The County Marathon 2026

About the Event

The County Marathon 2026 takes place on Sunday, October 4, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM EDT from various start lines in Prince Edward County, ON, Canada. This 23rd annual event offers a full marathon, half marathon, 2-5 person relay, and 5K — all on Athletic Canada Certified courses. With over 1,600 runners in 2025, this is Canada's largest small county marathon.

Full Marathon
42.2 km • 8:00 AM • Start: Wellington (Lehigh Centre) • Boston qualifier

Half Marathon
21.1 km • 8:00 AM • Start: West Lake Community Church • Boston qualifier

2-5 Person Relay
42.2 km • Per person pricing • Team members split the marathon

5K Run
5 km • 8:00 AM • Popular distance

Virtual (Half / Full)
Run anywhere • Medal + shirt included

Registration and Deadlines:

Pricing tiers: Jan 4–Jan 31 / Feb 1–Jun 30 / Jul 1–Aug 31 / Sep 1–Oct 3
Registration closes October 3, 2026
Early registration recommended — field size limited

Start Lines & Shuttle Service:

Full Marathon: Wellington at Lehigh Centre (warm facility, washrooms, indoor track, coffee, water, bag drop)
Half Marathon: West Lake Community Church (County Rd 12 and 18) — washrooms, tent, coffee, bananas, water, homemade muffins (donations welcomed)
FREE shuttle to start lines from Prince Edward Community Centre parking lot — departs starting at 6:15 AM race morning

Finish Line:

Prince Edward County Fairgrounds, Picton
Bag drop items returned to finish line

Race Kit Pickup:

Saturday, October 3 — 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location TBD
Others may pick up your kit (but ensure you receive your tagged bib on time)

What's Included:

Chip-timed race
Finisher medal
Race shirt
Scenic countryside marathon experience
Local wineries, stunning lake views, warm hospitality

Course Certification:

Marathon and Half Marathon are Athletic Canada Certified Courses (ACCC)
Accurate qualifier for Boston Marathon and other worldwide marathons
In 2025, 17 marathoners qualified for Boston

Charity — Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation:

Fundraising for local hospital foundation
Top fundraisers listed on event page

Sponsors:

The County of Prince Edward
Athletics Ontario

The County Marathon 2026 is Canada's largest small county marathon — an unparalleled running experience through wineries, lakeside views, and countryside charm. Register early to secure your spot.

Races Offered

2-5 Person Marathon Relay Team

Oct 04, 2026

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Distance — 42km

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Type — Running

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08:00

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$93.96

5K Run

Oct 04, 2026

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Distance — 5km

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Type — Running

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08:00

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$56.20

Full Marathon

Oct 04, 2026

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Distance — 42km

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Type — Running

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$131.73

Full Marathon - Virtual

Oct 04, 2026

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Distance — 42km

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Type — Running

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08:00

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$99.36

Half Marathon

Oct 04, 2026

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Distance — 21km

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Type — Running

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$110.15

Half Marathon - Virtual

Oct 04, 2026

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Distance — 21km

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Type — Running

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08:00

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$88.57

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for October in Prince Edward.

thermostat Temperature

8.3° / 15.7°

wb_sunny Feels like

5.4° / 12.8°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

7h 30m

water_drop Avg rainfall

2.1 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

12.5 km/h (Gentle breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

Low

terrain Course conditions

Firm and slightly soft

sunny Max UV Index

Moderate (4.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

75.8%

wb_twilight Sunrise

07:25

nightlight Sunset

18:23

About Prince Edward

Learn more about the host city, Prince Edward.

Prince Edward County (PEC) is a single-tier municipality in southern Ontario, Canada. Its coastline on Lake Ontario’s northeastern shore is known for Sandbanks Provincial Park, sand beaches, and limestone cliffs. The Regent Theatre, a restored Edwardian Opera House, sits at the heart of the town of Picton on the Bay of Quinte. Nearby Macaulay Heritage Park highlights local history through its 19th-century buildings. In 2021, Prince Edward County had a census population of 25,704. Prince Edward County is a single-tier municipality and a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario.

Hotels & Places to Stay

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Registration Discount

Use the promo code below during registration to save on entry fees.

$15 OFF

Promo code RUNG26

*Promo codes are collected from publicly available sources. We are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any brand listed. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. Offers may expire or change without notice.