Sun, Dec 6, 2026

Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon / Half Marathon / 50K Relay

Chesapeake, VA

Registration openAnnual since at least 2020

50KMarathonHalf Marathon

Entry is $40 now and rises to $45 after Nov 3, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon / Half Marathon / 50K Relay

The course runs along the Dismal Swamp, flat and straight on an out-and-back route that attracts runners chasing Boston qualifying times. The terrain is smooth and consistent. Several distance options are available, from a half marathon up through a full and an ultramarathon distance, plus a relay format.

Packet pickup runs the afternoon before at a local running store, with race-morning pickup at the start line as a backup. Post-race, there is a beer garden and pizza on site.

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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.

13.1 Miles · 2025 results

136finishers

1:13:44winner

2:07:44median

4:37:47cutoff

Top 3: William Orndorff (1:13:44) · Andrew Kirk (1:14:34) · Sean Harrington (1:17:02)

26.2 Miles · 2025 results

133finishers

2:27:11winner

3:57:26median

7:17:02cutoff

Top 3: Dylan Gearinger (2:27:11) · Brian Tholl (2:27:51) · Erik Spencer (2:29:29)

50K · 2025 results

54finishers

2:56:18winner

6:05:44median

8:56:39cutoff

Top 3: Steve Mance (2:56:18) · Hunter Lutz (3:49:49) · Hannah Hall (3:54:47)

The Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon / Half Marathon / 50K Relay has been held every year since at least 2020. 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 13.1 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

50K12/6/2026 07:00$80

26.2 Miles12/6/2026 07:30$75

13.1 Miles12/6/2026 07:30$65

50K12/6/2026 07:00$40

13.1 Miles12/6/2026 07:30$65

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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Common Questions About the Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon / Half Marathon / 50K Relay

Will I finish last at the Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon / Half Marathon / 50K Relay?

Almost certainly not. Half the 13.1 Miles field finished slower than 2:07:44, and the last recorded finisher came in around 4:37:47, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon / Half Marathon / 50K Relay a good first 13.1 Miles?

It is a small race (136 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 13.1 Miles, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon / Half Marathon / 50K Relay?

The 13.1 Miles winner ran 1:13:44 while the median finisher took 2:07:44. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.