Cape Fear Marathon & Half, presented by Mount to Coast and hosted by Badwater®

AdventureCORPS® – the organizers of the iconic worldwide series of Badwater® ultramarathon races – are pleased to host the Cape Fear Marathon & Half Marathon - presented by Mount to Coast - on Bald Head Island, North Carolina. This is the home of fabled and legendary Cape Fear, and the home to our annual Badwater Cape Fear ultramarathon which is now in its 14th year. This third edition of the Cape Fear Marathon & Half will take place on Sunday, October 18, 2026, with a 1000am start time.

With 26.2 and 13.1-mile race options, Cape Fear Marathon and Half Marathon takes place entirely on Bald Head Island and its car-free, one-lane-wide roads, plus a short but spectacular stretch on the beach around Cape Fear herself. The start line is located at Old Baldy, the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina, while the finish line is located at the marina end of the wooden bridge which crosses the marsh creek. Race finishers receive their finisher medal and post-race photo, then head into Jules Salty Grub for our finish line party host where entrants and volunteers enjoys a hamburger (or bean burger) and beer or drink.

Half-marathoners will do one and a half laps of the island, with one.75-mile sand stretch around Cape Fear, while marathoners will do three laps of the island with three trips around Cape Fear for a total of 2.2 miles of beach running and 24 miles on the golf cart roads of Bald Head Island.

There will be three aid station locations along the race route: one near the start/finish, another at the Bald Head Island Conservancy, our local charitable partner, and then a third aid station is located where runners enter the beach to go around Cape Fear.

While the aid station is outstanding, this is an adventure marathon in a remote location, so carrying a hand-held water bottle, waist pack, and/or hydration pack is highly encouraged. Additionally, as this is a "cupless" race, carrying the collapsable and reusable Badwater Race Cup is critical.

The time limit for the half is 4 hours, and 7 hours for the full.

Those who complete Badwater Cape Fear (50km or 51mi) and Cape Fear Marathon & Half (26.2 or 13.1) in the same calendar year will receive an additional special award, along with the finisher's medal.

Male and Female Winners of the half- and full-marathon will receive a complimentary pair of Mount to Coast shoes.

LOCATION and TRAVEL

Bald Head Island and nearby Southport, NC (featured in the film “Safe Haven”) are ideal vacation get-away spots for the entire family, located less than one hour from Wilmington, NC and its major airport with American, United, and Delta service. (Flying into Myrtle Beach, SC is another convenient option.) Runners will enjoy the remarkable beauty and quaint southern charm of this area, as well as this impeccable and one of a kind race experience, no doubt making this race an annual pilgrimage! Participants are responsible for making their own travel and ferry arrangement to get to and from Bald Head Island. Visit BaldHeadIslandFerry.com and download the Bald Head Island Ferry app to book ferry tickets.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2026

1800-1930: Racer Check-In at Jules’ Salty Grub (outside atop the Tiki Bar)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2026:

0424: Low Tide (0.95 feet)

0600, 0700, 0800, 0900: Ferries Depart Southport to Bald Head Island (if they are on time)

0725: Sunrise (Tide is at 2.84 feet)

0800-930: Racer Check-In at Jules’ Salty Grub (outside atop the Tiki Bar)

0900-0945: Service at Village Chapel of Bald Head Island

1000: Race starts at Old Baldy Lighthouse

1059: High Tide (5.05 feet)

1130 (app.): First Half Marathon finishers

1400: Half-Marathon Cut-Off (4 hour time limit)

1700: Marathon Race Course Closes (7 hour time limit)

1741: Low Tide (1.14 feet)

1824: Sunset

2316: High Tide (3.56 feet)

SWAG

All entrants will receive a Cape Fear Marathon & Half tote bag which includes:

- Cape Fear Marathon & Half bib with bib number and personal name

- A set of four Badwater BibBoards Snap & Lock Bib Fasteners (good bye, safety pins!)

- A special Cape Fear edition Road ID with runner's name, home town, bib #, and emergency contact and phone number

- Cape Fear Marathon & Half tri-blend t-shirt

- Cape Fear Marathon & Half hat by BOCO Gear

- Badwater / Cape Fear "buff" by Barking Frogs

- Badwater / Cape Fear Race Cup as this is a "cupless" race (We also recommend bringing and using a hand-held water bottle)

- Badwater Sunglasses

- Badwater Chip Clip

- Additionally, we will host a burger party - FREE for all competitors at Jules' Salty Grub - on the Bald Head Island Marina, right next to the finish line! This includes a hamburger or bean burger and a beer or non-alcoholic drink.

AWARDS

• Finishers will receive a Cape Fear Marathon Medal by Maxwell Medals at the finish line.

• Those who complete Badwater Cape Fear (50km or 51mi) and Cape Fear Marathon & Half (26.2 or 13.1) in the same…

Community event in Bald Head Island, Brunswick County, NC 28461.