Chessie Trail Marathon

Event overview

The 2026 Chessie Trail races take place in Lexington, Virginia, with the main in-person race day on November 7, 2026. Events include:

• Marathon
• Half Marathon
• 10K
• 5K
• 26.2 Relay Virtual options are offered for Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K and may be completed between October 1 and November 7, 2026. Student-entry options are available for each distance and for the relay (valid student ID required for student entries and for all relay members). The event is sanctioned by USATF and the courses are USATF certified; the marathon is a Boston qualifier.

Course and logistics

Races start and finish at the Chessie Trail-McKethan Park/I-81 overpass. The trail is a smooth gravel and grass surface, usually about 10 feet wide, following the Maury River and former rail and canal corridors. The marathon follows the full trail route twice; the relay uses the same course with four legs of approximately 8.5 miles, 4.6 miles, 8.5 miles, and 4.6 miles. Aid stations are located at the start/finish, all turnarounds, and near the South River bridge, offering water, Gatorade, fruit, and snacks; refillable containers are encouraged. Chip timing, finishers’ medals, event t-shirts, bag drop, posted results, and post-race food are provided. Packet pickup is available before race day and near the start on race day. Registration is online only; transfers or deferrals are allowed through October 31, 2026, and refunds are not offered. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.