CONQUER MARYLAND'S MOST MONUMENTAL RACE WITH 12 MILES DOWN HISTORIC CHARLES STREET!

WHAT DO YOU GET FOR YOUR ENTRY?

2026 RACE PREMIUMS

FINISHER MEDAL
All participants in the individual and team relay races will receive a finisher's medal.          

FREE Downloadable Race Photos

POST-RACE PARTY
After you finish the race, the party begins! Participants have access to the after-party which includes the following:

• Post-race meal.
• Live music on the main stage with the band.
• 1 complimentary beer for individuals 21+
• Bananas and post-race snacks
• Charm City Run Pop-Up Shop

PACKET PICKUP

Monday, August 31st from 4PM-7PM
Charm City Run - Annapolis
87 Forest Plaza
Annapolis, MD 21401

Tuesday, September 1st from 4PM-7PM
Charm City Run - Bel Air
126 S. Main Street #2
Bel Air, MD 21014

Wednesday, September 2nd from 3PM-7PM
Charm City Run - Columbia
7090 Deepage Drive
Columbia, MD 21045

Thursday, September 3rd from 3PM-7PM
Charm City Run - Fells Point
1500 Thames Street
Baltimore, MD 21231

Friday, September 4th from 2PM-7PM
Charm City Run - Timonium 
1313 York Road
Timonium, MD 21093

Saturday, September 5th (Race Day) beginning at 6:00 AM
The Shops at Kenilworth
800 Kenilworth Drive
Towson, MD US 21204 

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

Please note: 2-Person Relay bibs that have not been picked up by the end of Friday's pickup will only be available at the bus loading zone in downtown Baltimore City (location will be announced closer to race day) from 5:15 AM to 6:30 AM. Relay bibs will not be available for pickup on Saturday at the Shops at Kenilworth.

If you wish to pick up someone else's packet you must present their pre-race email that contains their QR code.  We appreciate your cooperation with this.

Virtual race participants may pick up their race packet at any of the pickup opportunities listed above, or have their packet shipped directly to them at no additional cost. Virtual packets will not begin shipping until 9/8/26. If you need to edit your mailing address please click here to go to your RunSignUp profile, scroll down to Charles Street 12 under your upcoming races, and click “Manage Registration.”

All race packets will travel to each packet pickup location.

WANT TO RUN FOR FREE? WITH OUR REFERRAL PROGRAM YOU CAN HAVE YOUR REGISTRATION FEE REFUNDED!

Here is how it works:

1. Register online for the Altra Charles Street 12 presented by Kelly Benefits.
2. Receive a unique referral link via your confirmation page and email.
3. Share this link with your friends, family or post on social media.
4. After 5 registrants sign up using your unique referral link, you will automatically receive a refund of your registration fee.

BIB MAILING OPTION

If you are participating in the in-person race and can not make it to the race packet pickup sessions, or if you simply prefer having the convenience, you may choose to have your race bib and shirt mailed to you for an extra fee. The bib mailing option will close on August 14th at 11:59 pm. 

Virtual participants will have their race packet mailed to them (post race) automatically at no additional charge.

Please note: If you select the bib mailing option, you cannot defer your entry to the following year after the bib mailing cutoff date of August 14th.

GETTING TO THE RACE

The Altra Charles Street 12 and 2-Person Relay presented by Kelly Benefits is a point-to-point course that travels down historic Charles Street in Baltimore County and Baltimore City. Participants typically get to the start line one of two ways:

     1. Park at the finish line and take the complimentary coach bus to the 12-mile or relay leg #2 start

     2. Get dropped off at the 12-mile or relay leg #2 start

To make race day smooth, please make sure you have a plan on how you’ll get to where you need to be. The information below will help, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at events@charmcityrun.com.

PARKING

Complete parking information will be posted closer to race day. Participant parking will be available near the finish line for those utilizing bus transportation.

BUS TRANSPORTATION TO THE START

Bus transportation is included in the race registration fee. Please note: There is no parking at The Shops at Kenilworth (start line). The provided bus transportation takes participants from downtown Baltimore City to the start line (or relay exchange point) PRIOR TO THE RACE START. Relay participants completing the first leg of the race will receive bus transportation to the finish line to reunite with their team member. There is no bus transportation from the finish line back to the start line at Kenilworth post-race.

