Marathon will return to Providence in 2025 after cancellation of 2024 race

Providence will again host a marathon in May of 2025 after the race was canceled in 2024 due in part to the Washington Bridge closure

PROVIDENCE – The city of Providence will again host a marathon this spring after this year’s race was canceled.

City streets will serve as the course for a marathon, half marathon and 5K on Sunday, May 4, according to an announcement by the producers, Rhode Races.

Registration is now open for the event, which will serve as a Boston Marathon qualifier. Interested runners should register early since the race will host a “boutique field size” of 2,500 spots, organizers said. The race drew nearly 6,000 runners in 2023.

The 2024 marathon was canceled “due to unforeseen challenges, including the Washington Bridge closure.” The 2025 course will avoid the Washington Bridge.

“All three events will start and finish at Bold Point Park, exploring four of Rhode Island’s historic neighborhoods, tree-lined streets, sweeping coastal views and working waterfronts,” Rhode Races said in a press release announcing the event. “Rhode Races worked closely with the City of Providence to design a route that would limit the impact on traffic and move the course off of the Washington Bridge that it once traversed.”

Mayor Brett P. Smiley said he’s “looking forward to welcoming runners and their families from across the country. We are thrilled to welcome Rhode Races back to the capital city once again for an exciting, safe running event that thoughtfully takes into account our current traffic patterns. This will be a fun event for our neighbors and visitors alike to watch and participate in.”

Susan Rancourt, co-founder of Rhode Races, said, “The City of Providence and its community has such a special place in our hearts. Producing this iconic event again feels like coming home.”

Rhode Races, a female-owned Rhode-Island based running event company, was formed in October 2015 by Rancourt and Karen Zyons.

Participants in the 2025 races will receive photos, gender and race-specific tech shirts and race-specific medals at the finish line, according to Rhode Races. Spectators can view their runner’s location and expected finish time with live athlete tracking from the RaceJoy mobile app.

After the race, finishers and their supporters can attend a festival with music, food, drinks, vendors and a complimentary beer for those 21 and older, according to Rhode Races.