You’re invited to join the Big Beach Marathon in beautiful Gulf Shores, Alabama. The courses are scenic, flat, and FAST, running on the fully paved trails through the Gulf State Park. The course is also a USATF Certified Boston Qualifier for those who are hoping to score a coveted Boston …
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You’re invited to join the Big Beach Marathon in beautiful Gulf Shores, Alabama. The courses are scenic, flat, and FAST, running on the fully paved trails through the Gulf State Park. The course is also a USATF Certified Boston Qualifier for those who are hoping to score a coveted Boston qualifying time (and potentially snag a spot at the world major).
The marathon and half marathon take place Sunday, with the start and finish located beach side at The Hangout. Enjoy stunning views of the Gulf Shores beaches, a gorgeous backdrop for your race weekend! And a celebration that brings runners back year after year.
In addition to Sunday’s marathon and half marathon, the Safari 5K and Family Fun Run/Walk on Saturday provides an opportunity for those not up to the marathon or half marathon distances the ability to participate, as well as giving those looking for an added challenge, the opportunity for TWO days of racing in your weekend. Take on the Shark or Dolphin challenge by choosing to participate in the 5K on Saturday and the full marathon (Shark) or 5K Saturday and then half marathon on Sunday (Dolphin)! Challengers receive ALL the swag from both races PLUS a third challenge medal, extra beer tickets, and the ultimate in bragging rights.
All race participants are welcome to The Hangout after party on Sunday to celebrate! Participants will receive post-race food, beer, and a great time near the beautiful Gulf Shores beaches!
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Most exciting finish ever!
The course was awesome, almost all in the state park on paved paths and boardwalks. Aid stations were on point especially around mile 18 with the flat Coke 👌🏽 In … MORE
The course was awesome, almost all in the state park on paved paths and boardwalks. Aid stations were on point especially around mile 18 with the flat Coke 👌🏽 In 2026 the storm came in when I was at mile 23 so it was run like crazy to the finish line! Wind, sleet, rain, port-o-lets and trash cans blowing everywhere!! But so much fun!
The BEST marathon in Alabama!
Big Beach Marathon in Gulf Shores, Alabama did not disappoint! I am on my 50 states marathon journey, and I am really glad I picked this race. It was a … MORE
Big Beach Marathon in Gulf Shores, Alabama did not disappoint! I am on my 50 states marathon journey, and I am really glad I picked this race. It was a fast course, with great views, and was very well organized! I cannot recommend this race enough. This race and location was so fun, I even had my bachelorette party here!
Pleasant smaller flat race
Overall an enjoyable quiet race with a flat course mostly through the state park near the beach. This was a fun marathon to cross AL off the list. Packet pickup … MORE
Overall an enjoyable quiet race with a flat course mostly through the state park near the beach. This was a fun marathon to cross AL off the list. Packet pickup was small but easy. No issues with logistics. Decent long-sleeve shirt and medal. The post-race party at The Hangout was really good. Solid plate of pasta, chili mac, chicken breast, and 2 local craft beers.
Weather was mostly cool and slightly muggy. I finished a few minutes before the downpour hit. Not huge crowd support except at the start/finish. But nice if you like it quieter in nature. Wouldn’t go out of my way to run again, but would recommend if you’re anywhere within driving distance and walk to cross AL off the list.
A nice race for my 20th state
This race was my 57th marathon and 20th state. I was so glad the weather did not get as bad as it could have gotten and the marathoners were able … MORE
This race was my 57th marathon and 20th state. I was so glad the weather did not get as bad as it could have gotten and the marathoners were able to complete the distance. The Hangout was a great place for the start and finish. The lunch after the race was also nice.
My main complaint was there were 3 options of times to sign up for a return shuttle back to the Lodge which was the host hotel and I chose 2:45. I finished in just under 6 and a half hours and this was the only option available with the time I knew I would do. There was also another gentleman who had signed up. We were both out at the street waiting around 2:30 and at 3:00 it still had not showed up. We got to talking to a couple who were there about waiting for the shuttle and it not showing up and they offered both of us a ride back to Lodge. That was very kind of them. I don’t know what happened but that is not ok to leave participants waiting and not follow through. I hope this is corrected for next year.
Otherwise, it was a great experience and I would recommend the race.
Amazing Race!!!
