Charleston Half Marathon
Charleston, SC
- Half Marathon, 5K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Race through historic Charleston, celebrate at the Post-Race Party, and explore everything the #1 City in the U.S. has to offer! Quintessential Course Historic Holy City Views! Fun, Fast & Certified Lowcountry Landmarks Palmetto Rose Rewards Long Sleeve Participant Shirt Finisher Medal Finisher Glassware Gift Post-Race Party Party In The Park (The Joe) Post Race! Featuring Music, Beer, … MORE
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One of my favorite races ever!
I am doing a half marathon in every state; I've done 9 so far, and this is by far my favorite one! It is a very nice, scenic course, and … MORE
I am doing a half marathon in every state; I’ve done 9 so far, and this is by far my favorite one! It is a very nice, scenic course, and it’s easy. I would almost come back to do this one again–that’s how much I liked it. Also, they gave us two shirts, which I thought was cool.
Much Improved Route!
The 2024 Charleston Half Marathon was once again on one of the coldest days of the year, but at least the wind wasn't as bad as forecasted! And the route … MORE
The 2024 Charleston Half Marathon was once again on one of the coldest days of the year, but at least the wind wasn’t as bad as forecasted! And the route was 100x better than 2023. They listened to everyone’s feedback!!
Southern Charm
Packet pickup was well-organized and held at the baseball field. There was plenty of parking across the street, but most people tried to park in the small lot at the … MORE
Packet pickup was well-organized and held at the baseball field. There was plenty of parking across the street, but most people tried to park in the small lot at the field, which caused back-ups.
There were a couple of hotels within walking distance of the start/finish, so we were able to leave the hotel 20 minutes prior to the start, with ample time to get to our corral.
The course was flat with several out and back sections. There were plenty of beautiful houses along the course and we ran along the shoreline of the Ashley River. The course also went through the campus of The Citadel Military College, which I enjoyed.
The race finished outside the baseball field, with runners getting their medal, some snacks, water, and mylar blanket.
Inside the baseball field, runners were treated to a choice of hotdog or breakfast wrap, and two free beers (choice of Michelob ultra, a cider or an IPA).
A long sleeve tech shirt and short sleeve triblend shirt were included in the cost of the registration.
A final note: anyone who ran any of the distances offered at this race and at the Myrtle Beach race the first weekend in March will get extra “Bless Your Heart” medal.
Perfect Running Weather for January
The course is flat and pretty scenic and temperatures were great for distance running. Packet Pickup was pretty uneventful. Flights were reasonable into Charleston, hotel was pretty expensive, but some … MORE
The course is flat and pretty scenic and temperatures were great for distance running. Packet Pickup was pretty uneventful. Flights were reasonable into Charleston, hotel was pretty expensive, but some good restaurant options in the city. Parking before race was not bad arriving about 40 mins before start time, but leaving the free parking lot about 3 hours later was a nightmare- they needed more volunteers to direct traffic.
Nice Winter Race
Awesome medal and swag!! Waterfront portion of the run was absolutely beautiful! Hydration stations were plentiful. Excellent pre race communication. Path was too narrow for simultaneous out and back running. … MORE
Awesome medal and swag!! Waterfront portion of the run was absolutely beautiful! Hydration stations were plentiful. Excellent pre race communication.
Path was too narrow for simultaneous out and back running. There should be no vehicle parking on course during the race. Overcrowding made it difficult to move forward or go around slower runners during the 1st 5k. New route in ‘24. This should be an easy fix.
If cars cannot be eliminated, add more corrals and spread out the corral start times to ease the over-crowding.
Great tour of Charleston
State #33 for me. Based on previous reviews I was little skeptical however there must have been major improvements to this race because it seemed well organized and I enjoyed … MORE
State #33 for me. Based on previous reviews I was little skeptical however there must have been major improvements to this race because it seemed well organized and I enjoyed it. The course is great for a destination run, it has lots of turns but goes through all the nice sites of the city, and the miles fly by.
Packet pickup was easy, and the swag is nice with two shirts. Love the medal. I stayed at the Marriott and it was an easy walk to and from the start and finish.
They did a nice job with the start and spreading people out, which is important because it is narrow in spots. People were friendly, aid stations great, with water/sports drink, gels, no stopping needed.
The weather was perfect running weather. The finish line was well organized and provided snacks and hot chocolate. Overall I would recommend this race and would love to do it again.
