2026 Prince Edward County Marathon - Oct 4 Countdown

Q: How do you register for the Prince Edward County Marathon?

Registration is open / first-come through RaceRoster, with no lottery and no qualifying time required to enter. The full marathon costs CA$153.31 on the current February-to-June tier, and prices climb in later tiers, so signing up early saves money. There is no published field cap, but the full marathon is small, finishing only 194 runners in 2025.

Q: Is the County Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. Both the marathon and half marathon run on Athletics Canada Certified Courses (ACCC), so a qualifying time here is valid for the Boston Marathon and other major races. The flat, net-fast profile makes it a realistic place to chase a BQ, but remember Boston requires you to beat your age-group standard by a comfortable buffer to actually get in.

Q: How hilly is the course and how much elevation does it gain?

The course is mostly flat, gaining only about 134 m (440 ft) over the full 42.2 km between a low of 74 m and a high of 121 m. It runs point-to-point from Wellington to Picton, passing three lakes and three villages, with the half marathon joining near Sandbanks Provincial Park. There are no steep climbs, just gentle rolling county roads.

Q: Where does the race start and finish?

The full marathon starts in Wellington at 8:00 a.m. and finishes in Picton, near the historic Crystal Palace at the Prince Edward County Fairgrounds. It is a true point-to-point, so plan your post-race logistics around two different towns roughly 30 km apart by road.

Q: What is the time limit?

The full marathon has a 6-hour time limit, which works out to roughly 8:33 per km (13:47 per mile). The half marathon limit is 4 hours. The generous cutoff makes this a friendly target for first-time marathoners and run-walkers, not just BQ hopefuls.

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Registration open · 153.31 CAD View official registration →

Race Information

Race	2026 Prince Edward County Marathon - Oct 4
City	Prince Edward County (Wellington to Picton)
Date	2026-10-04 at 08:00
Field Size	~194 runners
Time Limit	6 hours
Cutoff pace	8:32/km
Timezone	America/Toronto
Official Site	The County Marathon

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	15.1°C / 59°F
Humidity	75%
Wind	20.1 km/h
Rain Chance	48%
Typical Conditions	Crisp, dry autumn morning under peak Ontario fall colour

What to Prepare: The 8:00 a.m. start is cool, around 9°C / 49°F overnight low climbing toward a 17°C / 62°F afternoon high. Wear a throwaway layer for the corral, then race in shorts and a singlet once the sun is up. Early-October wet-day odds sit near 31%, so pack a light rain shell just in case.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 20.1 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	10.9°C	15.2°C	19.1°C
Dew point	4.9°C	10.8°C	15.5°C

Wet-day chance: 48% Runnability: 72/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Point-to-point
Elevation Gain	134m
Terrain	Road (county roads through wine country)
Profile	A mostly flat, fast point-to-point from Wellington to Picton with only +134 m (about 440 ft) of total climbing, passing three lakes and three villages amid peak autumn colour. Athletics Canada certified (ACCC) and an official Boston qualifier. Entry is open / first-come, no lottery and no qualifying time required.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Prince Edward County Marathon - Oct 4

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

Free running pace calculator for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. Get min/km or min/mile, your ...

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

Free printable pace band for marathon, half marathon, or custom distance. Choose even, negative, or ...

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

7 AM race, wake at 3:45 AM? Enter the gun time; we work backward through meal, gear, bathroom, warm-...

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

Enter temperature and humidity to calculate dew point and its impact on your running pace. 7-zone ch...

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Wind Effect on Running — How Much Does Wind Slow You?

How much does a headwind actually slow you down? This free calculator turns wind speed and direction...

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Marathon Predictor — 5K, 10K & Half Marathon Race Predictor

Free marathon predictor — convert your 5K, 10K, or half marathon time into race-day estimates from R...

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you register for the Prince Edward County Marathon?

Registration is open / first-come through RaceRoster, with no lottery and no qualifying time required to enter. The full marathon costs CA$153.31 on the current February-to-June tier, and prices climb in later tiers, so signing up early saves money. There is no published field cap, but the full marathon is small, finishing only 194 runners in 2025.

Is the County Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. Both the marathon and half marathon run on Athletics Canada Certified Courses (ACCC), so a qualifying time here is valid for the Boston Marathon and other major races. The flat, net-fast profile makes it a realistic place to chase a BQ, but remember Boston requires you to beat your age-group standard by a comfortable buffer to actually get in.

How hilly is the course and how much elevation does it gain?

The course is mostly flat, gaining only about 134 m (440 ft) over the full 42.2 km between a low of 74 m and a high of 121 m. It runs point-to-point from Wellington to Picton, passing three lakes and three villages, with the half marathon joining near Sandbanks Provincial Park. There are no steep climbs, just gentle rolling county roads.

Where does the race start and finish?

The full marathon starts in Wellington at 8:00 a.m. and finishes in Picton, near the historic Crystal Palace at the Prince Edward County Fairgrounds. It is a true point-to-point, so plan your post-race logistics around two different towns roughly 30 km apart by road.

What is the time limit?

The full marathon has a 6-hour time limit, which works out to roughly 8:33 per km (13:47 per mile). The half marathon limit is 4 hours. The generous cutoff makes this a friendly target for first-time marathoners and run-walkers, not just BQ hopefuls.

What is the weather like in early October?

Early October in Prince Edward County is crisp and dry. Expect an overnight low near 9°C / 49°F at the 8 a.m. start, warming to an afternoon high around 17°C / 62°F. Wind averages about 15 km/h and the chance of a wet day is roughly 31%. This is peak fall-colour season, so the cool air and changing leaves are a big part of the appeal.

Is this a big-city marathon?

No, and that is the point. The full marathon is intentionally small and rural, growing from 92 finishers in 2022 to 194 in 2025. You get quiet county roads through wine country and vineyards rather than packed downtown crowds. The broader race weekend (full, half, relay and 5K combined) draws over a thousand participants, but the full-marathon field stays intimate.