I loved the whole event!!! Communication and race production were absolutely fantastic. I am so excited to become a repeat runner for this event and have already convinced a group … MORE
I loved the whole event!!! Communication and race production were absolutely fantastic. I am so excited to become a repeat runner for this event and have already convinced a group of friends to join me next year. I enjoy the Rock N’ Roll Series races a lot but I think this may actually be my favorite race, you get all of the great aspects of a huge production like the Rock N Roll Series but it still feels more like a community event and not like you are getting lost in a sea of thousands.
Great Event-even with difficult weather
Very well organized event, with a small expo that was mainly for bib pickup. I ran the 5K as a shakeout on Saturday. The 5K was an out-and-back starting from … MORE
Very well organized event, with a small expo that was mainly for bib pickup. I ran the 5K as a shakeout on Saturday. The 5K was an out-and-back starting from The Hangout, with post-race awards, beer, and snacks.
The marathon on Sunday started right on time. The course, made up of several loops, is mostly on bike paths and boardwalks through Gulf Shores State Park. It’s mainly flat with little elevation gain or loss, but very humid this particular day with starting temps in the 70’s. Temperatures plummeted during the race, and very high winds with horizontal rain rolled in around the 4-hour mark. Porta potties were blown over by the strong wind gusts. It was monsoon like.
Despite the weather, the organizers kept the course open, and there was plenty of cover inside The Hangout at the finish to enjoy the post-race food and celebration. I stayed at the Embassy Suites, which had a beautiful beach view and was essentially across the street from the start/finish area—extremely convenient.
This is a great time of year to travel to Gulf Shores, with light crowds since it’s truly the off-season. Highly recommend this Alabama race—well run, fun energy, and a nice course along a beautiful, big beach.
Fun course with lots of humidity
They say expo, it is really just a packet pick up. Start and finish line area was good, The Hangout was a fun place for food and drinks after we … MORE
They say expo, it is really just a packet pick up. Start and finish line area was good, The Hangout was a fun place for food and drinks after we finished. Pretty course, lots of wooden bridges. Can be slippery and just hard on your legs. Overall, a fun race and would do it again.
Fun in the Sun!
We’re trying to hit all 50 states & this was our race for Alabama. We did the 5k & half marathon (Dolphin challenge). Pickup - very small expo, didn’t love … MORE
We’re trying to hit all 50 states & this was our race for Alabama. We did the 5k & half marathon (Dolphin challenge).
Pickup – very small expo, didn’t love the shirts, not a lot of other things going on. We preferred the design of the volunteer shirts.
5k – easy to get to but I think it was communicated that it was going to begin at The Lodge which is why we stayed there but then it didn’t (I thought maybe I was crazy but everyone else was saying the same thing). Not a big deal to drive & park but I can see how it would have been a challenge if you didn’t have a car. Short race & it was all on the road. Not terribly scenic & I think one water stop? There were snacks at the end. The medal was ok but we didn’t understand why it was called the “Safari 5k?” Nothing really seemed to be animal themed & we were at the beach.
Half Marathon- this route started again at the beach at The Hangout. There were shuttles from The Lodge to The Hangout & we were able to wait inside & use indoor bathrooms. It started again at the beach & went into the park. It was pretty crowded early on with half marathon & marathon runners all on the same paths for quite a while & the paths weren’t super wide. It was pretty warm (around 70 degrees so felt like 90) & I think they could have used more frequent water stops based on the temperature. I carried a handheld but started dumping water on my head at mile 2. The scenery was nice – you were running through the park & marshlands. There was a decent amount of running on boardwalk at the end. It was pretty but very repetitive & barely any spectators. It was flat but the temperature was pretty rough – warm & over 90% humidity & you only saw the beach at the start & finish line.
The medals were really fun & for the dolphin 🐬 challenge you received an extra medal that attached to your half marathon medal. The food, drinks, & music at the end were fun!
It was a beautiful location & a great weekend away with friends!
Lesson in weather prep for everyone
If you read the previous 2025 vs 2026 race reviews below, you'll see what a difference weather can do to reviews from one year to another. This is a small … MORE
If you read the previous 2025 vs 2026 race reviews below, you’ll see what a difference weather can do to reviews from one year to another.
