| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| H (°F) | 79 | 78 | 72 | 76 | 63 |
| L (°F) | 64 | 55 | 51 | 52 | 54 |
This is a great race it's a lot of fun and a lot of history. The coast guard went out of their way to make everybody Feel great. It was … MORE
This is a great race it’s a lot of fun and a lot of history. The coast guard went out of their way to make everybody Feel great. It was fun running on the B a s e.
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- Production was over all great. No real complaints!! There could have been a few more Port a potties (they were clean!) at the start. But the line moved fairly … MORE
– Production was over all great. No real complaints!! There could have been a few more Port a potties (they were clean!) at the start. But the line moved fairly quickly. There was a hidden lonesome one (not part of the run) a bit down the street so we thought we’d try our luck at that one. I think everyone was taking their morning pre-run poo in that one as the line took forever! The paper towels ran out kind of quick… But that’s common of any run I feel. The org for the run itself was great. There was even a fly over at the start.
– swag was pretty basic to most runs. You got your sweet shirt and medal. And you get a bonus challenge coin if you do a challenge (5K Friday). Lots of sponsor freebies, though. Flashlight, stress ball, reusable bags, water bottle, key chains, etc.
Course was flat and open. Well marked. I take back all the times I complained about the cold! It was hot…. But WIN-D-Y!!! And Not even at your back. Perhaps the CG can coordinate with NOAA next year and get some different weather?
All in all it was a unique run through the CG base.
Pleanty of water and electrolyte stops and 2 gu options during the half.
Post event consisted of free beer, BBQ sandwich, and more swag booths. The USO was out there with massage chairs and leg compression machines (and free candy!). There was a human massage both too. I definitly partook in both.
I wish the pics we free! But I know they’re not always.
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Nice flat course. Be prepared for all types of weather. Plenty of aid stations. The whole town gets involved. Big crowds through the residential areas and downtown to cheer you … MORE
Nice flat course. Be prepared for all types of weather. Plenty of aid stations. The whole town gets involved. Big crowds through the residential areas and downtown to cheer you on including local school bands.
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Military races are amazing and the 2nd in Person race of Coast Guard is no exception! Laid back vibe. Fabulous race announcer - Fitz Kohler is fabulous! Small expo - … MORE
Military races are amazing and the 2nd in Person race of Coast Guard is no exception! Laid back vibe. Fabulous race announcer – Fitz Kohler is fabulous! Small expo – not many vendors – unfortunately no safety pins but picked up race morning at the start. Running on base was cool! The whole town felt like they supported this effort!!
Eastern NC was WINDY! Even with the wind I got a PR! Coasties put on a great race! Highly recommend!
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You won't find another race that offers the Coast Guard Marathon weekend experience. The expo, race logistics, and flat, well-marked course were flawless. Both the Friday night 5K and Saturday … MORE
You won’t find another race that offers the Coast Guard Marathon weekend experience. The expo, race logistics, and flat, well-marked course were flawless. Both the Friday night 5K and Saturday 13.1/26.2 featured a C130 and Helicopter timed down to the second of the start – takes your breath away. There were cool coast guard assets on display in the race start/after party area and two rescue demonstrations (on the river) on Saturday. The after-party had BBQ, Beer, merchandise sales, and so much more. Running on base, and most of all on the RUNWAY, was awesome. The support of the coast guard members and community during the race was tremendous. Felt very welcome. This small-town international event is a gem and a must-do (and repeat) race.
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I ran this marathon because I am looking to complete my military service marathons (Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard). It is a quaint little town. Coasties were very helpful … MORE
I ran this marathon because I am looking to complete my military service marathons (Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard). It is a quaint little town. Coasties were very helpful and friendly. Don’t be surprised, though, by the Confederate flags you see flying about.
While I will give the marathon communications and engagement an A+, there were a few things I was not happy about. I got to the expo late afternoon on Friday. The vendor spaces had a bunch of empty tables. Not sure if vendors left early or those were extra tables. If vendors left early, shame on them. When I picked up my bid, I was told there were no safety pins available. Serious? I’ve run 20 marathons and that was a first. Normally, I always bring my own, but I left them at home (go figure). Luckily, there was a Walmart nearby where I was able to purchase safety pins.
