Sunday, September 19, 2021 • Bethany Beach, DE • Course Map
Set for its 3rd annual running as summer is turning to fall here along the beaches of this small coastal down on the Delaware shore, the Bethany Beach First Responders Sports Weekend will be filled with running events — from the half marathon and relay on Sunday to the 10K and 5K set for Saturday.
“For years, Bethany has embraced its own quiet style – smaller and more serene than some beach resorts, Bethany is beloved for its balance of family-friendly peacefulness and fun-loving diversions, and has become a favorite for celebrities,” is the way the Delaware Tourism Office promotes this tiny town near the state’s southern corner.
Measuring just over one square mile and home to just over 1,000 permanent residents — a number that swells to more than 15,000 in the summer — Bethany Beach also is home to state parks like Fresh Pond State Park and Delaware Seashore State Park, both of which you’ll get to see on the half marathon route.
Runners in the half marathon (and the relay) will start the race near the beach, at the intersection of Garfield Parkway and Atlantic Avenue. From there, the race will head first west along Garfield and then north along Coastal Highway, before turning off the highway when you reach the first of the parks you’ll see, Fresh Pond State Park.
Once you’ve made your way around Fresh Pond, you’ll rejoin Coastal Highway for another stretch, which will take you up into Delaware Seashore State Park, which spans more than 2,000 acres and stretches some 6 miles along the coastline.
You’ll run through the park along a few twists and turns and then head back onto Coastal Highway for the return route back to Bethany Beach, where you’ll cross the finish line on the Joseph Olson Boardwalk.
Race Weather & Climate
Nestled along the Delaware shoreline, roughly 55 miles south of Dover, Bethany Beach typically sees mostly milder conditions in September, when temperatures average between the low 60s and the upper 70s.
- Sept. 19 average low: 61ºF
- Sept. 19 average high: 77ºF
Course Map
See the race route map for the Bethany Beach First Responders Sports Weekend Half Marathon here.
Course Time Limit
3 1/2 hours
Fees
- $90 and up for the half marathon
- $140 and up for the half marathon relay (per team)
Registration
To reserve your spot in the 2021 running of the half marathon, relay, 10K or 5K at the Bethany Beach First Responders Sports Weekend, register online at RunSignUp.com here.
Official Race Website
Facebook Conversations
Ever run in the Bethany Beach First Responders Sports Weekend Half Marathon? Share your impressions here, as well as anything you learned about the race that you think other runners/walkers should know.
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