This is a small race with about 1500 runners with about 900 doing the half. As others pointed, the expo is very small and limited, probably because it starts after the 5k on Saturday morning. They give the option to pick up early on race day. Swag was quite colorful, more a novelty (great for a beach theme party) than a practical shirt. Somebody mentioned that they did not have gear check, but they did. The problem was that it was changed last minute and kind of hidden inside the starting line venue. I couldn’t find it until I asked someone in the same day registration table.
The route is mostly inside the paved path and wooden walkway circling Gulf State Park. Therefore, there aren’t much crowds or bathroom support. However, some runners found a “solution” in the nature aspect of the course. Not cool, but I totally get it.
Like others said, the half and full start together. That definitely creates a crowded area as the road thins into the smaller path coming into the park, shortly after mile 1. Maybe starting one race 10 minutes before the other can help.
The course inside the park and until the half and full splits at mile 7, feels like rolling hills. We’re talking about tiny hills, though. But doing it continuously for 5 miles you definitely notice it in your tempo. It is only an observation for future runners, and by no means a deal breaker. After mile 7 is truly flat all the way to the finish line, except for crossing the pedestrian bridge at mile 11.5 .
Now for the weather learning experience. My fellow runners, for about a week, everyone knew that a strong storm was coming on race day. The only thing variable was the exact timing. By Friday (2 days prior to the race) the forecast was quite certain that the worse would be after 11 AM (3 hours+ into the race). Before the storm, everyone knew it was going to be warm (about 70F/20C) and humid (90+%). After the storm, everyone knew that temperature was going to drop fast. For most half marathoners, the storm was not a problem, but marathoners, that’s another story. You can feel it below in the marathoners’ comments. Perhaps, canceling the full and moving everyone to the half would’ve been the safer option. I’ve been to a few races that this was done. People gets upset, but much later they realize that it was the better option. For organizers is tough, but sometimes the safest move is not the popular one. For runners, follow the weather forecast. If there is a high probability that inclement weather will ruin your experience, don’t wait for the organizers. Get to the start a bit earlier and ask to be change to a shorter distance. If is too late to change, just run safe, do the shorter distance. But I’m sorry my friends, we can’t trash a race or their organizers for weather events everyone knows about.
Under ideal conditions, this is a nice race. With humid and stormy weather … well, it was challenging. But hey, this is true with any race. 😉
Boring course for me
This is definitely a BQ course if you don't mind running around a park for the majority of the race. I for one find it mind numbing and this type … MORE
This is definitely a BQ course if you don’t mind running around a park for the majority of the race. I for one find it mind numbing and this type of course doesn’t work for me. The same scenery and not much to look at . Little crowd support due to the fact you’re running around a park.
More fueling options on the course . I only recall being offered gels and nothing else. It was warm and humid on this particular day. I brought a bottle of water but it wasn’t enough to sustain me the entire race. Some water stops I missed because I didn’t want to stop or couldn’t grab the cup. I appreciate at another race I did, the volunteers followed us to make sure we got water if we couldn’t grab it. This isn’t a a big race so it’s definitely doable and very helpful.
My favorite part of the race was leaving the park and running on the bridge at mile 24 or so. They need extra pacers. They had 345 then jumped to 4hrs. I’m not sure the reason for this. I’ve seen other races with 350 , 355 etc.. Decent food aftwards. It would be great if there was Gatorade post race and not just water and beer. Super impressed with the runners still on the course with pouring rain..
I liked the last water station as they handed us Leis. That was a fun touch. Get some kids from the local high school, buy scouts, to volunteer or the high school marching band to play on the course . Even some singers playing in the park to keep things interesting along the way. Those are my suggestions to improve the experience for folks that might consider this race.
Humid, Low Key Race
Chill beach race, nothing mind-blowing but it was a pretty cool race. You're basically running around a park and a bit along the coastline, very beachy, but the humidity was … MORE
Chill beach race, nothing mind-blowing but it was a pretty cool race. You’re basically running around a park and a bit along the coastline, very beachy, but the humidity was brutal.
Not a ton of porta-potties at the start but small enough race that it was fine, plus there may have been bathrooms at the huge bar/restaurant The Hangout where it started/finished. Also I don’t think there were many porta-potties along the race route, so go before the race.
