6 Coastal Carolina Half Marathons You’ll Love

Daufuskie Island Marathon and Ultra

Daufuskie Island Half Marathon

Daufuskie Island, S.C. | Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020

A magical run on the island pictured above, accessible only by ferry and whose isolation from the mainland helped preserve its Gullah culture and language for more than a century. Most of the island remains undeveloped today, and you’ll get to see much of it along a combination of paved and unpaved road that snake along the coastline and into the island’s interior. You’ll have your choice of running 13.1, 26.2 or 39.3 miles — the half marathon runs the loop route once, the full marathon twice and the ultra three times — but this isn’t a race to run to record a fast time. You want to soak in the feel, the sights and the sounds of it all.

$110 and up | Sign up here

Lowcountry Trail Half Marathon

Johns Island, S.C. | Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019

Located about a half-hour’s drive from downtown Charleston, this race runs through Johns Island County Park, a 738-acre wooded oasis filled with miles of trails shaded by moss-draped trees. You’ll get to run on dirt trails that wind throughout the park, with everything from grass to tree roots along those often uneven trails. Kids as young as 10 years old are welcome to participate, too, as long as they have a parent or guardian to run with them.

$40 and up | Sign up here

Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon

Myrtle Beach, S.C. | Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019

Five miles of this early fall race unfold along the oceanfront at Myrtle Beach, the crown jewel of the 60-mile-long stretch of coastline known as South Carolina’s “Grand Strand.” Those miles all come in the second half of this fast and very flat race, after you’ve run down Ocean Avenue along the beach and past the Broadway at the Beach amusement park. The home stretch of the race brings you along the boardwalk before crossing the finish line at Plyler Park, near the SkyWheel.

$90 and up | Sign up here

Georgetown Bridge2Bridge Half Marathon

Georgetown, S.C. | Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019

Nestled at the confluence of three rivers, just down the coast from some of this coastal state’s most famous island resorts, this historic seaport city is filled with tree-lined streets, churches, museums and the gorgeous architecture that lowcountry South Carolina is known for. You’ll get to take it all in at this race, which runs across a pair of bridges that straddle the Waccamaw River and the Black River, and features panoramic sunrise views of Winyah Bay.

$65 – $85 | Sign up here

The Kiawah Island Half Marathon

Kiawah Island, S.C. | Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019

Fast, nearly all flat paved roads along tree-lined roads that wind through golf course communities and along the beaches of this resort island, located about 25 miles southwest of Charleston. From the starting line near Kiawah’s East Beach, the out-and-back route takes runners through a combination of oceanside forests, marshlands and leisurely resort roadways, with plenty of scenic views of the island’s majestic beachfront homes, waterways and more.

$85 – $165 | Sign up here

Charleston Half Marathon

Charleston, S.C. | Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020

If you’ve ever visited, you’ll recognize Charleston as one of the nation’s truly unique cities, as it meshes the southern charm and ambiance of places like New Orleans with many of the architectural accents and styles of cities in New England. The half marathon at this wintertime race follows a point-to-point course that starts downtown near the area known as “south of Broad,” and runs through the city as well as the North Charleston area before heading in to the finish line at Riverfront Park.

$79 and up | Sign up here

2 comments… add one
  • Donald Nunley July 17, 2019, 4:17 am

    Hey, I thought “Georgetown Bridge2Bridge Half Marathon” would be on November 7

    • Terrell Johnson July 17, 2019, 9:59 am

      Hi Donald! Can you show me where you’re seeing it scheduled for Nov. 7? I just checked the official race website, where they show it as Nov. 2.

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