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Coast Guard Marathon race photo

Coast Guard Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USApr 4, 202742.195km · 21.1km
Harvey Harrison · CC BY-SA 3.0
Race date in 179 days
Apr 4, 2027 Sun
City · Distance
Elizabeth City · 42.195km · 21.1km
Entry fee
$130Varies by event and entry period
Status
OpenTue, August 11, 2026 ~ Mon, March 15, 2027See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 7, 2026
Coast Guard Marathon race photo
Harvey Harrison · CC BY-SA 3.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Coast Guard Marathon — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

The official race of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Coast Guard Marathon runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 3
MarathonAccountRan in 2025 · Finish time 2:46:58
“I'm happy with how I performed, and how the race unfolded.”

The author ran on an airfield and farm roads at the Elizabeth City Coast Guard Marathon, finishing in 2 hours 46 minutes 58 seconds.

Read the original on Reddit
KMRan in 2024
“This was a great, flat course that had pretty good weather except for some headwind for the last half this year (2024).”

KM said that course was flat and that the organization and support were good. Although it was a small-town race, finisher medal and the after-party were also impressive. They recommended it to runners aiming for a fast time.

Read the original on FindMyMarathon
Kevin EnnersRan in 2024 · Finish time 2:53:43
“I fought the headwind, fought to keep my bike straight, yet the strength of the invisible force outmatched mine.”

Kevin Enners raced the handcycle division at the 2024 Coast Guard Marathon, finishing in 2:53:43. Strong coastal winds made steering difficult, and his shoe came off mid-race, forcing a stop to retie it. He fell short of his target time, but pushed through the final 5K to the finish, and remembers it as a beautiful, windy race day.

Read the original on The Kyle Pease Foundation

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

COAST GUARD MARATHON 2025 | RACE RECAP | MARATHON # 15

Marathon Marq Racing

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Coast Guard Marathon — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Marathon

Entry cost $130

until Nov 15, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Half

Entry cost $115

until Nov 15, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Semper Paratus Challenge 26.2

Entry cost $180

until Nov 15, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Semper Paratus Challenge 13.1

Entry cost $170

until Nov 15, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Coast Guard Marathon course map and elevation

The 42.195km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 07:30
EventTime limit
Marathon42.195km7h
Half21.0975km3h 30m
START

501 S Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Waterfront Park, 508 S. Water Street, Elizabeth City NC

Finish · Google Maps
Show more

The 2027 event will be the 6th edition of the Coast Guard Marathon, with the marathon and half marathon taking place on April 4.

Elizabeth City, where the event is held, is a coastal city in northeastern North Carolina.

It is located in an area of waterways and forests, and is accessible from the beaches of the Outer Banks and the major cities of Hampton Roads.

The event is a signature sporting event of the United States Coast Guard, with a focus on improving military fitness and engaging with the local community.

It is held in Elizabeth City, a designated Coast Guard City, and both military participants from all branches and general runners can register.

You can choose between the 26.2-mile marathon and the 13.1-mile half marathon according to your goal.

If you cannot attend in person, you can also choose a virtual race and complete the same distance on your own.

Typical race-season temperature: around 15°C (58°F)
Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Bag drop

Where and when to collect your Coast Guard Marathon race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition
Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

None — Elizabeth City has no passenger rail; local public transit is limited

Start/finish is on Water Street in historic downtown Elizabeth City, between the Museum of the Albemarle and Waterfront Park.

No train or subway service exists in Elizabeth City;

nearest Amtrak access is roughly an hour away (Norfolk, VA area).

Full Marathon confirmed for Sunday, April 4, 2027 (part of the April 2-4, 2027 race weekend).

Getting to the finish

Same as start — Water Street, downtown Elizabeth City

Finish is on Water Street in the same downtown historic district as the start.

More details

No organizer shuttle bus found;

this is a small-town race reliant on car access/parking downtown.

Source · checked Aug 23, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The race takes place in early April,

so it is best to check the actual forecast for Elizabeth City before the start and decide what tops, bottoms, and windproof items to wear.

Adjust your race-day clothing according to the temperature and whether rain is expected,

and decide whether to prepare the supplies you normally use yourself or use those provided at the event after checking course and the race information.

The nearest airport is Norfolk International Airport, 52.4 miles from Elizabeth City.

Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport is 75 miles away.

You can choose accommodation in Elizabeth City or in the nearby Outer Banks or Tidewater areas.

Bib must be collected from Expo, and if you cannot go in person,

someone who has prepared a copy of your photo ID and the representative's ID can collect it on your behalf.

If you can no longer participate after registering,

you can pay 15 dollars and defer your entry to the following year from December 1 through March 15, but transfers between individuals are not allowed.

Times are local to Elizabeth City. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels near the Coast Guard Marathon start line in Elizabeth City

Hotels that make race morning easy

7 places

Distances are straight-line from the start/finish area.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

The start and finish are in the same place
We picked stays around that one spot.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

2 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Elizabeth City with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Distances and ratings for food and sights come from the place provider, and experiences are travel products in Elizabeth City.

Total cost and budget for Coast Guard Marathon

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · YesimFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Coast Guard Marathon

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Elizabeth City runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Coast Guard Marathon

FAQ
When does Coast Guard Marathon 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sun, April 4, 2027 in Elizabeth City, NC, United States.

How much is the Coast Guard Marathon 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $130.

What distances does Coast Guard Marathon 2027 offer?

Marathon · Half. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Coast Guard Marathon 2027 start?

The race starts at 07:30. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Coast Guard Marathon 2027 start?

501 S Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Coast Guard Marathon 2027 finish?

Waterfront Park, 508 S. Water Street, Elizabeth City NC. (From the 2026 edition)

When does registration for Coast Guard Marathon 2027 open?

Registration runs from Tue, August 11, 2026 to Mon, March 15, 2027.

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