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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Finish-Time Stats
Going by the 2025 results, this is a decent-sized field, and the spread of finish times is wide, so this is a mostly recreational race rather than one for club runners.
3.1 Miles · 2025 results
433finishers
17:17winner
37:30median
1:29:13cutoff
Top 3: Josiah Hynes (17:17) · Conner Dooley (18:24) · Kevin Kantesaria (19:13)
13.1 Miles · 2025 results
426finishers
1:22:49winner
2:13:30median
4:23:02cutoff
Top 3: Edward Plante (1:22:49) · Carson Foscue (1:25:29) · Nicholas Tyler (1:26:22)
26.2 Miles · 2025 results
286finishers
2:39:37winner
4:25:10median
6:32:08cutoff
Top 3: Kotaro Tamura (2:39:37) · Oliver Stought (2:52:34) · Evan Ray (2:53:22)
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 Jul 27, 2026.
Distances & Start Times
26.2 Miles10/24/2026 07:00$100
13.1 Miles10/24/2026 08:35$80
3.1 Miles10/24/2026 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.
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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