Run Oak Island Pre-Race Information

by | Jan 27, 2026 | 10K, 5K, Best Destination Races In the USA, Destination Half Marathon 2026, February Half Marathon USA, February Marathon USA, North Carolina Coastal Race BAM! Series, North Carolina Coastal Races, North Carolina Destination Race 2026, Oak Island, Pre-Race Information, Races, Run Oak Island 2026, Run Oak Island NC

Run Oak Island Pre-Race Information

We are excited to host one of the largest marathon race weekends in the Carolina’s on February 14th & 15th!  This is your official participant guide containing everything you need to know to have an amazing weekend with us. PLEASE READ the below information carefully.

WHAT’S IN THIS POST?

  • Mandatory pre-race packet pickup info (Friday 12-7pm & Saturday 12-5pm)
  • Parking on Race Day – Approved Spots & Arrive Early!!
  • Saturday Challenge & 2 Day Challenge Important Info!
  • Course Maps & Overview
  • What To Expect Race Day + Updated Race Times
  • Awards/Results

But first – please share with your friends! The 10K is almost sold out!  HERE are some posts you can share on Facebook in your run club.

USE #RUNOAKISLAND

PRE-RACE: PACKET PICKUP

FOOD DRIVE! Last year, runners just like you helped donate over 10,000 lbs of food to the local food bank making a BIG impact on our community! It’s time to do it again. Simply stop by the store on your way in or bring any non-perishable food items. Each race they ask for something specific and for Oak Island they’ve asked for CANNED TUNA & CHICKEN . Every little bit helps – Thank You!

WHERE: St. James Community Center (Address: 4136 Southport-Supply Rd SE, St James, NC 28461)
CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS
*No pets allowed in the facility.

WHEN: Friday 2/13 12PM – 7PM & Saturday 2/14 12PM – 5PM
MANDATORY – You must have your bib to run the races.

FAQ’s:
Q) Are any bibs being shipped?
A) We did not ship any bibs for this event this year, ALL must be picked up in person. Virtual packets are being shipped separately and cannot be picked up.

Q) Can someone else pick up my packet on Friday or Saturday?
A) Yes.

Q) Is there another option to pick up my bib?
A) Emergency Only pickup is available race morning at the start line if you have no other option. You’ll want to plan to arrive 1hr – 1.5 hrs prior to your event start if you plan to pickup race morning. Please try to make it on Friday (or Saturday if running Sunday only) if at all possible or have someone you know pickup for you.

 

 

COURSE OVERVIEW – RACE MAPS:

We always recommend reviewing your course map ahead of race day so you know what to expect. CLICK HERE for a full course map, PDF downloads of each course and descriptions.

NEW THIS YEAR! – 5K start line and route is slightly different than previous years and the 1 Mile is completely different. The Saturday 10K and all Sunday races are the same course as previous years.

Waterstops & Restrooms – These are roughly every 2 miles on the course with water, blue (Glacier Freeze) Gatorade & restrooms.
Full Marathon (12): Mile 2.5, Mile 5.1, Mile 6, Mile 8.3, Mile 10, Mile 12, Mile 14.5, Mile 17, Mile 19, Mile 21.5, Mile 23.5, Mile 24.3
East Half (5): Mile 2.5, Mile 5.1, Mile 6, Mile 8.7, Mile 11
West Half (6): Mile 1.5, Mile 3.8, Mile 5.9, Mile 8.5, Mile 10.4, Mile 11.2
10K (2): Mile 1.6, Mile 4.1
5K(1): Mile 1.5

 

 

WEATHER POLICY:

Am I dreaming? We are expecting some absolutely perfect weather ahead of race day! But, we always need to mention – this is a rain or shine event. Check the weather the days leading up to the event and plan accordingly.

 

RACE DAYS: PARKING AND SCHEDULE

We’ve secured several parking locations for participants and will have a parking team assisting you in getting parked quickly. Click Here for directions to parking or use the address: 4601 E Oak Island Dr, Oak Island, NC 28465.  All parking is between 50 feet & .4 miles from the start line. Early Birds get the best closest parking spots! Follow our team’s direction to get you parked as efficiently as possible.

★ PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY ★

The start & finish line is on Dolphin Dr. between 46th & 49th St. next to Middleton Park. Click Here for directions to the start line. Same as previous years if you’ve participated in the past.

Bag Drop:  We will have a bag drop near the start line. We will have bags and you’re welcome to bring your own bag. There is a tear away tab on your bib that needs to be pinned to your bag.

SATURDAY: Start Times & Schedule:
7:00 AM – 10K Start
8:30 AM – 5K Start
9:00 AM – 10K Awards
9:30 AM – 1 Mile Start
9:45 AM – 5K Awards
*We award top 3 Male/Female Overall, top 3 Male/Female Masters (40+) and top 3 M/F age groups every 5 years starting at <9 for the 5K and <19 for the 10K – upto 80+
10:15 AM – Course Cutoff Time

SUNDAY: Start Times & Schedule:
ATTENTION:  Please note the start times below! These are different than previous years and there was a typo at one point on our website with a wrong time.
7:45 AM – Ultra, Full Marathon & East Half Marathon
8:00 AM – West Half Marathon
10:00 AM – Beer Garden Opens (State Law)
10:30 AM – East Half Marathon Awards + West HM Overall & Masters Only
12:45 PM – Full Marathon Awards + Ultra Overall & Masters Only
2:45 PM – Course Cutoff Time

