Cape Fear Marathon
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Event overview
The Cape Fear Marathon & Half is scheduled for Sunday, October 26, 2025 on Bald Head Island, North Carolina. The event offers two distance options:
- 26.2 miles
- 13.1 miles
The race is hosted by AdventureCORPS and presented by Mount to Coast. Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. The event is subject to special use permits and the final route may change based on agency approvals or other factors.
Course and logistics
Both races take place entirely on Bald Head Island using the island's one-lane golf cart roads and a beach stretch around Cape Fear. The start line is at Old Baldy lighthouse and the finish is at the marina end of the wooden bridge behind Jules Salty Grub. Half-marathoners run one and a half laps of the island with a single 0.75-mile sand section; marathoners run three laps with three beach trips totaling 2.2 miles of sand and about 24 miles on roads. The event is cupless; runners must carry the provided Badwater race cup. Time limits are 4 hours for the half and 7 hours for the full. Participants are responsible for their own travel and ferry arrangements to Bald Head Island.
Aid, swag and awards
There are three aid station locations on course; stations provide water, endurance drink, gels, electrolyte capsules, snacks, fruit, soda, and basic supplies. Ibuprofen is not provided. All entrants receive a tote bag with race bib, tri-blend t-shirt, hat, buff, race cup, sunglasses, and other items. Finishers receive a medal; male and female winners of each distance receive a pair of Mount to Coast shoes. An additional special award is mailed to runners who complete both Badwater Cape Fear and the Cape Fear Marathon or Half in the same calendar year. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.