The Charm City Run 20 Miler starts at 7:30AM on the NCR Trail near the Freeland parking lot.

The finish line is located in the Hunt Valley Station neighborhood on Arrowood Road.

Porta-potties are provided at the start line in Freeland and finish line on Arrowood Road.

There are existing restrooms or porta-potties at many of the trailheads along the NCR Trail. 

Why yes, there is a bag check! Bag drop off is located at the start line and your bags will be transported to the finish line.

Clear bags are available at packet pickup as well as at the bag check area on race day. For security purposes, please use these clear bags for bag check.

Free parking is available at Ashland Marketplace Shopping Center.

There is no parking at the start of the race in Freeland, MD. The trail parking lot is reserved for other trail users, and we need to leave space for others to enjoy the trail as well.

Additionally, participants should not park in the Hunt Valley Station neighborhood where the finish is located. The community has graciously allowed us to host our finish line again this year and the last thing we want to do is fill their streets with cars parked for several hours. Finish line spectators may park in the community but please do not block driveways. We need to be good neighbors!

One-way bus transportation is available from the parking area in Cockeysville to the start line in Freeland. If you would like to purchase bus transportation you may do so during registration for $12.60. Bus transportation can not be added on race day and is not guaranteed for race-day registrants.

There is no parking at the start of the race in Freeland, MD. You can arrange your own drop-off at the race start (Freeland Trailhead), or ride the bus from Ashland Marketplace if you purchased bus transportation during registration.

The first bus will leave Ashland Marketplace at approximately 5:45 AM. Buses will leave roughly every 15 minutes thereafter, provided they are full. The last bus will leave at 6:45 AM - no exceptions.

Bus transportation can not be added on race day.

If you have yet to register for the bus, transportation can be added to your registration by attending the packet pick up session prior to the event or adding it online by following the steps below:
1. Go to your runsignup.com profile page
2. Click on "Manage Registration" to the right of the race listing under your upcoming events
3. Select add-on from top menu and complete process

The finish line is located approximately 1 mile away from Ashland Marketplace, and is not walkable. If you parked at Ashland Marketplace and took the bus to the start line, we will provide a shuttle for your return to the parking area.  The shuttle only goes between Ashland Marketplace and the finish line. Again, there is no transportation provided back to the Freeland Trailhead start line.

Saturday, September 26th from 10AM-1PM
Charm City Run - Timonium 
1313 York Road
Timonium, MD 21093

Sunday, September 27th (Race Day) from 5:30AM-7:15 AM
Ashland Marketplace Shopping Center
11121 York Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030

*Packet Pickup locations and times are subject to change. Final Packet Pickup information will be sent in pre-race emails.

PLEASE NOTE: Race bibs are not available for pickup at the starting line. If you plan to pick up on race day, you must do so at Ashland Marketplace where the buses pick up.

Yes, someone can pick up your packet for you. They will just need your Registration QR code that you can find either in your registration confirmation email or pre-race email.
How to resend your race confirmation email

All registrations are online and available until the race starts or it is sold out.

2026 Charm City Run 20 Miler participants receive a short sleeve shirt at packet pickup.

The Charm City Run 20-Miler was meant to serve as an organized and supported long run for those in a fall training cycle. This race does not offer a finisher medal or fancy awards - rather we strive to provide a safe and supportive event and hope to be a stepping stone on your path to even bigger goals.

You can change your shirt size up until you pick up your race materials (subject to size availability)

Steps to Change your shirt size:
Click here to go to your runsignup.com profile page.
Click on "Manage Registration" to the right of the race listing
Select "Giveaway" from top menu.

Click here for a short video on how to change your shirt size

You can transfer your registration to another registrant up until 11:59PM on 9/26.

There is no fee to do so.

Steps to transfer to another participant:
Click here to go to your runsignup.com profile page.
Click on "Manage Registration" to the right of the race listing
Select "Transfer to Another Participant" from top menu.

Click here to view a short video on how to transfer your entry to another individual

Race registration fees (and the processing charge from RunSignup) are not refundable. These funds are used to pay for race premiums, permits, supplies, staffing, and other costs incurred before, during, and after the event is held. To be consistent and fair to everyone we cannot make exceptions to this policy.

Steps to Resend Your Confirmation Email (your confirmation email includes a QR code that can be used for packet pickup):
Click here to go to your runsignup.com profile page.
Click on "Resend Confirmation Email" to the right of the race listing

Click here for steps on how to resend your confirmation email

You can defer your registration up until 11:59PM on 9/26

There is a fee to do so as follows: 

$33.80 thorugh 9/13
$44.40 from 9/14-9/26

Steps to Defer:
Click here to go to your runsignup.com profile page.
Click on "Manage Registration" to the right of the race listing
Select "Defer" from top menu.

Click here for a short video on how to defer your entry to next year's race

An unofficial course map can be found here.

Runners will start on the trail near the Freeland NCR Trail parking area. The course will briefly run north before turning around to head south. Once you arrive at Paper Mill Road runners will make a right turn to run in the coned shoulder for roughly 1/4 mile and then make another right turn to finish on Arrowwood Road.

Aid Station Locations and Amenities:
Start Line southbound (1.52 miles) - Freeland MD (water only)
WS #1 (4.3 miles) - 542 Bentley Rd, Parkton, MD 21120  (water & electrolytes)
WS #2 (7.2 miles) - 18827 Frederick Rd, Parkton MD 21120 (water, electrolytes, and GU gels)
WS #3 (9.4 miles) - 1415 Wiseburg Rd, White Hall, MD 21161 (water & electrolytes)
WS #4 (12.9 miles) - 1900 Monkton Rd, Monkton MD 21111 (water, electrolytes, and GU gels)
WS #5 (15.5 miles) - 1309 Glencoe Rd, Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152 (water & electrolytes)
WS #6 (18 miles) - 14449 Phoenix Rd, Phoenix MD 21131 (water, electrolytes, and GU gels)
Finish Line (20 miles) - 280 Arrowood Rd, Cockeysville, MD 21030 (water & electrolytes)

NOTE: Fluids are available only about every three miles. It is recommended that runners carry their own fluid replacement and/or energy supplement.

Although we love dogs, they are not allowed on the race course.

Strollers and other wheeled devices are not allowed on the Charm City Run 20 Miler course.

Headphones or earbuds are allowed but we ask that you either use open ear headphones (like Shokz which you can purchase at Charm City Run :)). If you use other headphones, please keep the volume low so you can hear all course directions from course marshals.

The course is measured for a 20 miler using the shortest possible path. Your watch may show a slightly longer distance as you weave around other runners, moving to stop at a water station, or take a longer curve around a turn.

The NCR Trail is hard packed gravel and does not require trail shoes.