When I woke up, the temperature said 67 degrees!!! Yikes. I will never fault nor criticize a marathon organization for the weather. That can’t be helped. Thankfully, there were plenty of water stops, which was a blessing because there was basically no shade; the course is wide open (and flat!!). I took extra precaution and poured water over my head at every water stop. The volunteers at the water stops were top notch.
The course took us through the Coast Guard air base twice, including the runway. Sun beating down and running 4ish miles on hard concrete? I didn’t think that one through LOL.
Don’t expect much crowd support. It was great at the start/finish line, but this is a small town and most of the race is through the air base and empty fields. We did run through some housing developments and it was nice when someone came outside to cheer, but that was few and far between.
The biggest issue for me was the wind. I have never faced winds like that. The first 8-10 miles was great, but for the rest of the race, there were headwinds averaging around 20-30 mph with wind gusts around 40. Twice, I was nearly blown over. I kept wondering when I would be blown to Oz. Because this was a flat course (I think the biggest hill was 5 feet!), I was looking to PR, but running against that wind for 15+ miles took too much out of me.
While I normally don’t care about the medal, their medal r was pretty cool. It had a coast guard ship on it that you could move back and forth like it was going over waves.
When I give an overall rating, it is based upon my overall experience. If the wind wasn’t so persistent and fierce, I would have given the marathon a 4 instead of a 3.
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I ran this marathon instead of the Shamrock in Virginia Beach (scheduled 2 weeks later) because I was looking for a more interesting course layout without the giant crowds. Even … MORE
I ran this marathon instead of the Shamrock in Virginia Beach (scheduled 2 weeks later) because I was looking for a more interesting course layout without the giant crowds. Even though it was only this race’s second year, the organizers clearly put a lot of thought into making it as professional as possible. There were plenty of pacers available even though the groups up front only had a few runners each.
The opening ceremony was impressive without dragging on forever. Very cool flyover and it was especially motivating to find out the base commander would be running with us as well.
The course itself, while very flat, is pretty variable in scenery. There are stretches of suburbia, military base, agriculture, FANCY suburbia, and a turnaround at a WWII blimp hanger which has got to be pretty unique as races go. The only truly rough/boring stretch is, unfortunately, miles 22-24 where you’re basically on highway bringing it home but at that point, you’re likely more focused on finishing than what you’re seeing. The Coasties do a great job of encouraging you along that stretch anyways.
Overall I was very happy with the experience and look forward to watching it continue to grow!
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First time in person (virtual last year). Overall, really nice! Small marathon series, but well organized and produced. Expo is small, very local, but good selection of stuff nonetheless. Packet … MORE
First time in person (virtual last year). Overall, really nice!
Small marathon series, but well organized and produced. Expo is small, very local, but good selection of stuff nonetheless. Packet pickup was smoooooth. TShirt was actually sized for my size of female.
Race starts and ends at the same point. There’s free parking all around, but I’d suggest getting there kinda early for a close spot. Porta potty line was quick. Very nice wear blue ceremony before the start. Single start after the wheeled/elites.
There’s a fair amount of doubling between the full and half marathon courses, but most (sadly, not all) half marathoners made room for the full runners coming in behind them. This isn’t just a Coast Guard problem, but maybe an announced reminder up front to not walk/run three abreast and not zone out in headphones would help.
I saw one runner complaining about course markings, but TBH, it wasn’t a problem for me, so I’m not sure what happened.
Very pretty neighborhoods, and then we got to run on the runway and by the water at the Coast Guard station. Very nice overall.
If you’re blingy, this medal set is a must add to your collection. And if you’re multiple challenge oriented, this one, the USAF Marathon series, and the Space Force 10 miler all contribute to a Sea, Air, and Space challenge medal.
Post race festival was again small, but really nice. Two beer tents, two food truck/tent options, and a snow cone truck, plus vendors and Coast Guard equipment all over.
