The United States Coast Guard invite you to join us in-person or virtually for the Coast Guard Marathon, Half Marathon, 1K or 5K in Elizabeth City, NC, The Harbor of Hospitality. These races are in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City. Races are open …
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The United States Coast Guard invite you to join us in-person or virtually for the Coast Guard Marathon, Half Marathon, 1K or 5K in Elizabeth City, NC, The Harbor of Hospitality. These races are in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City. Races are open to all participants, including all branches of the military and the running community at large.
Full Marathon
Beginning at the Museum of the Albemarle, this race will start downtown, run along the Pasquotank riverfront, loop through the U.S. Coast Guard Base and Air Station including on the runway. The course will then take you, past beautiful riverfront homes with the mid point of the route around one of the last standing WWII airship hangers, a 20-story tall dome-shaped waterfront structure where you will head back towards and through base, and finally return to the historic downtown district running past Elizabeth City State University, a historically black college and the only four-year collegiate aviation education program in North Carolina.
We’re thrilled to introduce this new USATF (USA Track & Field) sanction, certified, and Boston Qualifying race in collaboration with Base Elizabeth City to both military and civilian participants! The Coast Guard Marathon course is the fastest course in North Carolina and the 40th fastest in the nation. It’s going to be a weekend of fun and celebration and we hope you’ll join us.
Half Marathon
The Coast Guard Half Marathon is scenic, flat, and fast! Beginning downtown, the run will take you along the riverfront (by Coast Guard Park and the Sailing Center). after that, runners will loop through the U.S. Coast Guard Base and Air Station including on the runway, and finally return to the historic downtown district running past Elizabeth City State University, a historically black college and the only four-year collegiate aviation education program in North Carolina.
5K
This flat and fast 5K weaves in and out of the waterfront and residential districts in Downtown Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Both military and civilian runners are welcome to take part in this race either in-person or virtually. Make your way throguh the heart of the historic downtown area of the city on a flat and completely paved course. In other words, it’s ideal for every level of runner! One water stop will be located at approximately 1.5 miles into the course.
Semper Paratus Challenge
Get ready to run the Coast Guard Marathon in Elizabeth City, North Carolina! The Coast Guard Marathon offers a 26.2, 13.1 and 5K with the option to take the Semper Paratus Challenge. To complete the challenge, register for the Semper Paratus Challenge 26.2 or 13.1 and run both 5K plus the half or full. Challenge runners will earn a finisher medal for both events plus a commemorative challenge coin! This legacy road race can be completed virtually or in-person. All runners receive a swag package including a bib, short sleeve tech shirt and finisher medal.
Choose your distance, lace up your running shoes and support our USCG men and women from coast to coast.
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The most family friendly marathon!
We drive to NC from MD just for Coast Guard Marathon weekend. Our kids love 1K run and post run celebration events. The atmosphere is always amazing and weather has … MORE
We drive to NC from MD just for Coast Guard Marathon weekend. Our kids love 1K run and post run celebration events. The atmosphere is always amazing and weather has been perfect for long run. Marathon organization is good and we always have great time.
A race that was one-of-a-kind experience
I have run all five years that the Coast Guard Marathon has been held. The first two were virtual due to COVID, and I ran the last three in person. … MORE
I have run all five years that the Coast Guard Marathon has been held. The first two were virtual due to COVID, and I ran the last three in person. It’s an amazing, one-of-a-kind experience to run on the runway at the Coast Guard base. The blimp storage facility is massive—you see it in the distance and don’t realize just how huge it is until you’re running around it. The townsfolk are very friendly and come out to cheer on the participants. The atmosphere is fun and family-friendly. Mile markers and water/aid stations are frequent and well-stocked by volunteers and young Coast Guard recruits, who are so pleasant and courteous.
This is one race I will keep running for as long as I am able. Plus, my kid is a Coastie—she and I hope to run the marathon distance together one day.
Beautiful scenery and awesome crowd!
Very easy to navigate; clearly marked signs everywhere. Water stations every two miles with well stocked tables. The first part of the race was beautiful along the river and through … MORE
Very easy to navigate; clearly marked signs everywhere. Water stations every two miles with well stocked tables. The first part of the race was beautiful along the river and through a great neighborhood with a surprising number of people outside offering their own beverages (even mimosas!). The middle part was through the air station which was neat because the helicopter was hovering over the air strip. The last part was through town with lots of support. Lots of active duty support and the admiral was giving out medals! My only negative was I didn’t like the t-shirt material – I loved the design and wish I could have chosen an option for a style and material.
Best kept secret!