Great course
Course is flat and fast. Lots of nice scenery. Although it was 30 degrees there was great crowd support. You get food and 2 beers at the finish so that’s … MORE
Course is flat and fast. Lots of nice scenery. Although it was 30 degrees there was great crowd support. You get food and 2 beers at the finish so that’s a plus! Will definitely run this again.
Beautiful first 10 miles!
This race was especially cold, and windy. Which made it difficult running the last couple miles uphill on the highway. The majority of the course is super beautiful around downtown … MORE
This race was especially cold, and windy. Which made it difficult running the last couple miles uphill on the highway. The majority of the course is super beautiful around downtown Charleston, the end toward the North Charleston finish is less desirable. Overall well organized. This race has been deferred from 2022, which was cancelled a week or so before the race
Front 75% is great, back 25% not so much
Most of the race in was beautiful like through the Citadel, the. Battery and King St but the last 4-5 miles was boring running through industrial part of town. I … MORE
Most of the race in was beautiful like through the Citadel, the. Battery and King St but the last 4-5 miles was boring running through industrial part of town. I had to pay to park and was late to start line
Very nicely done half marathon!
Nice flat course. Great support and aid stations are well done. I loved the scenery of the course too. The only downside for me was the long line to get … MORE
Nice flat course. Great support and aid stations are well done. I loved the scenery of the course too. The only downside for me was the long line to get into Firefly Distillery at the end in order to get the food.
Enjoyable first half but then….
Scenic first half through historic Charleston but then the second half disappointed. After party would be great if better organized. I stood on a line having no idea whether or … MORE
Scenic first half through historic Charleston but then the second half disappointed. After party would be great if better organized. I stood on a line having no idea whether or not it was the line I wanted – signage was terrible. I did not check a bag but I heard nightmare stories from others about bag pickup taking over an hour.
Alright but disorganized
Half course was really nice the first 6 miles running through downtown Charleston then it was straight 6 mile run through an industrial area. Course was flat and on paved … MORE
Half course was really nice the first 6 miles running through downtown Charleston then it was straight 6 mile run through an industrial area. Course was flat and on paved road.
Finish line and post race party was a mess. It was very cold (in the 30s and windy) and I saw 5k runners had Mylar blankets and was in need of one at the finish line but nothing. Some volunteers handing out medals and water bottles being a free for all. Everything was a line, getting food, swag, shuttle, and no way of know where the start or end of a line was. Instead of having runners get their swag and food tickets at packet pick up, runners had to get it at the post race which is probably was it was so chaotic. I got my swag and left because I was not going to keep going from line to line.
Parking was a mess. The venue was too small for the amount of runners and spectators there. My family came to cheer me on and had to park a mile away from the venue and they arrive at 6am.
Small changes would make a big difference but I definitely would avoid this race company. Other runners told me that this race company has not done well with other races they have organized.
Some Logistics to Work Out But Would Rec
The first half of the route was in scenic downtown Charleston, then it snaked up into industrial North Charleston. There were cheer squads along the route, but it was very … MORE
The first half of the route was in scenic downtown Charleston, then it snaked up into industrial North Charleston. There were cheer squads along the route, but it was very boring. The water and aid stations were as advertised and fully stocked. The weather wasn’t great, cold and very windy. But at the finish line they had stocking hats – which was a lifesaver. Especially for having to wait in line 35+ minutes of bag check! With a few adjustments this could be a great race.
Beautiful city--race could be better
It was a chilly and windy weekend in Charleston this year (2023). This is traditionally a long holiday weekend for most people and this is a beautiful city to visit … MORE
It was a chilly and windy weekend in Charleston this year (2023). This is traditionally a long holiday weekend for most people and this is a beautiful city to visit for a mid-January break.
With my registration I paid the extra $10 to have my race bib mailed to me in advance. It didn’t arrive until the week prior to the event–which was fine, but I was getting nervous about whether it would arrive or not. I was also nervous because I hadn’t received ANY emails about the race. Nothing since the registration confirmation email, which seemed odd.
This is a race that ends in a different location than the start (more on the return trip in a moment). The start was a short walk from my hotel (Marriott). In my opinion they needed a few more port-o-potties for the size of the crowd. It didn’t look like the start corrals were clearly marked. This is less of an issue for me as I start at the back.
