Fri, Aug 7, 2026

Old Baldy Run for the Light

Bald Head Island, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2021
10K5K1 Mile
Register · From $55

About the Old Baldy Run for the Light

The course runs near coastal dunes and through maritime forest, finishing toward the beam of Old Baldy Lighthouse as the sun goes down. The terrain is mixed, so expect pavement to give way to softer ground through the trees. Running at dusk on a car-free island gives the whole thing a genuinely unusual feeling.

Getting here is the main thing to plan for. Bald Head Island has no car access, so you take a ferry from a marina in Southport and walk a short distance from the dock to the start area, or catch a tram. Packet pickup is at the association center just steps from the start and finish line.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

3.1 Miles · 2025 results

97finishers
22:50winner
39:23median
1:15:09cutoff

Top 3: Geoff Banks (22:50) · Carter Williams (23:19) · Grant Smith (23:32)

6.2 Miles · 2025 results

64finishers
37:10winner
1:03:33median
1:40:37cutoff

Top 3: Jeff Browne (37:10) · Haley Browne (39:46) · William Burtram (41:27)

The Old Baldy Run for the Light 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 Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

6.2 Miles8/7/2026 18:00$55
3.1 Miles8/7/2026 18:30$55
1 Mile8/7/2026 18:35$55

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.

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Where to Stay

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Common Questions About the Old Baldy Run for the Light

Will I finish last at the Old Baldy Run for the Light?

Almost certainly not. Half the 3.1 Miles field finished slower than 39:23, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:15:09, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Old Baldy Run for the Light a good first 3.1 Miles?

It is a small race (97 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. 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 Old Baldy Run for the Light?

The 3.1 Miles winner ran 22:50 while the median finisher took 39:23. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.

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