This wasn’t a problem for me, but I spoke to someone who ran the full (and got drenched since it rained towards the end of the full) who said a lot of the stations near the end ran out of Gatorade/water, which is brutal.
I liked it, would run again, really cool area, but damn that 97% humidity and 70 degree temps were rough.
Big Beach - Small Race
I ran the half marathon. It was a very hot, humid and windy day just hours ahead of winter storm Fern. The race started and ended at The Hangout- a … MORE
I ran the half marathon. It was a very hot, humid and windy day just hours ahead of winter storm Fern. The race started and ended at The Hangout- a restaurant/bar on the beach. We were able to wait inside until race time which was nice. Much of the course took us through a park on a paved trail. It was pretty but with all the trees and plants lining the path, it felt uncomfortably hot. There were enough water stops, but the cup sizes were small. I could have used more water. Part of the course was on a boardwalk that I personally enjoyed. The last few miles of the race were my favorite because the course opened up and I cooled down a bit. Throughout the course, there was little support.
The Hangout provided a hot buffet-style lunch after the finish which was nice. A shuttle picked us up at the Lodge before the race, so we didn’t have to worry about parking or taking any extra belongings. We opted to walk back.
Overall, it was a nice, small race.
Amateur organization for this size
This was the race's 11th year, which is always a tough time for organizers as the race turns into a small, local event to a larger, more recognized event. And … MORE
This was the race’s 11th year, which is always a tough time for organizers as the race turns into a small, local event to a larger, more recognized event. And long story short: the organizers are NOT ready for it.
Pre-race: almost NO information email, the only source of information for packet pickup, schedule of events, or just weather alert (this race was held during the winter storm) was the -confusing- website. Website itself is not necessarilly clear. The “marathon” page gives you turn by turn instructions but the location of the start is on another page, which only mentions “The Hangout”. If you are not familiar with Gulf shores, you have to google it to find out what it is and where it is. Packet pick-up had a very small window, starting at 1pm on Saturday.
Race day: no gear check. start line was fine, with appropriate amount of bathrooms, but the start itself was confusing. Pacers for the Half and the Full had the same equipment so it was hard to place one’s in the chute (is the 3:00 pacer a fast one for the full or a slow one for the half? do I need to move up or back?). Then everyone starts at the same time, and you reach the narrow state park trails as early as mile 1. This does not give time to the pack to thin out, so the race is extremely crowded, making it difficult to pass, until the marathon/half split happens around mile 7-8. The aid stations (on that shared path in particular) were extremely small, and volunteers were overwhelmed with the density of runners who had to stop and get in line to get a cup of water. Some tables even got so used to that “the runner picks up its own cup from the table” that when we hit these stations again at miles 18-25 they were still not handing out the cups. This could be easily resolved by either having corrals, or having different start times for Full and Half.
Course: the course is very flat (some slight ups and downs but barely noticeable) and almost entirely in the state park, with a mix of pavement and boardwalk. Trails are narrow (especially with how crowded the course is), and you are running in a forest/swamp. Which is very humid (95%+) and does not help sweat evaporates – so if you are a heavy sweater and need to sweat to regulate your body temperature, this is going to be a more difficult race than what the course profile suggests. Don’t let the name of the race fool you, you only see a beach the first 100 yards and the last 50 yards.
Crisis management: One of the main reason to go to organized events is to be protected from problems. For this race there was a big red flag with the winter storm expected to hit us early. The organizers decided to maintain the race as scheduled. Don’t get me wrong, I laud this “hope for the best, prepare for the worst” approach. I’ve had cancelled races in the past, only to see on race day that the race could/should have stood. But they dropped the ball in the “prepare for the worst” part. Saturday forecast had the storm hitting us at 9am, only 90minutes into the race. But there was absolutely no preparation for it. Wind, hail, rain, slippery boardwalk, flooded roads when coming back to town. Everything we faced was forecasted. We knew we’d face it. They could have move that race from the late 7:30 start but didn’t. When we arrived on the finish line it was a disaster: the wind had taken down some portapotties which were now spilling on the course, everyone on the finish line had evacuated inside. Nobody to hand us water, nobody to even give us our medal. We had to inquire inside, receive conflicting information, and that is not what you want to have to do after running 26.2miles including a few in terrible conditions. While we were wet and freezing, they did not have towels, safety blankets or anything of that sort. They even paused the food serving “because of the conditions”, so forget about comforting warm food. They had plenty of spare long sleeve shirts because of everyone who decided not to run in these conditions, but did not offer anyone any. Again, I am fine with the “hope for the best, prepare for the worst” approach. I am flabbergasted by the “ignore the risk, don’t plan for anything” approach that they took.