Oh yeah – weather was low 60s, maybe about 30 % humidity…but surface winds in excess of 20mph for a lot of the exposed sections of the course. That was …challenging.
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I signed up for the Semper Paratus Challenge (the 5K and Half). This is my second year running the half and while I loved the run through the base last … MORE
I signed up for the Semper Paratus Challenge (the 5K and Half). This is my second year running the half and while I loved the run through the base last year, I was excited for the changes this year. Running on the runway was amazing! We had some killer wind though. It was great on the runway but then running head on into 30+ mph winds was rough. I hope that we can use this same route next year but without the wind!
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Only the 2nd year of this race, but very well organized. I see it growing into a major event over time. The coast guard members stationed in Elizabeth city are … MORE
Only the 2nd year of this race, but very well organized. I see it growing into a major event over time. The coast guard members stationed in Elizabeth city are all involved in the production of this race. Those who aren’t, ran in it. Constant flyover by coast guard aircraft.Demos all day. Nice after party with food, health services, a talking boat to entertain the kids. The expo was good, but could use more running related vendors. The only real negative of the day was running in 32 mph winds. That was out of race organizers control, the running gods laughed at us as we ran across the runways leaning forward to counter the winds. I would do this race again.
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This was my first experience with the Coast Guard race (and only the second running of the event), and I ran the half-marathon. The expo was pretty small and they … MORE
This was my first experience with the Coast Guard race (and only the second running of the event), and I ran the half-marathon. The expo was pretty small and they had run out of safety pins for the bibs, although I was told they would have some at the start line. As someone who likes to pin my bib on well before the race begins, we had go track down some pins the night before. The starting area was fairly well-organized, although there’s probably a need for some more porta-johns, especially if the race grows. They had actual hand wash stations (which I prefer over plain old hand sanitizer), but unfortunately they ran out of paper towels well before the race began. There was a flyover just before the start and pace groups in the starting corral, and the race began right on time. The course is very flat (210 feet of elevation gain over 13.1 miles, according to Garmin), with just the slightest incline within the first half mile of the start. This year’s course ran through some neighborhoods and the Coast Guard station along the water (which was pretty cool) before heading back downtown. There are adequate aid stations throughout and a decent amount of crowd support, especially considering the size and age of the race. The after party was small, but there was free beer and food, massage, some small SWAG items, and some good photo zones. They also did a Coast Guard demo just before the awards ceremony. The race medals are nice and so are the t-shirts. Temps were close to 70 degrees on race morning with strong winds all day (gusts over 30 mph), so I baked in the sun on the airstrip on the base and had to deal with a killer headwind after mile 7 or so. If the weather had been better, I would have wound up with a great PR for this race. Still ended up placing in my age division and took home a nice award. I would definitely come back and run this again in the future.
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Nice, flat course. They had water and hydration every 2 miles or so. Small town crowds came out of their homes to cheer and support the runners. Being from a … MORE
Nice, flat course. They had water and hydration every 2 miles or so. Small town crowds came out of their homes to cheer and support the runners. Being from a military family and vet myself, I loved the flyby during the National Anthem and the Coast Guard demos during the post race celebration. Food and beer options were great after the run. If the wind didn’t slow me down I would’ve finished with a PR. Great race overall!
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Such a beautiful small town marathon. Great people and it was very cool to run down the Air Strip at Coast Guard Station Elizabeth City. Overall I was treated really … MORE
Such a beautiful small town marathon. Great people and it was very cool to run down the Air Strip at Coast Guard Station Elizabeth City. Overall I was treated really well, met some friendly people, the local restaurants and activities related to the event were excellent, including concerts by the US Coast Guard Jazz Combo and the Virginia Symphony.
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This was my 2nd year running it and the Coasties did a great job... bigger and better than last year. The overall race production and communication were wonderful, felt well … MORE
This was my 2nd year running it and the Coasties did a great job… bigger and better than last year. The overall race production and communication were wonderful, felt well informed when I arrived.
