Kiawah Island Marathon & Half Marathon
Kiawah Island, SC
- Marathon, Half Marathon
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
On your mark, get set, go… to the annual Marathon on Kiawah Island, where 26.2 miles (or 13.1 miles) has never looked so beautiful. Enjoy the ultimate marathon experience and stay at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Your body, mind and soles of your feet will thank you! The Kiawah Island … MORE
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
It's an island....
It's a closed off island, so the course is "open" but limited traffic on the course. My 14 yo son was able to bike around the island freely to see … MORE
It’s a closed off island, so the course is “open” but limited traffic on the course. My 14 yo son was able to bike around the island freely to see me on the course and bring me snacks if I wanted them. It was a laid back day, and it is a friendly environment. I enjoyed it for my SC state, but I don’t know if I would travel to it again for it. Swag- long sleeved Tshirt for marathon. Medals were nice. They are large with the logo of Kiawah Island on them. My son and I also did the glow run 5K on the beach the night before, which was a BLAST!
I really liked so much about this Event.
I really liked so much about this Event. The communication was great. The Expo and packet pickup was a pretty good size, held in the resort conference room. We got … MORE
I really liked so much about this Event. The communication was great. The Expo and packet pickup was a pretty good size, held in the resort conference room. We got long sleeve unisex t-shirts, our bib and a clear bag for gear drop. A variety of to go pasta dinners were available for purchase. They were convenient and tasty. Race morning, charter busses were provided throughout the day for the runners and family to the start finishline. The course was mostly flat on the road, paved bike trail and hard packed sand. Most of the course was shaded. Even though we had beautiful views of the river, there was only a glimpse of the beach around mile 11. Also at Mike 11 was a screen that showed your state, bib number and name. So, spectators could cheer you on by name as you ran pass. It was just the “pick me up” needed to help get to the finishl. The finishline was streamed live. There was plenty of food, hot soup drink, coffee and beer offered in the runner village. The medal is a beauty.
I would definitely repeat this race. I recommend it, highly. The organizers did a great job.
A boutique race experience
We chose this race based on recommendations from other runner friends, and it delivered. It was billed as a boutique experience and that's exactly what it was. Pre-race yoga and … MORE
We chose this race based on recommendations from other runner friends, and it delivered. It was billed as a boutique experience and that’s exactly what it was. Pre-race yoga and stretching on the beach, a full-on gourmet buffet afterwards, and beautiful scenery. There wasn’t a ton of race support since the island is closed to anyone who doesn’t live there or have a permit but the landscape was so serene that it was kind of nice to be able to soak it all in.
My only critique was the swag. The hoodie wasn’t my favorite but as race shirts go it was fine. Not quite in line with the quality level of everything else about this race but fine. My beef is that there was almost nothing for sale for the half marathon crowd. Tons for the full marathoners but just a couple of things for the half that were mostly for men. Boo.
Good choice for a SC marathon
Overall this is a good race with little complaints. We heeded the warnings and arrived early since we were not staying on the island. We stayed in Charleston (cheaper) and … MORE
Overall this is a good race with little complaints. We heeded the warnings and arrived early since we were not staying on the island. We stayed in Charleston (cheaper) and had no difficulty with driving in the morning of the race. The conference center is open so plenty of space to sit and relax, use the indoor bathrooms before the race started. The race wound through the residential streets of the island. The only disappointment is that we did not have many ocean views. After the race you could easily walk down to the beach. Post race was good although a bit crowded but at least there were places to sit down and very good food. Highly recommend!
Get there early! Pancake flat!
The course was pancake flat and weaved through tree-lined neighborhoods. Tiny parts were on sand/gravel and there weren't any ocean views. Organizers advised us several times to arrive early. We … MORE
The course was pancake flat and weaved through tree-lined neighborhoods. Tiny parts were on sand/gravel and there weren’t any ocean views. Organizers advised us several times to arrive early. We got there really early (around 5:30 am) and had zero issues, but others weren’t so lucky. The conference center is open so we just hung out in one of the ballrooms until it was time to start. One of the water stops was a bit behind in pouring water, otherwise they were adequate. If you’re one of the super speedy runners, having to merge with all the slow (and some oblivious) slow runners might be annoying. Overall, a great race with a nice long-sleeve tech shirt!
