Runners only, no wheels, no strollers

• No pets

• Stay to the right unless passing

• The timing bib must be worn as directed to be officially scored.

Packet Pick Up Instructions - Saturday, September 19th at The Light House Shelter, 10 Hudson

(Half Marathoners and 5K runners Only!) ~ (Walkers: There is NO packet pick-up for you, we look forward to seeing you on race day!)

DATE: Saturday, September 20, 2026

TIME: 8:00am - Noon

LOCATION: The Light House, 10 Hudson Street, Annapolis, MD 21401

(Note: this is a different location than the race)

DRIVE THRU Pick-Up - Stay in you vehicle

Turn on to Hudson Street

Turn Left into The Light House parking lot

Pull up to Table, please stay in your car and someone will bring your Packet to you

Please pull straight ahead; take a left to exit out of the parking lot onto Willow St.

There is no mailed race packet option. For in-person participants, packets include BIB and safety pins, a race shirt, and a swag bag.

Awards

● There will be finisher medals for the Half Marathoners and 5k!

● Super cool Awards will be for the top 3 finishers in various age categories

Volunteers

Volunteering at the RUN is super fun and a great way to help The Light House! Students can receive service hours for volunteering! (children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult)

Please click the link and fill out the VOLUNTEER FORM. HERE

Photos!

We love seeing your pre and post-race photos! TAG US at @FriendsOfTheLightHouse .

You can post them directly to the RunSignup photo page HERE, or email them to events@friendslhs.org with your permission to post.

Race Results

In-person race results will be monitored by T3 Race Management and posted to RunSignUp.com.

Virtual race participants must submit results by heading to the RunSignUp.com Results Page by Sunday, September 14th at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Click Here

BREAKFAST Donation Drive

Help fill our Light House Food Pantry: Donations can be dropped off at Packet Pick-Up or on Race Day.

• Boxed cold cereal - smaller boxes are best

• Instant oatmeal - packets or microwave cups

• Cereal/breakfast bars

• Canned fruits/fruit cups - preferably pop tops

• Shelf-stable milk - 32oz box most needed size

• Shelf stable fruit juice - 100% juice, 32oz or smaller bottles

Parking

Parking can be found throughout Quiet Waters Park. There will be signs and volunteers directing you to parking options on Race Day. No parking is allowed on the grass or anywhere that is not a designated parking spot.

Virtual Option

We are excited to offer a Virtual option for the Half Marathon and 5K. Virtual races are fun and convenient! Run anytime and anywhere - solo or with your team between Friday, September 12th and Sunday, September 14th.

Here's how the virtual race works:

1. Register for the virtual event.

2. Commemorative T-shirts are available for an additional fee and will be available for pickup at our Saturday, September 13th packet pickup. You may also choose to have your t-shirt mailed to you for a fee. Race swag bags are not available to be shipped.

3. Run your race and submit your results by heading to the Runsignup Results Page by Sunday, September 20th at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Click Here

4. PHOTOS - We love seeing your pre and post-race photos! TAG US at @FriendsOfTheLightHouse. You can post them directly to the RunSignup photo page HERE, or email them to events@friendslhs.org with your permission to post.

Virtual race performances are not eligible for the overall event awards.

Weather

Since when has a little rain stopped a group of dedicated runners? The Run for The Light House will be run rain or shine. Unfortunately, no reschedule date is available if cancellation occurs due to extreme weather conditions or other force majeure.

COVID Precautions

The safety of participants, volunteers, sponsors, and staff is of utmost importance to the Annapolis Run for The Light House Committee. We will be following local and state guidelines as they relate to COVID-19. Participants will be informed of any changes to the race as soon as we become aware of such changes. In the event, we are forced to cancel the in-person race due to COVID-19 restrictions all registrants will be automatically switched over to the virtual race option.

Refunds & Transfers

No refunds or transfers.

BECOME A SPONSOR

For information on Sponsorships please visit - SPONSOR PAGE

For more information on Friends of The Light House please visit FriendsLHS.org

Thank you for your support of this event!

This 5 Mile event celebrates the awesomeness of outdoor recreation on the South River and supports the efforts of Arundel Rivers Federation! We are a gathering of novice and experienced swimmers & paddlers celebrating the efforts of these organizations and the impact they have on inclusive water access and sustainable rivers. Each participant is required to fundraise at least $100 in addition to their registration fee. The tools to help you reach the fundraising goal will be provided. Fundraisers who exceed $500 will have their registration fee reimbursed. .

Swimmers participate as pods. A pod is 2-4 similarly speeded swimmers. Every pod has a support boat with them. The Solo Swim All 5 Miles option allows for the pod to swim the entire distance with a dedicated paddler. Solo Pods may bring their own paddler, or request that option at check out. The Take a Turn Swim/Paddle pod functions as a relay, taking turns paddling. Swimmers may register with friends as a fully formed pod, or may register individually into one of our paced pods.

No speed pressures or equipment restrictions. Simply invigorating open water adventure with the friends you’ve got or the ones you’ll make! October is a perfect time of year to enjoy swimming & paddling the South River! The cool water temps (Mid – High 60s) and picturesque scenic shorelines collaborate for unforgettable memories! Our untimed events are executed with participant safety and enjoyment as top priorities. We work with community partners to bring experiences that connect you to the sports we love and to outdoor recreation in meaningful ways.

Register today to help us support this amazing local foundation!