Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon /Half Marathon/50K Relay 2026
- Date
- Sunday, December 6, 2026
- Start time
- 7:00 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Chesapeake, Virginia
- Entry fee
- From $40 · goes up to $45 on Nov 4, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes a shirt and a hoodie or sweatshirt
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
Likely to sell out. 136 finished the Half Marathon in 2025, and this year's cap is 153.
We earn a small commission when you register through this link, at no cost to you. Details
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Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dismal 50K Relay | Relay | Dec 6, 20267:00 AM | $40$45 after Nov 4, 2026 | 38 |
| Dismal Swamp 50K | 50K | Dec 6, 20267:00 AM | $90$100 after Oct 30, 2026 | 65 |
| Dismal Swamp Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Dec 6, 20267:30 AM | $70$75 after Oct 30, 2026 | 153 |
| Dismal Swamp Half Marathon Walkers | Half Marathon | Dec 6, 20267:30 AM | $70$75 after Oct 30, 2026 | 10 |
| Dismal Swamp Marathon | Marathon | Dec 6, 20267:30 AM | $85$95 after Oct 30, 2026 | 166 |
| Half Marathon Wheeled Athletes | Half Marathon | Dec 6, 20267:30 AM | $70$75 after Oct 30, 2026 | – |
| Marathon Walk | Marathon | Dec 6, 20267:30 AM | $85$95 after Oct 30, 2026 | – |
| Marathon Wheeled Athletes | Marathon | Dec 6, 20267:30 AM | $85$95 after Oct 30, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The Relay fee goes up to $45 on Nov 4, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Dismal 50K Relay: $40 until Nov 3, then $45 until Dec 5.
- Dismal Swamp 50K: $90 until Oct 29, then $100 until Dec 5.
- Dismal Swamp Half Marathon and Dismal Swamp Half Marathon Walkers: $70 until Oct 29, then $75 until Dec 5.
- Dismal Swamp Marathon: $85 until Oct 29, then $95 until Dec 5.
Online registration closes Dec 5, 2026, unless the race fills first.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a 50K in Virginia runs 5:59:36, about 11:34 a mile, based on 6 races with published results. Women typically finish in 6:35:03 and men in 5:48:40.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:02 AM, and the Dismal 50K Relay starts at 7:00 AM. The start sits about 30 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
Rest stop at mile post 4 Dismal Swamp, Chesapeake, VA 23322
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
2025 results
All results (4 years)Dismal Swamp Half Marathon
Dismal Swamp Marathon
Dismal Swamp 50K
Aggregated from official results (Tidewater Striders) for Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon /Half Marathon/50K Relay. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon /Half Marathon/50K Relay?
At the 2025 Dismal Swamp Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:33:57 or better, the top quarter in 1:49:51, and half the field in 2:07:44; the last tenth came in after 2:53:27.
At the 2025 Dismal Swamp Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 2:58:12 or better, the top quarter in 3:17:21, and half the field in 3:57:26; the last tenth came in after 5:15:51.
At the 2025 Dismal Swamp 50K, the fastest tenth finished in 4:25:08 or better, the top quarter in 5:13:05, and half the field in 6:05:44; the last tenth came in after 7:48:20.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 1:53:29 | 1:35:10 |
| 30-39 | 1:42:20 | 1:17:02 |
| 40-49 | 2:00:24 | 1:44:25 |
| 50-59 | 2:27:36 | 1:33:38 |
| 60-69 | n/a | 1:50:22 |
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 2025.
Finishers by year
Up 255 percent since 2022.
All events combined, from official results.
How fast is it?
About average for Virginia half marathons
The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:49:51, against 1:52:10 in a typical Virginia half marathon, so times here are about average.
- Marathon: Faster than most US marathons. The fastest quarter of the 2025 marathon field finished under 3:17:21, against 3:52:43 in a typical US marathon, so times here run 15 percent faster.
- 50K: Faster than most US 50Ks. The fastest quarter of the 2025 50K field finished under 5:13:05, against 5:37:54 in a typical US 50K, so times here run 7 percent faster.
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 December 6 the day usually runs from 36°F at dawn to 53°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 18% of days. Cold snaps dip to 30°F and hot years reach 68°F.
Based on 65 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
- Rest stop at mile post 4 Dismal Swamp, Chesapeake, VA 23322Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 30 feet
- Included with entry
- Long Sleeve Shirt; Hoodie Sweatshirt; T-Shirt
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- Half Marathon, Marathon, 50K, Relay
- Editions
- 2026 (Dec 6, 2026), 2025 (Dec 7, 2025), 2024 (Dec 7, 2024), 2023 (Dec 2, 2023), 2022 (Dec 3, 2022), 2021 (Dec 4, 2021)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon /Half Marathon/50K Relay?
- Sunday, December 6, 2026, starting at 7:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $40 before processing fees, and rises to $45 on Nov 4, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Dec 5, 2026, unless the race fills first.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes a shirt and a hoodie or sweatshirt, 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?
- Half Marathon, Marathon, 50K, Relay.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 136 runners finished the Dismal Swamp Half Marathon; the median finish was 2:07:44 and the winner ran 1:13:44.
- Does it sell out?
- It can. 136 runners finished the Half Marathon in 2025, close to this year's cap of 153, so register early.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2025 half marathon field finished under 1:49:51, against 1:52:10 in a typical Virginia half marathon, so times here are about average.
- Where does it start?
- Rest stop at mile post 4 Dismal Swamp, Chesapeake, VA 23322.
From the organizers
Welcome to the 7th Annual Dismal Swamp /50K/Marathon/Half Marathon and 50k Relay
Marathon will take place on our USATF Certified Course! Ranked the Fastest course in Virginia and 47th Fastest in the US by Findmymarathon.com! Huge BQ opportunity!
50K & Half Marathon courses are also on a Certfied course