Great run but that weather
The expo wasn't much; two vendors, one sponsor, a DJ and packet pickup. Took about 15 minutes to get through. The hotel, we stayed at The Lodge, the host hotel. … MORE
The expo wasn’t much; two vendors, one sponsor, a DJ and packet pickup. Took about 15 minutes to get through.
The hotel, we stayed at The Lodge, the host hotel. It was great! Clean hotel with great amenities and friendly staff. If you can’t stay there check out the cabins at Gulf State Park.
The run: Started and ended at The Hangout and that was great! Food and drinks available all day! The course is beautiful, running through the state park. Not a lot of support though. Paved trails, stay near the center line it was pretty accurate. The boardwalks didn’t get to slippery and we had rain from mile 20 until the finish line.
The race directors did great with the weather we were expecting and did get. Start time: 70° and sunny. Then 50°, 20mph winds and rain. We had people out checking on us and let us stay on course since we felt comfortable.
The medal was cute and the ribbon is race specific.
One of the best organized races I’ve run
They treat runners well and provide plenty of support, Nice swag also. The course is fairly flat and there are some boardwalk areas that can be slippery when wet. There … MORE
They treat runners well and provide plenty of support, Nice swag also. The course is fairly flat and there are some boardwalk areas that can be slippery when wet. There are some areas on the marathon course where you will see few other runners after the split for the half. But overall one of my favorite races
So great I did it twice!
I love this race. It’s super fun, pretty scenery, great swag (the dolphin challenge was new for me this time). After party with lots of food and refreshments. Great race … MORE
I love this race. It’s super fun, pretty scenery, great swag (the dolphin challenge was new for me this time). After party with lots of food and refreshments. Great race and production!
Fun lil warm up
Great lil 7k- 3rd in age/gender! I loved that I got a little plaque! The medal was really cute, crowd support was also great. Glad I got to do it! … MORE
Great lil 7k- 3rd in age/gender! I loved that I got a little plaque! The medal was really cute, crowd support was also great. Glad I got to do it!
Practically perfect!
This was one of the best half marathons I've done. I would only make one change, and that is that they NEED a wave start. They ran the marathoners and … MORE
This was one of the best half marathons I’ve done. I would only make one change, and that is that they NEED a wave start. They ran the marathoners and half marathoners all together in one huge start. Around mile 2, the course goes from street running to the pedestrian/bike path which can comfortably fit three people across. I was stuck in a mass of people and it took a couple of miles for it to thin out so I could run/walk a pace that was fun for me. Even the pacers were running side-by-side and there just wasn’t room to get around folks.
The morning started with a spectacular sunrise about 45 minutes before the start. The course was pretty and the long boardwalk in the second half was a highlight. The afterparty was the best, with chicken, pasta, garlic bread and cookies for all participants. Lots of beer. A live band. Plenty of sunshine or shade, and soft white sand.
Serene run in a state park
I enjoyed this race. The email communication beforehand was great, the race team did a wonderful job of clearing all the snow and icy spots from the course in the … MORE
I enjoyed this race. The email communication beforehand was great, the race team did a wonderful job of clearing all the snow and icy spots from the course in the days preceding the run, and it was so nice to be inside the Hangout to wait in the warmth before lining up to start! There were enough bathrooms at the start/finish area but on the course there were not many at all. It was also quite crowded with the half marathoners and marathoners starting at once. Those were really the only downsides for an otherwise well-run event. I was especially impressed with the medals – quite large and with a fun design – and the beach themed long-sleeve tech shirt.
Good First Marathon
Fairly flat course with decently spaced and stocked aid stations. With the majority of the course being paved/boardwalk paths through a state park there isn't a huge amount of crowd … MORE
Fairly flat course with decently spaced and stocked aid stations. With the majority of the course being paved/boardwalk paths through a state park there isn’t a huge amount of crowd support, but what there was definitely helped! I feel the overall “behind the scenes” seemed more than helpful for the event.