Red flag race
Scenery was great, lots of shade. Course was flat. Many aid stations and bathrooms, but as the race went on, they were running out of Gatorade and water. Expo had … MORE
Scenery was great, lots of shade. Course was flat. Many aid stations and bathrooms, but as the race went on, they were running out of Gatorade and water. Expo had a lot clothing choices for the half marathon but very little for the full marathon. The biggest letdown is they ran out of medals 5 hours and 20 minutes into the marathon. I trained 6 months to complete my first marathon and felt on top of the world when I crossed the finish line in a little over 6 hours to be told they ran out of medals and that I will get it in the mail next year (January). This is completely unacceptable and absolutely heart breaking to me after working so hard. I have read multiple other reviews stating this has happened in previous years. So if you want to finish a marathon and not be rewarded with a medal, this is your race.
Winter Marathon Break
This is a nice flat course and a great chance to run a winter marathon. We stayed on the island at one of the villas thinking this would make getting … MORE
This is a nice flat course and a great chance to run a winter marathon. We stayed on the island at one of the villas thinking this would make getting to the start much easier. Unfortunately, many of the shuttles were full when they drove to our stop and the one we finally got on broke down a couple miles from the start. We were not allowed to get out and had to go back to our pickup only to get to the start as the race was beginning. Once I got to the start, no one would tell me where to go drop my bag. For a lot of unforeseen issues, it was challenging. The race was well supported.
There are lots of turns on the course, so be prepared for that. My Otherwise, this is a great vacation spot in the winter. Lots of history in nearby Charleston.
Great destination race with friends
I didn't really chose this race, but joined two friends that decided to run the marathon (after a long hiatus from marathon running). This race is a great destination for … MORE
I didn’t really chose this race, but joined two friends that decided to run the marathon (after a long hiatus from marathon running). This race is a great destination for a long weekend away. We rented a house on Kiawah, and spent Thursday-Sunday on the island for race festivities. In addition, a couple other friends raced the half one group on the island and one off the island (but still on St. John’s).
Pre-race: so many emails! you can’t say that they didn’t communicate. They covered all the bases, made sure you had what you needed.
Accommodations: we stayed on Kiawah, about 2 miles from the start (near Night Heron Park). It made everything super easy. We did take advantage of the shuttle – but note, race day morning, the shuttles were not enough to handle the runners getting the start. I jogged to the start, and the marathoners with me hitch-hiked with a random person.
Swag and Expo: well stocked expo, lots of local artisans too. The race shirt is one of the better ones I’ve earned. The official race gear was fine — i would rate as middle quality.
Race production: we had a late start (I think because of the shuttles), but everything else was great! well marked course, lots of aid stations, lots of port a potties. The aid stations has water, gatorade, and some fruit. No gus.
Finish line: abundant. there were lots of food options, including white bean soup, some pasta salads, corn bread, and fruit, and what seemed like a limitless supply of beer!
Course: scenic neighborhoods, and maritime forest. You’re basically running residential streets the entire time. it’s not bad, but can get boring. Course is extremely flat, and there’s a small bit where you run on a sandy beach road. It’s okay.
Fun & Enjoyable
The Kiawah Half is a great race and perfect for anyone hoping for one that has relaxed setting and very doable course! It's fairly flat and the road doesn't have … MORE
The Kiawah Half is a great race and perfect for anyone hoping for one that has relaxed setting and very doable course! It’s fairly flat and the road doesn’t have any camber to it, so it’ll be gentle on your knees and hips. The aid stations are perfectly placed and always have Gatorade and water at the least. We were fortunate that the weather was quite cool. It was rainy for almost the entire duration of the half, which added some humidity but nothing that made the run difficult. The race producers can’t do anything about the weather to have made the sun peak out at least a little, but I do think they could do more to add more views of the beach and ocean. The only glimpse we get it towards the very end and only about 1/4 of a mile running behind a hotel and through their pool area. The race is on an island with beach access, I would’ve hoped for a lot more of that. In order to get to the one portion where we could see the beach, we had to run on dirt/gravel service roads, which was not ideal given it was in the final two miles and that change in ground slows you down a bit – and as I mentioned before it was a rainy morning, so the service roads were squishy.