On race day, show up early to get a close spot. There is plenty of free parking, but with road closures, the close ones fill up fast. Don’t sweat the long porta john lines; there is one line foal ALL the porta johns, so it moves fast.
One the race course, I was pleasantly surprised at how many people come out and cheer you on, even during the 5k… Thank-You Elizabeth City. The course is flat and plenty to see. The Coast Guard changed the courses a little this year, but for the better. The starting ceremony was awesome and not too drawn out; everyone seemed to enjoy the flyover. The finishing chute was nice and the medal was fantastic as usual.
I had only two things that could be addressed, I had trouble figuring out where to pick up my Semper Paratus Challenge coin. It was at the finish line, but I had to ask a couple of volunteers before anyone knew where to find them. The 2nd issue was the wind… I know nothing could be done about it, but it seemed like for 10 of the 13.1 miles, it was always in your face. The only place it was at your back was on the air strip… not complaining, just mentioning.
Overall, AWESOME job Coasties. Once the word gets out about it, this race is destined to become one of the biggest and best military races.
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Love the friendly town, waterfront start/finish, flyover, fast course for PRs, and great atmosphere! I loved the race shirt but they were already out when I got to packet pick … MORE
Love the friendly town, waterfront start/finish, flyover, fast course for PRs, and great atmosphere! I loved the race shirt but they were already out when I got to packet pick up despite having registered early.
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Over all the run was great. Production was smooth. Course was flat and well marked (elevation pic uploaded). Mostly team through neighborhoods with some great cheer support from the community. … MORE
Over all the run was great. Production was smooth. Course was flat and well marked (elevation pic uploaded). Mostly team through neighborhoods with some great cheer support from the community. Great job Coasties
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Weather and course was beautiful, water stations were ready and well staffed. Course was well marked. Would love to see more cheerleaders later in the course, but overall fabulous attendance. … MORE
Weather and course was beautiful, water stations were ready and well staffed. Course was well marked. Would love to see more cheerleaders later in the course, but overall fabulous attendance. Can’t wait to run again next year!
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Tremendous thought and energy went into planning, producing, and executing this race. Every detail was taken care of and runners had a spectacular weekend of running. Course support is profound … MORE
Tremendous thought and energy went into planning, producing, and executing this race. Every detail was taken care of and runners had a spectacular weekend of running. Course support is profound with neighbors coming out to cheer, Coast Guard members supporting the race, military demonstrations at the Finish Line Festival, quality swag, gorgeous course, and great energy. With three race distances over the course of the weekend, this race has something for everyone.
The course is super flat but with all the trips through the various neighborhoods, the Coast Guard Base, and back through downtown, it’s never boring. Spectators line almost the entire course and their warm enthusiasm never fades. Aide stations were well supplied and had plenty of generous volunteers eager to help and cheer us on. The Finish Line celebrations make it worth planning to hang out after the race and enjoy the demonstrations and festive atmosphere.
This race needs to be on everyone’s list to do and enjoy.
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Awesome medals. Nice race shirt. Additional swag available for purchase but $$$$. Beautiful course with tons of volunteers and locals to cheer you on. 30-40 mph wind gusts on this … MORE
Awesome medals. Nice race shirt. Additional swag available for purchase but $$$$. Beautiful course with tons of volunteers and locals to cheer you on. 30-40 mph wind gusts on this day 5-6 miles of the course have zero protection from wind so it definitely impacted time. Book lodging early it’s a tiny town. Can fly into Norfolk and drive up – it’s about an hour easy highway.
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Great community (plenty of locals cheering you on). Easy run overall very flat course. Well organized and easy to follow directions. Waterfront is beautiful. Weather was wonderful for the 5k MORE
Great community (plenty of locals cheering you on). Easy run overall very flat course. Well organized and easy to follow directions. Waterfront is beautiful. Weather was wonderful for the 5k
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This is a great course a lot of
This is a great race it's a lot of fun and a lot of history. The coast guard went out of their way to make everybody Feel great. It was … MORE
This is a great race it’s a lot of fun and a lot of history. The coast guard went out of their way to make everybody Feel great. It was fun running on the B a s e.