This race has it all! Orchestrated with precision and attention to detail. Great energy, great support, great backdrop in quaint Elizabeth City, NC. E-City is a Coast Guard City with … MORE
This race has it all! Orchestrated with precision and attention to detail. Great energy, great support, great backdrop in quaint Elizabeth City, NC. E-City is a Coast Guard City with exceptional hospitality for the runners. Awesome pacers, superior hardware and great displays of USCG aircraft along the course. Keep up the great work, CG Marathon!
Flat course, well organized.
The course is flat and (probably fast) if you're a quicker runner. For an event that is much younger than most of the other Armed Forces events, the USCGM is … MORE
The course is flat and (probably fast) if you’re a quicker runner.
For an event that is much younger than most of the other Armed Forces events, the USCGM is very well organized.
2025 included an optional pasta lunch on Sat., and that was also very well organized and delicious. The expo/packet pickup was fast, friendly, and efficient. This was a great spring race.
Great time!
This was first marathon and I was terrified! The course and the support made me feel so much better. The course was a nice flat surface and a great choice … MORE
This was first marathon and I was terrified! The course and the support made me feel so much better. The course was a nice flat surface and a great choice for a first marathon. The supporters and the other runners really helped keep the good vibes going. I never thought I’d say this but I would run this again next year!
Fantastic Race in a beautiful scenery
Race provides easy travelling to the start line by offering sufficient free parking space close by. So there was no long waiting time in the cold. Also the course was … MORE
Race provides easy travelling to the start line by offering sufficient free parking space close by. So there was no long waiting time in the cold.
Also the course was a fantastic choice showing the beauty of Elisabeth city.(especially at sunrise)
And finally the flybys of the helicopter and hovering at the airfield made it a very special event as well.
Last but not least the very well designed medals have to be mentioned too.
Hometown Race
Overall this race is amazing however organizers need to have more swag for half marathoners & 5k runners. Also need runners on your board to truly understand the running mindset. MORE
Overall this race is amazing however organizers need to have more swag for half marathoners & 5k runners. Also need runners on your board to truly understand the running mindset.
Motivated to do it again next year
Overall the race was awesome! Lots of people came out to support. Running through the neighborhoods, there were people cheering us on or even providing snacks/beverages. About half of the … MORE
Overall the race was awesome! Lots of people came out to support. Running through the neighborhoods, there were people cheering us on or even providing snacks/beverages. About half of the half marathon course was by the water.
Great first race experience
For this to be my first race, I really enjoyed it; I am already looking forward to running it next year. I would say that the course was not difficult … MORE
For this to be my first race, I really enjoyed it; I am already looking forward to running it next year. I would say that the course was not difficult but the roads, specifically downtown made it difficult. They were broken and very uneven, causing a lot of pain toward the end. I appreciated the law enforcement who were there enforcing safety for runners. But, the 2-mile stretch on Herrington Rd. many cars were crossing the race course, and multiple cars were passing runners on the wrong side of the road, making it unsafe for everyone on the road, drivers and runners. I felt like there should have been law enforcement there the most.
PR Chaser Dreams
The course is as flat and fast! Not much necessarily there in terms of scenic, it’s not bad, but it’s nothing special. The weather was perfect running conditions on race … MORE
The course is as flat and fast! Not much necessarily there in terms of scenic, it’s not bad, but it’s nothing special. The weather was perfect running conditions on race day. I thoroughly enjoyed how often there were drink stations and porta potties. Never ran a race before that had them consistently every two miles, it was phenomenal. In terms of swag, medals are sick! The race merch/T-shirts, ugly. Overall, great race that led me to a 18 min PR and BQ!
Great race, great course, friendly.
I love entering the Coast Guard base past the historic aircraft and then running the 1-mile length of the runway. It's a nice course starting through friendly neighborhoods, the airbase … MORE
I love entering the Coast Guard base past the historic aircraft and then running the 1-mile length of the runway. It’s a nice course starting through friendly neighborhoods, the airbase and then through town down Main Street to nice finish at the park. Flat! Hopefully it will return to April, weather for the race was nice, but training up north for early March is a challenge.
LOTS of room for improvement
First off, the good: The medal is gorgeous and so cool! The Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard base handed it to me as I crossed the line. Running through … MORE
First off, the good: The medal is gorgeous and so cool! The Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard base handed it to me as I crossed the line. Running through the base was pretty amazing. We ran along the flight line with a helicopter hovering, and we could see a lot of the cool Coast Guard equipment. The Coasties of the base were cheering in different points of the base and their energy was fantastic. The finisher party area was cool. Good beer, good food, and the Coast Guard auxiliary team was doing demonstrations.