PACERS:
Find a pacer to run with! They will be lined up in the start corral prior to the race. Introduce yourself and have fun running together!
Marathon: 3:30, 3:45, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45, 5:00, 5:15, 5:30, 5:45, 6:35
East Half Marathon: 1:40, 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30, 2:40, 2:50

AWARDS:
– We award top 3 Male/Female Overall, top 3 Male/Female Masters (40+) and top 3 M/F age groups every 5 years. The 5K starts at <9 and others start at <19 – upto 80+.
– While the West Half Marathon is advertised as a “non-competitive” – we award top 3 M/F Overall and Masters
– We award top 3 M/F Overall and Masters for the Ultra Marathon only.
– The 1 mile is not timed or a certified distance (although very close to 1 mile) and we do not have any overall or age group awards for this.

*BIBS MUST BE WORN & VISIBLE! If you are wearing layers, be sure to pin your bib to the outer most layer so that it is visible at all times during your race.

 

CHALLENGE MEDAL PICKUP:

SATURDAY 3 RACE CHALLENGE – If you’re registered for the challenge to participate in the 10K, 5K & 1 Mile on Saturday, you’ll be given a specific “challenge” bib. When you cross the finish line in the 10K and again in the 5K – you will not receive a medal. Then once you finish the 1M – you will be given a bag with all 3 medals + your challenge medal for the morning.

2 DAY CHALLENGE: If you run either the 5K, 10K or Saturday Challenge + Any race on Sunday – you will be given a bib for each day PLUS a wristband. On Sunday after you finish, you will go to a challenge tent to have your wristband cut off and pickup your challenge medal.

 

RULES & CONDUCT:

  • Absolutely ALL participants must have their bib on and visible at all times while on course – no exceptions! Running without a bib is called “bandit running” and strictly prohibited.
  • Pets are not allowed on the course – sorry, we love our four legged friends but insurance doesn’t allow it.
  • Strollers are allowed but we ask that you start near the back of the start corral.
  • No bikes, hoverboards, skateboards of any kind are allowed.
  • No unregistered or unauthorized pacers.
  • Headphones are allowed but we encourage you to just have 1 headphone in or be able to hear your surroundings.
  • Etiquette:  If stopping to walk, put a hand up in the air and pull off to the side prior to walking to alert runners behind you.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

  • Can I Switch To Virtual: Yes, this is considered an “Event Transfer”. If you login to your RunSignUp account, select this race, then select “Event Transfer” you will see the option to switch to virtual. There will be a small fee charged that also includes shipping.
  • Can I Switch Distances: Yes, this is also considered an “Event Transfer”. Login to your RunSignUp account, select this race and then select “Event Transfer”. Select the event you want to switch to and depending on the change, there may be a small fee charged.
  • T-shirts & Sizing: We guarantee the shirt size you selected online. We will do our best to provide a shirt swap opportunity at packet pickup based on availability.
  • No Late Starts: We do not allow late starts at this event due to traffic being opened up and course logistics.
  • Corral Etiquette: Do your best to line up in the corral based on your pace.  Pacers will be lined up in the corral 10 minutes prior to the start for the half and full marathons to help you with this.
  • Pace Groups: Pacers in the Full & East Half Marathon are here to help you achieve your goals. They can comfortably run at their pace so find them before your race and introduce yourself if you’d like to run with them!
  • Elite Heat: No need to email us.  If you run a sub 3hr marathon, sub 1:25 half marathon, sub 42 min 10K, or a sub 20 min 5K – we’re going to be making announcements 15 minutes prior to the start of each race calling for elites to make their way into the start corral. Please go to the front for our gun start. *Overall awards are done by gun time!
  • Portable Toilets: These are located in the park and roughly every 2 miles with water stops.
  • Hydration On Course: We have water & Gatorade roughly every 2-3 miles on the courses. You ARE allowed to carry your own hydration packs or cups if you’d like.
  • Can I Run With Headphones? Yes, however, we strongly encourage you to be aware of your surroundings, be able to hear others around you and be aware of course signs as you’re running.
  • Awards: We have some really cool age group pins and custom overall and masters wooden awards. These will be handed out on the stage during the awards ceremony (times listed above). Overall awards are always measured by “gun time” so get up front if you think you will win one. Age groups are every 5 yrs & Masters are considered 40+. These are all awarded by chip time – chips are on the back of your bib tracking when you start and finish the race.
  • Results: These will be live online during the event and updated automatically as you cross the finish line. You will see signs and results information all over and these will be updated live.
  • Beer & BBQ:  You will have tickets on your bib good for one beer and one BBQ. *No ID = No Beer
  • RaceJoy Enabled:  If you run with your phone, be sure to download the “RaceJoy” app and search for “Run Oak Island” to allow runner tracking. Spectators and friends can track you online, send you cheers, and you’ll receive audio cues along the course. This is paid for by the race and free to you as the runner.
  • Course Signs: We have hundreds of signs on course, arrows on the road, and over 100 volunteers, police, and staff out on the course to help you.
  • Race Day Photos: We have photographers at the finish line and on the race course. These are provided for FREE to all participants on Facebook.

QUESTIONS? Do you have another question that wasn’t answered here? Most questions if not answered here can be found on our website here or FAQ page here.  We also have a new AI Bot we’re training on our website that can answer many of your questions – give it a try HERE. And of course, you can always email us directly using: info@coastalraceproductions.com