Run Ocean Isle Beach 2026 2026
- Date
- Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Start time
- 7:00 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
- Entry fee
- From $30 · goes up to $70 on Oct 18, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10K | 10K | Oct 24, 20267:00 AM | $60$70 after Oct 18, 2026 | – |
| Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Oct 24, 20267:00 AM | $115$130 after Oct 18, 2026 | – |
| 5K | 5K | Oct 24, 20267:30 AM | $50$55 after Oct 18, 2026 | – |
| 1 Mile | 1 Mile | Oct 24, 20268:00 AM | $30 | 41 |
| Virtual 10KVirtual | 10K | Oct 24, 20267:00 AM | $60$70 after Oct 18, 2026 | – |
| Virtual 5KVirtual | 5K | Oct 24, 20267:00 AM | $50$55 after Oct 18, 2026 | – |
| Virtual Half MarathonVirtual | Half Marathon | Oct 24, 20267:00 AM | $115$130 after Oct 18, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The 10K fee goes up to $70 on Oct 18, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- 10K: $60 until Oct 17, then $70 until Oct 24.
- Half Marathon: $115 until Oct 17, then $130 until Oct 24.
- 5K: $50 until Oct 17, then $55 until Oct 24.
- 1 Mile: $30 until Oct 24.
Online registration closes Oct 24, 2026, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $115, entry is about 77 percent above a typical half marathon in North Carolina, which costs $65 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a half marathon in North Carolina runs 2:08:22, about 9:48 a mile, based on 59 races with published results. Women typically finish in 2:16:22 and men in 2:00:30.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:25 AM, and the 10K starts at 7:00 AM. The start sits about 60 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
6278 Beach Dr SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2024 results
All results (2 years)Half Marathon
5K
10K
Aggregated from official results for Run Ocean Isle Beach 2026. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Run Ocean Isle Beach 2026?
At the 2024 Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:44:37 or better, the top quarter in 1:57:51, and half the field in 2:16:19; the last tenth came in after 2:56:54.
At the 2024 5K, the fastest tenth finished in 27:12 or better, the top quarter in 33:02, and half the field in 41:21; the last tenth came in after 58:26.
At the 2024 10K, the fastest tenth finished in 52:12 or better, the top quarter in 59:31, and half the field in 1:07:29; the last tenth came in after 1:34:47.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | n/a | 1:31:29 |
| 20-29 | 1:45:49 | 1:35:24 |
| 30-39 | 1:44:37 | 1:36:13 |
| 40-49 | 1:50:21 | 1:32:00 |
| 50-59 | 2:01:50 | 1:39:17 |
| 60-69 | 1:57:29 | 1:59:30 |
| 70+ | n/a | 2:10:56 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2024.
Finishers by year
Up 29 percent since 2021.
All events combined, from official results.
Run Ocean Isle Beach 2026 Half Marathon year by year
From 2021 to 2024, the field went from 420 to 481 finishers, and the median time dropped from 2:17:34 to 2:16:19.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 481 (+15%) | 2:16:19 | under 1:44:37 | 1:15:52 |
| 2021 | 420 | 2:17:34 | under 1:44:00 | 1:17:20 |
From each year's official results for the Half Marathon; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
About average for North Carolina half marathons
The fastest quarter of the 2024 half marathon field finished under 1:57:51, against 1:55:12 in a typical North Carolina half marathon, so times here are about average.
- 5K: Slower than most North Carolina 5Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2024 5K field finished under 33:02, against 28:39 in a typical North Carolina 5K, so times here run 15 percent slower.
- 10K: Slower than most North Carolina 10Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2024 10K field finished under 59:31, against 53:29 in a typical North Carolina 10K, so times here run 11 percent slower.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around October 24 the day usually runs from 52°F at dawn to 72°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 16% of days. Cold snaps dip to 45°F and hot years reach 79°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- 6278 Beach Dr SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 60 feet
- Included with entry
- Finisher Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- 1 Mile, 5K, 10K, Half Marathon
- Editions
- 2026 (Oct 24, 2026), 2024 (Oct 26, 2024), 2022 (Nov 1, 2022), 2021 (Oct 23, 2021), 2019 (Oct 26, 2019), 2018 (Oct 27, 2018)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Run Ocean Isle Beach 2026?
- Saturday, October 24, 2026, starting at 7:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $30 before processing fees, and rises to $70 on Oct 18, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Oct 24, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for North Carolina?
- At $115, entry is about 77 percent above a typical half marathon in North Carolina, which costs $65 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- 1 Mile, 5K, 10K, Half Marathon.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2024, 481 runners finished the Half Marathon; the median finish was 2:16:19 and the winner ran 1:15:52.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2024 half marathon field finished under 1:57:51, against 1:55:12 in a typical North Carolina half marathon, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- 6278 Beach Dr SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469.
From the organizers
Run Ocean Isle Beach - October 24, 2026
Join us for our 13th annual Run Ocean Isle Beach & Last Race of the 2026 BAM! Races.
Ocean Isle Beach is a beautiful coastal island in SE North Carolina. Our courses take you through some beautiful communities and the half marathon takes you around most of the island with unforgettable oceanfront views. We host a half marathon, 5K & 1 Mile in late October when the average temperatures are a High of 75 and a Low of 56.
Finisher Swag: