North Central Rail Trail Marathon
Bowie, United States of America · Saturday 28 November 2026
The event is a marathon held annually in late November in northern Baltimore County, Maryland, primarily on the former Northern Central Railroad corridor, now known as the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail. The course begins at Oldfields School, with an initial 0.8-mile downhill segment on Glencoe Road, followed by an out-and-back route on the trail itself. Most of the route consists of a flat, compacted dirt and limestone surface, a result of historical railroad use dating back to 1832.
Difficulty Calculator
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:m
:s
Adjusted Time
4:33:03
Time difference: +33.1 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
Course Details
Elevation Gain125m
Elevation High180m
Elevation Low79m
Weather Forecast
High6°C
Low-1°C
Chance of Rain1%
How hard is North Central Rail Trail Marathon?
Very Difficultharder than 87% of marathons
Flattest / easiestHardest
On our difficulty model, North Central Rail Trail Marathon plays about 36 minutes slower than an average road marathon for a 3:30 runner. It ranks #144 hardest of 1150 marathons we analyse, and #80 of 575 in United States of America. Use the calculator above to see the exact adjusted time for your own goal pace.
What will you run at North Central Rail Trail Marathon?
Estimated finish times on this course versus the same effort on an average road marathon, based on its elevation, surface, and expected race-day temperature.
| Average-course time | On North Central Rail Trail Marathon | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00:00 | 3:28:47 | +28:47 |
| 3:30:00 | 4:01:06 | +31:06 |
| 4:00:00 | 4:33:03 | +33:03 |
| 4:30:00 | 5:04:43 | +34:43 |
| 5:00:00 | 5:36:09 | +36:09 |
| 5:30:00 | 6:07:24 | +37:24 |
| 6:00:00 | 6:38:29 | +38:29 |
Use the calculator above for your exact goal time. Want a prediction from your own training? Try the marathon time predictor.
North Central Rail Trail Marathon 2026 Course Analysis
North Central Rail Trail Marathon is a full marathon held in Bowie, United States of America. It is scheduled for Saturday 28 November 2026. The course is run on trail surface with 125m of total climbing, with its high point near 180m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official North Central Rail Trail Marathon website.
Elevation Profile
With 125m of total climbing, this is a gently undulating course. The elevation changes are manageable for most runners and shouldn't greatly affect your pacing.
Expected Race Day Weather
Based on historical weather data for November, the expected race day conditions are as follows. Cold conditions are expected, with temperatures between -1°C and 6°C. While cold weather reduces overheating risk, runners should dress in layers and be prepared for potential wind chill. There is a low chance of rain (1%), so dry conditions are likely.
Surface Type: Trail
North Central Rail Trail Marathon is a trail race, meaning the course includes unpaved surfaces such as dirt, gravel, or forest paths. Trail surfaces are usually slower than the road equivalent - often by 10-20% - because of uneven footing, technical sections, and frequently steeper gradients, though a smooth, non-technical or downhill trail can run faster than that suggests. Trail-specific shoes with good grip are recommended.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare North Central Rail Trail Marathon against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.
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