Overall great race, and I highly recommend it for half-marathoners, especially if hoping for a PR. The producers put on a really great expo with lots of supplies available (and on discount if bought in certain quantities), as well as featuring local artisans and venders. After the race, they had a buffet that features great options for some recovery carb and protein reloading – chicken pasta, couscous, white bean soup, and more. They also had hot chocolate and coffee to help warm up.
Really enjoyed it, and would definitely make an effort to run it again!
Monotonous and Unorganized
I must admit that I'm a bit surprised at how high this race is rated, because it definitely wasn't one of my favorites!! The shuttle to the start was not … MORE
I must admit that I’m a bit surprised at how high this race is rated, because it definitely wasn’t one of my favorites!! The shuttle to the start was not difficult. But the starting line can only be described as a cluster. I had to wait 30 minutes in line for bag check . . . and the bag check line was in the middle of the starting corral. Had I known the process would have been so unorganized, I wouldn’t have planned to check anything.
The course was flat and relatively easy, but I worried in several places that surely I must have taken a wrong turn because it wasn’t entirely clear where the course was. Sometimes the course was on a walking path that meandered (making it impossible to run the tangent–I ran about half a mile longer than a marathon according to my GPS), and sometimes the course was on a street that was not closed to traffic. It wasn’t clear if runners should stay on the right side of the road or the left, so there were runners on either side with cars driving down the middle! There weren’t an excessive number of cars driving on the course, but enough that it seemed so bizarre that there were no cones marking a safe path for the runners.
The course itself was pretty . . . for the first mile or two until it became extremely monotonous and I started going crazy wondering if this was the second, third or maybe fourth time we had run on this same stretch. Everything was sage green–the grass, the trees, the houses. It was pretty at first, but boring after a while. Despite the fact that the course was on an island, we only caught a glimpse of the ocean for a brief 100 meters.
Aid stations were completely overwhelmed. I am not a complete back of the packer–finish time was 4:50–but volunteers at many aid stations were filling up cups while I waited, instead of having them ready to grab and go.
I will say that the finish line food was the best I have ever experienced, even better than VIP tent food.
Very well put together with a big crowd!
I was most worried about the logistics of getting to the run since you have to be bused to the island from just outside, but this turned out to be … MORE
I was most worried about the logistics of getting to the run since you have to be bused to the island from just outside, but this turned out to be super easy. You’ll park in a field by the Freshfield village & they have a ton of busses to get you over. I got there at 5:45am & there was a quick line. Bib pickup was super easy. Race is kinda cramped the first mile so really know where you should start. Definitely running again!
Flat Course for The Win
An almost entirely flat course, seriously there were only two hills over the entire race. The spectator support was incredible throughout the entire 13 miles, the race rented out bikes … MORE
An almost entirely flat course, seriously there were only two hills over the entire race. The spectator support was incredible throughout the entire 13 miles, the race rented out bikes for folks to use. I will go ahead and say the scenery wasn’t great, running through the neighborhoods was fun but running on an island you’d think you’d get to see the ocean, you don’t. The post race food was wonderful, buffet and a beer truck with multiple types of beer. The pasta and brownies were wonderful, highly recommended.
New start/finish area for 2021
Kiawah Island will always have a special place in my heart. It was my first half marathon. I loved everything about it. My third year running the half marathon is … MORE
Kiawah Island will always have a special place in my heart. It was my first half marathon. I loved everything about it. My third year running the half marathon is my PB. The corses were changed for this year and while still very nice, I preferred the original location. Most runners will need to get a shuttle to and from the start/finish area regardless if they stay off- or on-island. There is great support along the course and music/bands in a couple of locations. Great food at the finish…REAL food, like couscous, pasta, hot soup. Plus beer, always a good thing. The shirt this year was a long sleeve cotton blend, as opposed to the tech shirts offered in the previous few years. The medal was just as awesome as always, with a stained glass effect and a spinner with half marathon on one side and marathon on the other.
Enjoyable
The hardest part of this race is the parking. You either need to find a place to stay on the island or stay just off and park the morning of. … MORE
The hardest part of this race is the parking. You either need to find a place to stay on the island or stay just off and park the morning of. So you have to arrive early before they close the island We stayed off the island but very close. The course incorporates the path that is used for the golf course so it is not entirely flat. It was also fairly windy the year I ran it. I enjoyed all the post race festivities but due to the cool temps and wind I was too cold to enjoy very much. I flew in and out of Charleston. So we stayed the first and last night in Charleston. Made a nice extended long weekend out of it.
