The Marine Corps Historic Half will start at 6:00 a.m. and all participants will have until 6:15 a.m. to begin. At this time, the start line will close and no runners will be allowed to run the event due to safety and support concerns.
The 13.1 mile course features historical attractions; a quaint downtown with unique shops and chef-owned restaurants; a run alongside the Rappahannock River; and the now-famous Hospital Hill. Ideally situated halfway between Washington, DC, the nation’s capital, and Richmond, the capital of the Commonwealth, the Marine Corps Historic Half introduces runners to Fredericksburg, VA, an ideal weekend getaway spot.
Like the Marine Corps Marathon, the Marine Corps Historic Half in Fredericksburg has its own vertical challenge: Hospital Hill, a 0.53-mile segment of the 13.1-mile course. Runners arrive at Mary Washington Healthcare campus at mile 10.5. Hospital Hill is in the middle of a two-mile uphill climb that peaks at Cowan Boulevard crossing over Interstate 95. The much-talked-about Hospital Hill stretches over 930 yards in which the hill’s elevation doubles from 100 feet to 200 feet, or the equivalent of climbing to the top of a ten story building. Add to this the tease of a slight leveling off partway up Hospital Hill before encountering another eight percent grade. To finish the Historic Half means a runner has conquered Hospital Hill.
**All videos reflect the 2023 Marine Corps Historic Half**