The course was mostly flat. There was an uphill towards the end (of course!) at mile 11. The scenery was a mix of some beautiful parts (as you would hope with Charleston) and industrial & not so beautiful parts. You get that with a lot of races, but I expected more beauty with this race. The aid stations were fine with it being a cold day. If it had been hot they likely would have needed one more aid station and tightened the distance between them. Some parts of the course were tight. The road was open to traffic going in the opposite direction for a good portion of the course (something that I don’t love).
The race day fell apart, however, after crossing the finish line. I had no clue about what to do or where to go. Some runners found heatsheets but I don’t know how! It would have been nice to get one since it was cold. There was a volunteer giving out water but it was unclear where to get the traditional post race food (pretzels, etc). People were going in two different directions and I followed the larger group. Got dumped out in a field and there were lines everywhere. It was unclear what each line was for! Since I had my bib mailed to me, my priority was to get my race shirt. I figured out which line that was and got on that. There was no monitoring of the shirts or free gift (branded drink glass) tables. People were taking multiple. I hope that everyone who was entitled to a shirt and gift were able to get them. There was also a winter hat (that said Charleston Marathon even though there was no marathon this year). After waiting on that line I decided I was uninterested in the other lines. From what I could gather–1 line was for getting food and drink tickets, 1 line was the traditional post race food, and 1 line was to go and get the shrimp & grits and drink. I could be wrong, though!
Once I decided to leave, I jumped on another line for the shuttle bus back to the start. It was a long line with empty school buses nearby. There was an issue with getting the buses out of the area. They had to backup and maneuver around to get free. A runner actually got off one of the buses to try to direct traffic and getting things moving!
Swag: nice medal plus a long sleeve technical t-shirt in light green. There was also the branded drink glass and the winter hat, too. So the swag was nice!
The finish line area could have been great. If they can improve that one component, I would increase my overall rating of the race.
Capstone Races - a disappointment
It was a beautiful, chilly yet windy day. The first of a double half marathon over two days. The pre-race pick up was at a beautiful venue Firefly Distillery… great … MORE
It was a beautiful, chilly yet windy day. The first of a double half marathon over two days. The pre-race pick up was at a beautiful venue Firefly Distillery… great drinks! Easy and convenient though only one-way in and out… for pre-race activities… more on access in a bit!
I’m not sure what it is but these folks like to cram everyone into the start line areas. Although they’ll give you a link to reserve a spot for packet pick up… they don’t factor in the spectrum of runners… I’d rather they give you a corral assignment based on your expected finish time.
It was tight running the first 1/4 through a high school and then let out on the street… the first 6 miles were gorgeous with low country nature, canopy live oaks, the Citadel and running through downtown to the batter along the water, amazing homes and shops… then 7 miles of industrial/commercial zones.
Along the way, the water stations could have been better distributed.
At the finish, it was in a word MELEE!!!
It was a short throw from the finish, getting your medal then looking for a heat blanket. It was in the 40s at the finish. There were no volunteers to hand them out though I saw several runners donning them. From there it was into the masses… on the road and it was a chore to get into the entrance of the Firefly distillery and a long walk to get post-race nutrition and gear bag. Once you got to the area where the post-race festivities were… buses that would used for gear check were not properly marked. People were walking around for tens of minutes to figure out which bus had their gear… the best way to figure what line you needed to be in was to look at other racers’ bib numbers!
These same buses were used to ferry racers back to the start line…
Now back to the one way in / out… the distillery had two locked gates at the back of the property enough really for one car to go through… and behind the property, construction was happening. The race production team really should have considered the amount of runners… over 2000 and understood the venue could not support the runners… families… etc. navigating the property.
The buses had to back up into traffic on the back side of the property since they set up the finish line right at the main entrance!!! Doh!!! Because the property could not support the traffic people had to park a half mile away and walk thus creating a HUGE safety issue for families trying to meet up yet having to navigate the one way road and cars attempting to enter and exit. It took me 30 minutes to move a 1/4 mile… I skipped the post-race nutrition and beverage as the lines were ridiculously long and I could see the traffic fiasco hampering my exit.
