Emerald Isle Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K 2026

The Emerald Isle Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K begins at Western Ocean Regional Access in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, offering three race options on the same morning. The marathon starts at 7:00 am, the half marathon at 8:35 am, and the 5K at 8:45 am. The full marathon is a flat course and a Boston qualifier, the half marathon covers 13.1 miles, and the 5K provides a 3.1-mile option for newer runners or walkers. The shorter courses utilize the island’s west-end roads and bike path, avoiding a closed loop in a downtown grid. The half marathon departs Western Ocean Regional Access, heads toward the oceanside, proceeds east on Ocean Drive, and circles back to the start area via the NC 58 bicycle path. The 5K also begins at Western Ocean Regional Access, proceeds to Mangrove Drive, and returns on the NC 58 bicycle path. The event accommodates various runners, with distances suitable for first-timers, a challenging half marathon, and a marathon course designed for Boston qualifying aspirations.