Great Military Run
- Production was over all great. No real complaints!! There could have been a few more Port a potties (they were clean!) at the start. But the line moved fairly … MORE
– Production was over all great. No real complaints!! There could have been a few more Port a potties (they were clean!) at the start. But the line moved fairly quickly. There was a hidden lonesome one (not part of the run) a bit down the street so we thought we’d try our luck at that one. I think everyone was taking their morning pre-run poo in that one as the line took forever! The paper towels ran out kind of quick… But that’s common of any run I feel. The org for the run itself was great. There was even a fly over at the start.
– swag was pretty basic to most runs. You got your sweet shirt and medal. And you get a bonus challenge coin if you do a challenge (5K Friday). Lots of sponsor freebies, though. Flashlight, stress ball, reusable bags, water bottle, key chains, etc.
Course was flat and open. Well marked. I take back all the times I complained about the cold! It was hot…. But WIN-D-Y!!! And Not even at your back. Perhaps the CG can coordinate with NOAA next year and get some different weather?
All in all it was a unique run through the CG base.
Pleanty of water and electrolyte stops and 2 gu options during the half.
Post event consisted of free beer, BBQ sandwich, and more swag booths. The USO was out there with massage chairs and leg compression machines (and free candy!). There was a human massage both too. I definitly partook in both.
I wish the pics we free! But I know they’re not always.
Where else can you run on a runway?
Nice flat course. Be prepared for all types of weather. Plenty of aid stations. The whole town gets involved. Big crowds through the residential areas and downtown to cheer you … MORE
Nice flat course. Be prepared for all types of weather. Plenty of aid stations. The whole town gets involved. Big crowds through the residential areas and downtown to cheer you on including local school bands.
Just Do It! Coasties Rock!
Military races are amazing and the 2nd in Person race of Coast Guard is no exception! Laid back vibe. Fabulous race announcer - Fitz Kohler is fabulous! Small expo - … MORE
Military races are amazing and the 2nd in Person race of Coast Guard is no exception! Laid back vibe. Fabulous race announcer – Fitz Kohler is fabulous! Small expo – not many vendors – unfortunately no safety pins but picked up race morning at the start. Running on base was cool! The whole town felt like they supported this effort!!
Eastern NC was WINDY! Even with the wind I got a PR! Coasties put on a great race! Highly recommend!
An exceptional event and experience!
You won't find another race that offers the Coast Guard Marathon weekend experience. The expo, race logistics, and flat, well-marked course were flawless. Both the Friday night 5K and Saturday … MORE
You won’t find another race that offers the Coast Guard Marathon weekend experience. The expo, race logistics, and flat, well-marked course were flawless. Both the Friday night 5K and Saturday 13.1/26.2 featured a C130 and Helicopter timed down to the second of the start – takes your breath away. There were cool coast guard assets on display in the race start/after party area and two rescue demonstrations (on the river) on Saturday. The after-party had BBQ, Beer, merchandise sales, and so much more. Running on base, and most of all on the RUNWAY, was awesome. The support of the coast guard members and community during the race was tremendous. Felt very welcome. This small-town international event is a gem and a must-do (and repeat) race.
It was "Wizard of Oz" windy
I ran this marathon because I am looking to complete my military service marathons (Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard). It is a quaint little town. Coasties were very helpful … MORE
I ran this marathon because I am looking to complete my military service marathons (Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard). It is a quaint little town. Coasties were very helpful and friendly. Don’t be surprised, though, by the Confederate flags you see flying about.
While I will give the marathon communications and engagement an A+, there were a few things I was not happy about. I got to the expo late afternoon on Friday. The vendor spaces had a bunch of empty tables. Not sure if vendors left early or those were extra tables. If vendors left early, shame on them. When I picked up my bid, I was told there were no safety pins available. Serious? I’ve run 20 marathons and that was a first. Normally, I always bring my own, but I left them at home (go figure). Luckily, there was a Walmart nearby where I was able to purchase safety pins.