I ran a capstone race in Raleigh in November’22. It was much of the same.. decent scenery but the production was not thought out and does not consider safety and focus on runners…
Early morning start
You get to the race start before the sun comes up and start running at dawn. The race takes you through the city and past a large variety of scenery. … MORE
You get to the race start before the sun comes up and start running at dawn. The race takes you through the city and past a large variety of scenery. The pacers for this event were outstanding, singing and dancing their way through the course. Lots of crowd cheering along the rout and a really good finish line celebration awaits you. Before the race starts you have access to the school at the starting line. (Real bathrooms) 🙂
I don’t know what else to talk to you about so go run and have fun
Tale of two halves
The first half of this race is exactly what you would hope for from a half marathon in a beautiful location like Charleston. Beautiful views of the water, houses, and … MORE
The first half of this race is exactly what you would hope for from a half marathon in a beautiful location like Charleston. Beautiful views of the water, houses, and downtown. However, the second half is far below average for a course. I can’t really stress how horrible the second half was. Industrial, construction zones. Not to mention the course was a half a mile long.
Swag and expo were good, and Charleston is always fun to visit. I would recommend it, but I hope they can improve the course.
Flat 5k, nice medals/shirt, fun party!
Packet pickup is downtown and parking and traffic on the Friday before the race can be crazy. Give yourself lots of time and be patient with finding parking, even in … MORE
Packet pickup is downtown and parking and traffic on the Friday before the race can be crazy. Give yourself lots of time and be patient with finding parking, even in the designated garage. Packet pickup once inside is a breeze and it’s a full blown expo with lots of runner supplies available for sale.
Nice shirt giveaway, this year it was a black tech long sleeve. Medals were great, especially if you’re lucky enough to place in the top 3 in your age group (see my photo).
No shuttle needed if you’re doing the 5k and if so, plentiful parking all over the place near the start. Note that all 3 distances start in different locations, but all 3 finish in the same spot. Everyone except 5kers will have to catch the free bus shuttle back to the start (and you’ll be hot and sweaty while doing it!).
5k course is all flat and fast…nothing at all to look at. You run through the warehouse/shipping district and then through a small neighborhood. Nothing to see really. Expect a good crowd of runners.
Post race food was gross (shrimp and grits were so disgusting). I took one bite and spit it out. They do have at least a half dozen food trucks though that you can buy from. Registration gets you a couple can Palmetto Brewing Co. beers and Ketel One had a free tasting station set up (one taste per person). Post race seating is limited, so grab a spot and make some new friends! There is a huge lawn on which you can sit to enjoy the live band, and they are a good party band for sure.
One thing worth noting, they only announce the overall winners for each distance and it’s sorta done at random times. Check in at the info table, but I really think they were just winging it in terms of what times awards would be announced. Strangely, I didn’t even see an awards podium anywhere.
This race is put on by Capstone races…no free photos of you running here. You’ll have to pay some high prices for the pro photos that they take of you, but they do post a Youtube vid of the finish line so you can see yourself cross it.
Bids are customizable as long as you register early enough. Be aware…this race can be on a very, very humid day so train and prepare accordingly.
This is the flagship race for Charleston, an amazing vacation destination with tons of microbreweries, history, and incredible eateries. This is a race I will do every single year for sure. Race is held in January every year and sign up the week after the race for the next year and you get a serious, serious discount…a truly great value if you sign up way early.
Great Race and After Party
This is a very flat race other than the overpass you go over later in the race. The food and drinks after the race plus live band makes for a … MORE
This is a very flat race other than the overpass you go over later in the race. The food and drinks after the race plus live band makes for a great after race experience. Race swag is awesome, this year we got a nice medal, long sleeve shirt, and blanket. This is a must do race and you can see some very beautiful parts of Charleston.
In love with Charleston
There is so much to like about this race! Nice swag, flat course, sufficient aid stations, went off without a hitch. The first 8-9 miles are fabulous as you run … MORE
There is so much to like about this race! Nice swag, flat course, sufficient aid stations, went off without a hitch. The first 8-9 miles are fabulous as you run through the Citadel, battery, and gorgeous historic Charleston. The last few miles are in an industrial area and not scenic at all. However, the race ends at a beautiful park and the after party was nice with free food, drinks, and if you want more there are plenty of food trucks. I unfortunately had tendinitis issues flare up and by mile 10 or so just wanted to be done!
Spend a few days being a tourist in Charleston. You won’t be disappointed!
One downside, which wasn’t an issue for me, but you told ave to be at mile 10.3 within 2:45. I was told that these runners were picked up and drive in a bus to 10.3 and allowed to finish and get their medal. I don’t like this for 2 reasons. 1 – they didn’t finish the half and got a half medal. 2 – if their results are counted, they have their finishing times faster than the people how ran the whole thing!