The County Marathon

The County Marathon starts and finishes at the Prince Edward Community Centre on Picton Main Street in Picton, Ontario. It is an annual October race weekend with a full marathon, half marathon, two-to-five-person marathon relay, and 5K, so runners can come for anything from a short local run to the full 42.2 kilometres. The race bills itself as Canada’s largest small county marathon, and the field is big enough to feel busy without turning into a big-city crush: more than 1,600 runners joined the event in its latest reported running. The marathon and half marathon courses are Athletics Canada certified, which matters for runners chasing accurate times or qualifying standards for races such as Boston. The route gives runners a clear Prince Edward County feel, with lake views and local wineries along the way rather than an anonymous urban loop. The race has been running for more than two decades, is organized by The County Marathon Committee Team, and raises money for the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation. It draws serious marathoners, relay teams, half-marathon runners, 5K participants, and people who come as much for “The County” hospitality as for the clock.