About the Emerald Isle Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K
The course runs along the Crystal Coast, so expect ocean views and sea air for most of the morning. It is USATF-certified and qualifies for Boston entry, which draws a focused field alongside runners who are simply here for the scenery. The route is flat enough that the ocean is the main thing you notice, not the terrain.
Proceeds go toward the local Bike and Pedestrian Path and a local health charity, so the race has a clear connection to the town it runs through. Emerald Isle is a barrier island community, and that geography shapes everything: the horizon, the wind, and the way sound carries on the course.
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Emerald Isle Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K 2026 Results
Going by the 2026 results, this is a decent-sized field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.
Half Marathon Results · 2026
513finishers
1:16:38winner
2:19:04median
3:50:01cutoff
Top 3: Elliott Kleckner (1:16:38) · Daniel Scagnelli (1:21:24) · Carson Foscue (1:21:42)
5K Results · 2026
428finishers
16:41winner
37:28median
2:32:01cutoff
Top 3: Nathan Metcalf (16:41) · Conner Dooley (17:02) · Nourene Nabbus (17:58)
Marathon Results · 2026
311finishers
2:37:59winner
4:26:08median
7:21:50cutoff
Top 3: Matt Waller (2:37:59) · Ian Johnson (2:50:41) · Edward Plante (2:54:46)
The Emerald Isle Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K has been held every year since at least 2025. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.
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 Nov 12, 2026.
Distances & Start Times
26.2 Miles10/23/2027 07:00$100
13.1 Miles10/23/2027 08:35$80
3.1 Miles10/23/2027 08:45$35
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.
Not sure what to aim for? The marathon pace chart lists the pace for every finish time.
Where to Stay
Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Emerald Isle — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.
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