Saturday, November 25, 2023 • Orange Beach, AL • Course Map
More than 450 runners crossed the finish line in the 13.1-mile and 5K races combined at the 2016 Vacasa (formerly Kaiser) Coastal Half Marathon, 5K and 1-mile run, which features a beautifully scenic course that combines stretches along paved and shaded backcountry trails with a long stretch along the beach here on Alabama’s coastline along the Gulf of Mexico.
Mostly fast and flat throughout, both races start and finish at the Orange Beach Sportsplex on William Silvers Parkway, just off Highway 180.
From there, those running the half marathon follow an out-and-back loop course that runs in a coutner-clockwise direction, first along the tree-lined trails through the backcountry areas of Orange Beach, and then head out for a stretch along Perdido Beach Boulevard, in the direction of the Orange Beach City Hall.
Runners next make turns onto Highway 161 and then again onto Highway 162, which begins the stretch of the race that runs along the beach, along Perdido Beach Boulevard. This stretch offers some of the race’s most beautiful scenery, as the waves rolling in along the shoreline bring welcome breezes as the field makes its way east from Middle Lake and Shelby Lake.
After the roughly one-mile stretch along Perdido Beach, there’s a quick switchback off the road and onto Gulf State Park’s backcountry trails once again, taking runners past Little Lake and Middle Lake along the way.
The last couple of miles of the race take runners along the trails through the park back to the Orange Beach Sportsplex, where a post-race party with fare from local restaurants will be waiting for all finishers.
The event’s half marathon begins at 8:00 AM, followed by the 5K race at 8:10 AM. The half marathon is open to both runners and walkers. The course closes at 12:00 noon, which means that participants must keep a pace of 18 minutes per mile or better.
Race Weather & Climate
Nestled along southern Alabama’s Gulf coast, just over 40 miles west of Pensacola, Fla., the town of Orange Beach typically experiences warm, often hot and humid summers followed by much milder and drier weather in the fall. In November, temperatures average between 51°F and 71°F, while rainfall totals average just over 4.4 inches for the month.
On race day (Nov. 25), the average low is 49ºF and the average high is 68ºF.
Past Results
- 2022 Results
- 2021 Kaiser Coastal Half Marathon Results
- 2020 Kaiser Coastal Half Marathon Results
- 2019 Kaiser Coastal Half Marathon Results
- 2018 Kaiser Coastal Half Marathon Results
- 2017 Kaiser Coastal Half Marathon Results
- 2016 Kaiser Coastal Half Marathon Results
- 2015 Kaiser Coastal Half Marathon Results
- 2014 Kaiser Coastal Half Marathon Results
- 2013 Kaiser Coastal Half Marathon Results
- 2012 Kaiser Coastal Half Marathon Results
- 2011 Kaiser Coastal Half Marathon Results
Course Map
See the race route map for the Vacasa Coastal Half Marathon here.
Starting Time
- 8:00 AM
Fees
- $70 – $90 for the half marathon
- $35 – $45 for the 5K
- $15 – $25 for the 1-mile fun run
- $50 for the virtual race
Registration
To reserve your spot in the 2023 running of the Vacasa Coastal Half Marathon, 1-mile fun run or 5K race, register online at RunSignUp.com here.
Official Race Website
Facebook Conversations
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