Buses begin leaving at approximately 5:30am. and the last bus will depart promptly at 6:45am. Designated buses will head to the race start at The Shops at Kenilworth, or the relay leg two start at Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.

Specific bus information will be posted closer to race day.

GETTING DROPPED OFF

Taking an Uber/Lyft or having a friend drop you off? Great! Please use the following destinations to get you close to your start line without creating a traffic backup!

12-Mile Start Line - BMW of Towson. 700 Kenilworth Dr Suite 1, Towson, MD 21204

Relay Leg # 2 Start - The Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. 5200 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21210

Please ask your driver to pull out of the traffic lane to let you out.

VIP DRINK BRACELET

Each registrant in the in-person 12 Miler and 2-Person Relay who is 21+ receives one complimentary beer at the post-race party. We also offer a VIP Drink Bracelet as an add-on during registration which entitles the wearer to “unlimited” alcoholic drinks at the post-race party. The bracelet costs $28.50. Bracelets are non-transferable, and Charm City Run reserves the right to deny service to anyone who appears intoxicated or cannot produce photo ID when requested.

AWARDS

Awards will be given to the top three overall Male, Female, and Non-Binary Individuals; top Male, Female, and Non-Binary masters; and the top three males and females in the following age groups:

• 14 and under
• 15-19
• 20-29
• 30-39
• 40-49
• 50-59
• 60-69
• 70-79
• 80 and over

An award will be given to the top three relay teams overall.

Overall awards are determined by gun time, and age-group awards are determined by chip time. There is no double dipping.

COURSE

Starts at the Shops at Kenilworth. Ends  in downtown Baltimore. Run from Baltimore County to Baltimore City down one of Baltimore’s most historic streets!

Course Time Limit: The Charles Street 12 has a course time limit of 3 hours (this is calculated from the time your wave crosses the start line). 

There are six water stations on the course at approximately the following distances:

1. Aid Station 1 Mile 2.5- Just water
    
2. Aid Station 2 Mile 4.8- water and electrolytes 
    
3. Aid Station 3 Mile 6.1- water and electrolytes 
    
4. Aid Station 4 Mile 7.4- water and electrolytes 
    
5. Aid Station 5 Mile 9- water and electrolytes 
    
6. Aid Station 6 Mile 10.9- water and electrolytes  

Course map coming soon.

VIRTUAL RACE INFORMATION

We have created a virtual race option for those who would like to participate but are not local, or do not feel comfortable attending an in-person race at this time. Virtual race is available for $30 off current 12 Mile entry fees and $10 off current Relay entry fees. Here's how the virtual race works:

1. Register for the virtual event, and sign up for text or e-mail notifications
2. Your race swag will be available for pickup at our packet pickup sessions or can be mailed to you at no additional cost (packets not picked up at the packet pickup session will be mailed via USPS beginning September 8th).
3. You'll receive a text or email (if you opt in) when the race "starts" on September 5th.
4. Run your race and submit your results either by text message or email (if you've opted in) or by heading to the results page here by September 6th at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Results update in real time as people submit their times. Be sure to take a selfie and post on social media.

*Virtual race performances are not eligible for the overall event awards.

BENEFICIARY

The charitable beneficiary of the Altra Charles Street 12 presented by Kelly Benefits is Athletes Serving Athletes (ASA).

Athletes Serving Athletes (ASA) mission is to elevate the quality of life for individuals with limited mobility by empowering them to train for and participate in mainstream running events. ASA is a champion of inclusion, connecting ASA Athletes to runners from the community through our Wingman Program, inspiring all to celebrate the spirit of “Together We Finish!”

ASA's success can be defined by how many people have been encouraged to cross the finish line since 2007. With strong leadership and dedicated individuals, ASA continues to empower Athletes to train and compete in over 285 running events each year!

ASA is a community-based organization with 16 different training locations across our 10 communities in Maryland, South Central PA, and Northern Virginia. Through tremendous community support and investment, ASA provides The Wingman Program free of charge to the ASA Athletes and families we serve.

For more information on Athletes Serving Athletes and the work they do please visit their website at www.asa.run.

Volunteer Opportunities

Altra Charles Street 12 presented by Kelly Benefits: A Charm City Run Signature Event