Sat, Jan 2, 2027

Carolina Beach State Park Trail Half Marathon & 5K

Carolina Beach, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2021

Half Marathon5K

Entry is $33 now and rises to $35 after Nov 4, 2026, so registering before then saves $2.

About the Carolina Beach State Park Trail Half Marathon & 5K

The course runs through Carolina Beach State Park on rolling, pine-lined single track. It stays close to the coast, so the surroundings shift between dense forest and the kind of light that comes off nearby water. The terrain keeps you honest without being brutal, and the setting is genuinely unusual for a road-to-trail runner making the switch.

The race starts and finishes at the American Legion post on Bridge Barrier Road. Parking is at the nearby Food Lion, and staff direct cars to open spots; overflow spills onto the street along Bridge Barrier and Access Road. After finishing, there is beer on the patio for those of age, plus snacks and water.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2026 results, this is a decent-sized field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

3.1 Miles · 2026 results

315finishers

19:40winner

35:28median

1:42:55cutoff

Top 3: Webster Guthrie (19:40) · Nash Williamson (20:17) · Mikaela Martinez (20:23)

13.1 Miles · 2026 results

192finishers

1:28:00winner

2:15:48median

3:33:32cutoff

Top 3: Matt Prete (1:28:00) · Stephen Durley (1:29:11) · Garrison Higgins (1:30:31)

The Carolina Beach State Park Trail Half Marathon & 5K has been held every year since at least 2021. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 3.1 Miles results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Sep 22, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

13.1 Miles1/2/2027 08:00$65

3.1 Miles1/2/2027 08:30$33

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

Plan Your Trip

Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Carolina Beach State Park Trail Half Marathon & 5K

Will I finish last at the Carolina Beach State Park Trail Half Marathon & 5K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 35:28, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:42:55, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Carolina Beach State Park Trail Half Marathon & 5K a good first 3.1 Miles?

A field of 315 is big enough that you will have company at your pace without feeling lost in a crowd. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 3.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Carolina Beach State Park Trail Half Marathon & 5K?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 19:40 while the median finisher took 35:28. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.