When I woke up, the temperature said 67 degrees!!! Yikes. I will never fault nor criticize a marathon organization for the weather. That can’t be helped. Thankfully, there were plenty of water stops, which was a blessing because there was basically no shade; the course is wide open (and flat!!). I took extra precaution and poured water over my head at every water stop. The volunteers at the water stops were top notch.
The course took us through the Coast Guard air base twice, including the runway. Sun beating down and running 4ish miles on hard concrete? I didn’t think that one through LOL.
Don’t expect much crowd support. It was great at the start/finish line, but this is a small town and most of the race is through the air base and empty fields. We did run through some housing developments and it was nice when someone came outside to cheer, but that was few and far between.
The biggest issue for me was the wind. I have never faced winds like that. The first 8-10 miles was great, but for the rest of the race, there were headwinds averaging around 20-30 mph with wind gusts around 40. Twice, I was nearly blown over. I kept wondering when I would be blown to Oz. Because this was a flat course (I think the biggest hill was 5 feet!), I was looking to PR, but running against that wind for 15+ miles took too much out of me.
While I normally don’t care about the medal, their medal r was pretty cool. It had a coast guard ship on it that you could move back and forth like it was going over waves.
When I give an overall rating, it is based upon my overall experience. If the wind wasn’t so persistent and fierce, I would have given the marathon a 4 instead of a 3.
Great & quickly growing service race!
I ran this marathon instead of the Shamrock in Virginia Beach (scheduled 2 weeks later) because I was looking for a more interesting course layout without the giant crowds. Even … MORE
I ran this marathon instead of the Shamrock in Virginia Beach (scheduled 2 weeks later) because I was looking for a more interesting course layout without the giant crowds. Even though it was only this race’s second year, the organizers clearly put a lot of thought into making it as professional as possible. There were plenty of pacers available even though the groups up front only had a few runners each.
The opening ceremony was impressive without dragging on forever. Very cool flyover and it was especially motivating to find out the base commander would be running with us as well.
The course itself, while very flat, is pretty variable in scenery. There are stretches of suburbia, military base, agriculture, FANCY suburbia, and a turnaround at a WWII blimp hanger which has got to be pretty unique as races go. The only truly rough/boring stretch is, unfortunately, miles 22-24 where you’re basically on highway bringing it home but at that point, you’re likely more focused on finishing than what you’re seeing. The Coasties do a great job of encouraging you along that stretch anyways.
Overall I was very happy with the experience and look forward to watching it continue to grow!
Windy but welcome
First time in person (virtual last year). Overall, really nice! Small marathon series, but well organized and produced. Expo is small, very local, but good selection of stuff nonetheless. Packet … MORE
First time in person (virtual last year). Overall, really nice!
Small marathon series, but well organized and produced. Expo is small, very local, but good selection of stuff nonetheless. Packet pickup was smoooooth. TShirt was actually sized for my size of female.
Race starts and ends at the same point. There’s free parking all around, but I’d suggest getting there kinda early for a close spot. Porta potty line was quick. Very nice wear blue ceremony before the start. Single start after the wheeled/elites.
There’s a fair amount of doubling between the full and half marathon courses, but most (sadly, not all) half marathoners made room for the full runners coming in behind them. This isn’t just a Coast Guard problem, but maybe an announced reminder up front to not walk/run three abreast and not zone out in headphones would help.
I saw one runner complaining about course markings, but TBH, it wasn’t a problem for me, so I’m not sure what happened.
Very pretty neighborhoods, and then we got to run on the runway and by the water at the Coast Guard station. Very nice overall.
If you’re blingy, this medal set is a must add to your collection. And if you’re multiple challenge oriented, this one, the USAF Marathon series, and the Space Force 10 miler all contribute to a Sea, Air, and Space challenge medal.
Post race festival was again small, but really nice. Two beer tents, two food truck/tent options, and a snow cone truck, plus vendors and Coast Guard equipment all over.
