26.2 | 26.2 Relay | 13.1 | 5K | 1Mile
26.2 | Full Marathon
The Full Marathon is the perfect Boston Marathon qualifying event because it’s fast, flat, and notorious for being the backdrop for setting personal bests. The course starts in Wrightsville Beach and makes a straight shot to downtown Wilmington. Runners will span 6 bridges (4 flat) and run the best Wilmington, NC has to offer. Come span the Cape Fear Coast and run from destination to destination.
Learn more about why Wilmington, NC is a RACECATION and why you should make it your next destination!
“THIS RACE IS HIGH ON MY LIST OF EVENTS PEOPLE SHOULD COME TO” ~Dave McGillivray
Schedule of Events
Friday, March 20th
11:00AM – Expo/Packet Pickup
6:00pm The Game Day 5K
6:10pm The Game Day 1 mile
7:30pm -5K and 1 mile Awards
8:30pm Packet Pickup Ends
Saturday, March 21st
4:45am: Shuttle service begins from Downtown to Wrightsville Beach
6:55am: National Anthem
7:00am: Half and Full Marathon and Marathon Relay Start
9:00am: Shuttle service begins to take runners back to the start area
8:00am to 1:00pm Post race party, beer, food, finish line celebration
10:00am: Half Marathon Awards
11:00am: Full Marathon Awards
1:00pm: Course Cutoff
1:00pm: Shuttle service ends
4:00pm: After Party
NHRMC Wilmington Marathon Names Official Automobile Sponsor
Hendrick Toyota Wilmington committed to enhancing and growing the event. News Release here on Endurance Sports Wire Wilmington, NC – Hendrick Toyota Wilmington and the NHRMC Wilmington Marathon Madness Weekend announced a major partnership naming Toyota the Official...
read more13.1 | Half Marathon
Who wants to run from Wrightsville Beach to Downtown Wilmington? Designed to test your limits, the Half-Marathon guides runners on a fast-paced trip around Wrightsville Beach’s waterfront straight to the Cape Fear River. As well as being a qualifying race, this run is also a popular one with veterans and first-time half marathoners alike. Known for the flat terrain and running 1 straight line from the Beach to Downtown Wilmington, this is a fun, fast destination to destination race. Span the Cape Fear Coast from Wrightsville Beach to downtown Wilmington, NC
“Greetings from Colorado…
I don’t normally do this, but I wanted to take a minute to tell you what a great race you put on Saturday. In the last six years, I have run quite a few marathons, trying to run one in every state. Normally I can find at least one complaint with a marathon, but honestly, I couldn’t find anything wrong with Wrightsville Beach.
Your level of communication was just right… a happy cheerful tone to each email, instructions and directions for parking and expo were perfect, shuttle service was perfect, the weather was perfect, hotel information and reservations were easy, the gated community we ran thru was so lovely and I LOVED North Carolina!!!”
Thank You26.2 Relay | Marathon Relay
Grab a friend (or three) and get ready to cover some ground! The Marathon Relay is the perfect opportunity to perfect your skills as a team, with flat course expanses and a route that takes each of you through an iconic part of Wilmington or the Wrightsville Beach area. The exchanges happen quickly, so make sure each runner is ready to go, right from the starting line.
Course Maps
Whether you are a runner looking to win your age group or a first time marathoner, you need to know the course. Check out our detailed maps page.
Game Day 5K | Great Beginner Race
If you’re not a hardcore runner, the 5K is a great place to start. Less intense than a full or half-marathon, the 5K provides a manageable course that makes it easy to mark your progress along the way. Show off all your hard work and use this flat, maintained course to improve your skills as a runner.
“Just a quick note to thank you for the outstanding race you put on every year. WB Half Marathon is my favorite event. Well done! I do a lot of half marathons and when I take their surveys, I can never in good conscience check (x) “the best” under their questions because your race is simply the best. Don’t let it get to you about the medals! That stuff happens in business. I run a business and we get curve balls every day. You handled it with class. I saw you and your friends running Sunday morning (I was about to go back over the bridge) and I noticed you picking up trash along the route. That just shows the amount of class in which you operate. Thank You”
Thank You, MattGame Day 1MILE | Run Walk
Enjoy the company of friends, family, and fellow runners on this gentle course in comfortable coastal weather. Great for including the kids and dusting off those running shoes, this course is flat and easily navigated, so you and your running partners can move at your own pace to the finish line.
