On May 20, 2017 an estimated 1600 Runners will make their way to this beautiful place, Sunset Beach, North Carolina. This will be the fourth Run Sunset Beach which includes a Half Marathon, 5K and 1 Mile Turtle Trot. It is the 2nd in the BAM! Race Series hosted by Coastal Race Productions but it is first in our hearts for many reasons! Living here and running these roads several times a week is part of why we’re so partial to this race but it is also the very first event Coastal Race Productions ever held. For a first time event it was a huge success and has grown significantly every year. This year Run Sunset Beach will officially be the largest event in Brunswick County.
Packet Pick-Up will be at the South Brunswick Island Center located at 9400 Ocean Highway West, Calabash NC 28467. Packet Pick-Up hours are strictly from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. If you cannot make it between those times we will have your packet at the start finish line race morning starting at 5:45. Our Friday evening pasta dinner will be served from 4:00 to 7:00 at the cost of $7.00 and we have several vendors lined up as well.
Each year as we’ve grown, we are faced with new challenges to overcome and planning for this year has been no exception. To accommodate the larger crowd and bridge traffic concerns we have moved our start and finish line area off of the island to the new Sunset Beach Town Park located on Sunset Blvd North. Don’t worry, the park, is stunning and the perfect place to be race morning with actually one of the best views of the sunrise around! The park is also home to our Veterans Memorial and overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway. Parking for this years event is located on High Market St. with a free shuttle service to and from the Park. We will provide a bag drop at the park as well. Beer and Pizza is on the menu for runners if you want to bring your beach chairs to enjoy and hang out please do!
Approximately 50 Volunteers are required for this years event and there will be 9 Water stops along the half marathon course as well as an Icee Pop Station! Both the half marathon and 5K routes will take you over the bridge for beautiful breath taking views of the Intracoastal Waterway but otherwise very flat and fast!
One of the most unique things about the beach itself is the Kindred Spirit Mailbox which has recently been featured on the national news. Over the last many decades, thousands of people have made their way to the Kindred Spirit and left heart felt notes in the pages of the journals that are inside. The mailbox is located in a section of Sunset Beach called Bird Island and is a 1.4 mile walk to the west if you are at the fishing pier. It is a beautiful picturesque spot nestled in the sand dunes and is complete with a bench and an American Flag. It’s very cool and would be my #1 pick if I were traveling to the race!
Another suggestion would be to stop by Bleu, the BEST little shop at the beach! Located at 720 Sunset Blvd. North, they have great clothing, accessories and home decor, some new and some vintage. Bleu also has the greatest Spirit Jerseys around! You will LOVE them! Plus the shops owner, Monica Vogel and her husband Jeff have rolled up their sleeves for every single race we have put on over the last four years and worked hard from the wee hours of the morning until we’ve rolled everything up and gone home! Like their Facebook Page and be sure to let them know how much runners appreciate volunteers by stopping by their store when your in town!
The Island of Sunset Beach is also a Turtle Sanctuary and we are fortunate enough to have several nests a year. Seeing a nest boil, eggs hatch and watching the babies make their way to the ocean is an amazing experience. This is one reason why it’s so important to take care of our beach by keeping it clean from trash and debris. We partner with our local Turtle Patrol to help them gain exposure and funds. Although we have other charities that are involved, The Sunset Turtle Watch is the beneficiary of the 1Mile Turtle Trot and in exchange they help man our water stations along the 5K and Half Marathon Routes. They are a great group of people that protect a regional treasure so be sure to thank them at the water stops for all they do!
If you haven’t already registered for Run Sunset Beach 2017 we encourage you to do so quickly! We guarantee both shirts and medals to those registered by May 1st. After that it is on a first come first serve basis. We welcome spectators and cheer groups along the routes as well if you have any interest in this or volunteering please reach out to us via email info@coastalraceproductions.com. We hope you’ll join us for a “Great Race in a Beautiful Place!”