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South Carolina > Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon, Coastal 5K & Doggie Dash
Myrtle Beach, SC • Sunday, October 20, 2013 • Course Map
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The crown jewel of the 60-mile stretch of coastline known as South Carolina's "Grand Strand," Myrtle Beach plays host in the fall of 2013 to the 4th annual running of the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon, Coastal 5K and High Heel Run, for a fast and largely flat race that starts near the city's Coastal Grand Mall and finishes at Plyler Park, located right on the beach off North Ocean Boulevard.
In addition to the half marathon on Sunday morning, the race hosts three additional events on Saturday -- the Coastal 5K race with a fast and flat course that runners can use as a warm-up for the Mini Marathon the next day, a "High Heel Run" 80-meter dash in (you guessed it) heels that are at least 2 3/4 inches high, and a 1.5-mile Doggie Dash for runners and walkers who want to come out to the race with their pets.
On Sunday it's time for the race's 13.1-mile event, which follows a point-to-point route that starts at Coastal Grand Mall. From the starting line on the northern side of the mall, just off Harrelson Boulevard and Highway 17 -- the scheduled starting time for the race is 7:00 AM (6:55 for wheelchair athletes) -- runners make a loop around the road that circles the mall and then head south toward Grissom Parkway.
After the stretch around the mall, runners then follow the race route for another brief loop around Dividend Loop and 17th Avenue, and then head out onto the Grissom Parkway, which they follow as it winds its way eastward for the next three miles. The course makes its way around Celebrity Circle through mile markers 8 and 9, taking runners past the Ripleys Aquarium and then out onto 29th Avenue, where they then head southeast toward the beach.
Once runners hit North Ocean Boulevard, which looks out onto the waves washing in along the shoreline, the remaining three miles of the race are basically two long straightaway stretches. From the turn onto North Ocean, runners follow the road all the way down to 2nd Avenue, where they turn around and head back up the boardwalk along the beach to the finish line at Plyler Park.
Just over 2,200 runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes crossed the finish line in the half marathon in 2012, in addition to 696 finishers in the Coastal 5K race. For the 2013 race, participants will have a 3 1/2 hours to complete the half marathon, which means that walkers as well as runners will be able to finish the course within the official course time limit.
Race Weather & Climate
One of the Southeast's premier golf resorts, the city of Myrtle Beach is known for its hot summers that make its beaches also one of the region's top summer tourist attractions, but in the fall the area typically sees milder and drier weather.
In October, temperatures average between 53°F and 76°F, while rainfall amounts average just over 3.2 inches for the month. On the day of the race (Oct. 20), the average low is 51°F and the average high is 75°F.
Course Map
View the race route map for the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon
Starting Time
7:00 AM
Fees
$65 for the half marathon, if registered by May 31, 2013
$75 between June 1 - August 31
$85 between September 1 - October 16
$100 at the race expo, if not sold out
Registration
To reserve your spot in the mid-fall 2013 running of the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon, Coastal 5K, Doggie Dash or High Heel Run, register online at Active.com.
Official Race Website
www.runmyrtlebeach.com
Leave a Comment
Ever run in South Carolina's annual Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon? Share your impressions, stories and tips from the event.
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