Oh yeah – weather was low 60s, maybe about 30 % humidity…but surface winds in excess of 20mph for a lot of the exposed sections of the course. That was …challenging.
Run The Runway
I signed up for the Semper Paratus Challenge (the 5K and Half). This is my second year running the half and while I loved the run through the base last … MORE
I signed up for the Semper Paratus Challenge (the 5K and Half). This is my second year running the half and while I loved the run through the base last year, I was excited for the changes this year. Running on the runway was amazing! We had some killer wind though. It was great on the runway but then running head on into 30+ mph winds was rough. I hope that we can use this same route next year but without the wind!
A race worth running
Only the 2nd year of this race, but very well organized. I see it growing into a major event over time. The coast guard members stationed in Elizabeth city are … MORE
Only the 2nd year of this race, but very well organized. I see it growing into a major event over time. The coast guard members stationed in Elizabeth city are all involved in the production of this race. Those who aren’t, ran in it. Constant flyover by coast guard aircraft.Demos all day. Nice after party with food, health services, a talking boat to entertain the kids. The expo was good, but could use more running related vendors. The only real negative of the day was running in 32 mph winds. That was out of race organizers control, the running gods laughed at us as we ran across the runways leaning forward to counter the winds. I would do this race again.
Pretty cool small town race!
This was my first experience with the Coast Guard race (and only the second running of the event), and I ran the half-marathon. The expo was pretty small and they … MORE
This was my first experience with the Coast Guard race (and only the second running of the event), and I ran the half-marathon. The expo was pretty small and they had run out of safety pins for the bibs, although I was told they would have some at the start line. As someone who likes to pin my bib on well before the race begins, we had go track down some pins the night before. The starting area was fairly well-organized, although there’s probably a need for some more porta-johns, especially if the race grows. They had actual hand wash stations (which I prefer over plain old hand sanitizer), but unfortunately they ran out of paper towels well before the race began. There was a flyover just before the start and pace groups in the starting corral, and the race began right on time. The course is very flat (210 feet of elevation gain over 13.1 miles, according to Garmin), with just the slightest incline within the first half mile of the start. This year’s course ran through some neighborhoods and the Coast Guard station along the water (which was pretty cool) before heading back downtown. There are adequate aid stations throughout and a decent amount of crowd support, especially considering the size and age of the race. The after party was small, but there was free beer and food, massage, some small SWAG items, and some good photo zones. They also did a Coast Guard demo just before the awards ceremony. The race medals are nice and so are the t-shirts. Temps were close to 70 degrees on race morning with strong winds all day (gusts over 30 mph), so I baked in the sun on the airstrip on the base and had to deal with a killer headwind after mile 7 or so. If the weather had been better, I would have wound up with a great PR for this race. Still ended up placing in my age division and took home a nice award. I would definitely come back and run this again in the future.
Nice small town race
Nice, flat course. They had water and hydration every 2 miles or so. Small town crowds came out of their homes to cheer and support the runners. Being from a … MORE
Nice, flat course. They had water and hydration every 2 miles or so. Small town crowds came out of their homes to cheer and support the runners. Being from a military family and vet myself, I loved the flyby during the National Anthem and the Coast Guard demos during the post race celebration. Food and beer options were great after the run. If the wind didn’t slow me down I would’ve finished with a PR. Great race overall!
Great Little Race
Such a beautiful small town marathon. Great people and it was very cool to run down the Air Strip at Coast Guard Station Elizabeth City. Overall I was treated really … MORE
Such a beautiful small town marathon. Great people and it was very cool to run down the Air Strip at Coast Guard Station Elizabeth City. Overall I was treated really well, met some friendly people, the local restaurants and activities related to the event were excellent, including concerts by the US Coast Guard Jazz Combo and the Virginia Symphony.
One of my favorite military races
This was my 2nd year running it and the Coasties did a great job... bigger and better than last year. The overall race production and communication were wonderful, felt well … MORE
This was my 2nd year running it and the Coasties did a great job… bigger and better than last year. The overall race production and communication were wonderful, felt well informed when I arrived.