The bad: The Coast Guard base isn’t that big, so only about 6 miles or so was on the base. The rest of the course, understandably so, was 20 miles through Elizabeth City. The course was open to traffic, and VERY open to traffic. The course was not well marked with cones, so cars were whizzing by runners, almost hitting a couple. There wasn’t enough police support to maintain traffic and there was MANY times I didn’t feel safe. I will not run this again until I hear that they’ve made it safer for the runners. There was very little crowd support, except for the volunteers and aid stations. It was a very lonely race through boring fields and surrounding neighborhoods. Also, the t-shirt was pretty ugly. The idea and concept was cool (it was of a Coast Guard helicopter) but it was cheap screen print on a bright orange shirt.
Best race for beginners!
I paced a first time half marathoner that had not trained properly. Our goal was just to finish in under the cut off. This course is flat and temps are … MORE
I paced a first time half marathoner that had not trained properly. Our goal was just to finish in under the cut off. This course is flat and temps are always agreeable this time of year. Volunteers were so friendly, encouraging and helpful. We were at the back of the pack but still had plenty of hydration and so many people still around to cheer us on. We were able to maintain our 5 minute walk and 30 second run intervals to finish with only seconds to spare to make it under the cut off.
Loved running down the runway!
The race is smaller in size, but has the production quality and organization of any World Major. The course is flat and FAST. There are tons of aid stations and … MORE
The race is smaller in size, but has the production quality and organization of any World Major. The course is flat and FAST. There are tons of aid stations and the town really shows up for the race.
IMPROVING EACH YEAR
Ran the inaugural 5K and the Siempre Paratus 13.1 in 2024 and 2025. The course and the expo have been tweaked for improvements each year since inception. The 2025 course … MORE
Ran the inaugural 5K and the Siempre Paratus 13.1 in 2024 and 2025. The course and the expo have been tweaked for improvements each year since inception. The 2025 course removed the short in and out jaunts in town and made the course easier to follow and more enjoyable. The course is relatively flat, making this a great race for a PR or first in your specific distance. The course through downtown makes it a great course for spectators and is unlike any other course in the area.
Another Great Race!
.. Semper Paratus! E-City and the Amazing CG sailors who helped volunteer and support on the course and off. Thank you for your service. The City officials and the runners … MORE
.. Semper Paratus! E-City and the Amazing CG sailors who helped volunteer and support on the course and off. Thank you for your service. The City officials and the runners were awesome (again) .. will hope to increase participation especially for the marathon.. it got a little lonely running at the back of the pack during the last 10K 😄.. other than that the after party and location of the start and finish was A+!!
See you next year!💪💪
Flat, Fast and Awesome Crowd Support
Beautiful course takes you along the waterfront, through well maintained neighborhoods and onto base where you even get to run on the runway! Well placed aid and cheer sections throughout … MORE
Beautiful course takes you along the waterfront, through well maintained neighborhoods and onto base where you even get to run on the runway! Well placed aid and cheer sections throughout the course. Announcer has kicked butt the last three years with hyping crowd at the finish line.oh and sweet swag!
Love this event
The setting is absolutely beautiful. The area support is motivating. Many yards have people sitting out cheering on the participants, some offer food and drinks, some offer a place to … MORE
The setting is absolutely beautiful. The area support is motivating. Many yards have people sitting out cheering on the participants, some offer food and drinks, some offer a place to drop your extra layers of clothes. Running on the coast guard base runway and along the waterfront add a unique experience to the event. The businesses in the area run specials and open extra hours to accommodate visitors. Hydration/Fuel stops and porta-potties are sufficient along the route. The medals are great.
My family and friends were able to track me during the race, knew just when to expect me to come around the final turn to head to the finish line, and my daughter was able to come hold my hand for that last stretch. Hearing my name announced as I crossed the finish line was a highlight. Hearing my name announced as I crossed the finish line was a highlight too!
Big Time Race...Small Town Feel
Interested in a PR? Need a BQ? Love a small town feel? Maybe a flat course sounds appealing? Ever had the chance to run down a mile+ long runway....with an … MORE
Interested in a PR? Need a BQ? Love a small town feel? Maybe a flat course sounds appealing? Ever had the chance to run down a mile+ long runway….with an Jayhawk helicopter alongside for support? How about perfect weather? USCG has it all!
Seriously, this race is a MUST! Picturesque views of the river take you through the first few miles. Running through Coast Guard Base – Elizabeth City, the largest CG air station in the US, is a unique experience. Spectators line the course nearly throughout, even on Base! The Elizabeth City community supports this race, the athletes, and visitors like no other. Great restaurants and multiple breweries are along the downtown portion of the course.
Yet, it is virtually undiscovered so far! If you haven’t heard about it or experienced yourself, you REALLY need to come find out in person!