Mel Williams Memorial Seashore 50K presented by Brooks 2026

The Mel Williams Memorial Seashore 50K, presented by Brooks, is a 50K trail race held in mid-December at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Runners begin at the park's boat ramp, complete approximately 31 miles on the trails, and return to the starting point. The race commences in the morning with an 8-hour cutoff, designed for consistent ultra runners who can maintain pace through cool coastal conditions, potentially damp trails, and light rain. The course consists of two loops within First Landing State Park, featuring aid stations at 64th Street and Bald Cypress that participants pass multiple times. This is a cupless race; runners must carry their own bottles or a collapsible cup for hydration, Tailwind, and aid station provisions. All finishers receive a medal, and participants are given a Brooks shirt. The event concludes with pizza and beer tickets for runners and volunteers at Smartmouth Brewery Pilot House. Awards are presented to the top overall male and female finishers, top masters, and age-group winners starting from 30.