On race day, show up early to get a close spot. There is plenty of free parking, but with road closures, the close ones fill up fast. Don’t sweat the long porta john lines; there is one line foal ALL the porta johns, so it moves fast.
One the race course, I was pleasantly surprised at how many people come out and cheer you on, even during the 5k… Thank-You Elizabeth City. The course is flat and plenty to see. The Coast Guard changed the courses a little this year, but for the better. The starting ceremony was awesome and not too drawn out; everyone seemed to enjoy the flyover. The finishing chute was nice and the medal was fantastic as usual.
I had only two things that could be addressed, I had trouble figuring out where to pick up my Semper Paratus Challenge coin. It was at the finish line, but I had to ask a couple of volunteers before anyone knew where to find them. The 2nd issue was the wind… I know nothing could be done about it, but it seemed like for 10 of the 13.1 miles, it was always in your face. The only place it was at your back was on the air strip… not complaining, just mentioning.
Overall, AWESOME job Coasties. Once the word gets out about it, this race is destined to become one of the biggest and best military races.
All races should start with a fly over!
Love the friendly town, waterfront start/finish, flyover, fast course for PRs, and great atmosphere! I loved the race shirt but they were already out when I got to packet pick … MORE
Love the friendly town, waterfront start/finish, flyover, fast course for PRs, and great atmosphere! I loved the race shirt but they were already out when I got to packet pick up despite having registered early.
Greatly organized run
Over all the run was great. Production was smooth. Course was flat and well marked (elevation pic uploaded). Mostly team through neighborhoods with some great cheer support from the community. … MORE
Over all the run was great. Production was smooth. Course was flat and well marked (elevation pic uploaded). Mostly team through neighborhoods with some great cheer support from the community. Great job Coasties
Invigorating
Weather and course was beautiful, water stations were ready and well staffed. Course was well marked. Would love to see more cheerleaders later in the course, but overall fabulous attendance. … MORE
Weather and course was beautiful, water stations were ready and well staffed. Course was well marked. Would love to see more cheerleaders later in the course, but overall fabulous attendance. Can’t wait to run again next year!
Exceptional Race Experience!
Tremendous thought and energy went into planning, producing, and executing this race. Every detail was taken care of and runners had a spectacular weekend of running. Course support is profound … MORE
Tremendous thought and energy went into planning, producing, and executing this race. Every detail was taken care of and runners had a spectacular weekend of running. Course support is profound with neighbors coming out to cheer, Coast Guard members supporting the race, military demonstrations at the Finish Line Festival, quality swag, gorgeous course, and great energy. With three race distances over the course of the weekend, this race has something for everyone.
The course is super flat but with all the trips through the various neighborhoods, the Coast Guard Base, and back through downtown, it’s never boring. Spectators line almost the entire course and their warm enthusiasm never fades. Aide stations were well supplied and had plenty of generous volunteers eager to help and cheer us on. The Finish Line celebrations make it worth planning to hang out after the race and enjoy the demonstrations and festive atmosphere.
This race needs to be on everyone’s list to do and enjoy.
Flat & Pretty but Windy
Awesome medals. Nice race shirt. Additional swag available for purchase but $$$$. Beautiful course with tons of volunteers and locals to cheer you on. 30-40 mph wind gusts on this … MORE
Awesome medals. Nice race shirt. Additional swag available for purchase but $$$$. Beautiful course with tons of volunteers and locals to cheer you on. 30-40 mph wind gusts on this day 5-6 miles of the course have zero protection from wind so it definitely impacted time. Book lodging early it’s a tiny town. Can fly into Norfolk and drive up – it’s about an hour easy highway.
Fantastic First time!
Great community (plenty of locals cheering you on). Easy run overall very flat course. Well organized and easy to follow directions. Waterfront is beautiful. Weather was wonderful for the 5k MORE
Great community (plenty of locals cheering you on). Easy run overall very flat course. Well organized and easy to follow directions. Waterfront is beautiful. Weather was wonderful for the 5k