About the Sledgehammer Beach Run
Every distance runs entirely on sand, with the ocean alongside and dunes at the other edge. The course is measured from the center of the beach, so your actual distance shifts depending on whether you drift toward the water or the dunes, and GPS watches won't reflect the official measurement. Tides can also nudge the course slightly, which is worth knowing before you look at your watch.
Parking is free at the start and finish area on Island Drive. When that lot fills, a free shuttle runs from a second beach access point up the road. The shuttle stops before the race begins, so arriving early matters. The race goes on in rain or shine.
Free race emails
Get the Weekly RunSesh
In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near N Topsail Beach on your radar: a Monday look ahead and a Thursday rundown of the weekend's races.
Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Finish-Time Stats
Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.
3.1 Miles · 2026 results
233finishers
20:12winner
35:39median
1:19:27cutoff
Top 3: Gavin Reynolds (20:12) · Jack Johann (21:29) · Jordan Tilton (21:37)
13.1 Miles · 2026 results
122finishers
1:26:54winner
2:15:41median
3:41:55cutoff
Top 3: Nathan Finney (1:26:54) · Alexander Reverski (1:30:07) · Alex Avery (1:35:52)
· 2026 results
100finishers
42:27winner
1:03:30median
2:00:20cutoff
Top 3: Jared Landis (42:27) · Zachariah Rocco (44:03) · Megan Gephart (44:20)
The Sledgehammer Beach Run 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.
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 Miles3/27/2027 08:15$45
Sledgehammer 10k Beach Run3/27/2027 08:20$30
3.1 Miles3/26/2027 18:15$20
13.1 Miles3/27/2027 08:30$25
6.2 Miles3/27/2027 08:30$25
3.1 Miles3/27/2027 08:30$25
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 N Topsail Beach — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.
The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.