Flat, Fast Course at a Golf Resort
The Kiawah Island Marathon is a flat, fast marathon that is optimal for setting a PR. While the area is not the easiest to stay in due to higher prices … MORE
The Kiawah Island Marathon is a flat, fast marathon that is optimal for setting a PR. While the area is not the easiest to stay in due to higher prices and availability of lodging, the organizers put on a wonderful marathon with great organization targeted towards making it a really enjoyable experience for all runners.
TRAVEL TIP: There are limited places to stay around Kiawah Island, so if you plan on running this marathon, make your hotel reservations early!
Communication leading up to the race was top-notch and I received updates via email for several weeks prior to the race with clear instructions. Packet pick up was located on the island itself, which is privately-owned, so you need a guest pass to enter. Luckily the race planners are very organized and sent out a pre-authorized parking pass to all runners allowing them entry onto the island for packet pickup.
If you stay off the island, there are shuttle buses that pick you up and take you to and from the race. We stayed close to the shuttle bus area, but parking looked to be plentiful in the grassy fields nearby (though they did seem to get a bit muddy).
The course itself was pretty, but honestly I was a little disappointed. It ran mostly through the inner-parts of the island along community roads and golf kart paths near the golf course. Despite being right on the coast, I was only able to see the Atlantic Ocean for roughly 30 seconds around mile 20. That said I have been lucky to run some of the most beautiful marathons in the country ( Mount Desert Island Marathon 2018 in Maine and The 2019 Kauai Marathon in Hawaii to name a few), so if this would have been my first marathon, I may have thought more of the scenery. Aid stations were plentiful throughout the course, but since I carry my own drink and gels via hydration pack, I did not make use of them.
Overall the experience was a positive one. I would give the Kiawah Marathon a “thumbs up” and recommend it to someone looking to run in the Charleston area of South Carolina.
More details at my full race report: https://runningriddles.com/races/the-kiawah-island-marathon-in-south-carolina/
Beautiful course
The course is flat and winds through beautiful neighborhoods and past the golf course and marshes on Kiawah Island. The full and half start together then split apart and rejoin … MORE
The course is flat and winds through beautiful neighborhoods and past the golf course and marshes on Kiawah Island. The full and half start together then split apart and rejoin again before the finish. The medal is huge with a spinner thing that says Marathon on one side and Half Marathon on the other side. The tech shirts have a unique artistic design. I have heard that shuttling onto the island on race morning can be stressful. I chose to stay at the Sanctuary Hotel on the island so that I could leave my room 15 minutes before race time. Very convenient if a bit on the expensive side. When I am ready for my first marathon, I believe I will choose this one. As it is, I have already registered for the half marathon for next year.
great weather for a December marathon!
Warm weather race for December, be sure and enjoy the island for at least the weekend, some great places for dinner after the race to celebrate. It's flat as a … MORE
Warm weather race for December, be sure and enjoy the island for at least the weekend, some great places for dinner after the race to celebrate. It’s flat as a pancake though, and can be tough on the legs using the same muscles for the whole race. Still very pretty and fun!
A Fine Wine of a race
I ran the 40th edition of this race, and the expertise shows. The race experience is the product of a veteran staff, and it pays off with minimal surprises. Everything … MORE
I ran the 40th edition of this race, and the expertise shows. The race experience is the product of a veteran staff, and it pays off with minimal surprises. Everything just works – packet pickup, parking, course signage, the race, the staff ,the spectators – everything. Just relax, get there, and run your race.
Quaint Little Island Race
This race was beautiful. It was December so it was kind of overcast but still somehow perfect weather for running. And I like overcast anyway because it's less sun on … MORE
This race was beautiful. It was December so it was kind of overcast but still somehow perfect weather for running. And I like overcast anyway because it’s less sun on my face. It was sort of difficult to get to packet pick up but that is because it’s on a private little island and the buildings were hard to figure out.I stayed just off the island in a cute little mini town with lots of shops in walking distance and that was my favorite part of the trip. While I hate taking shuttles to races, the shuttle was easy enough to get to and use so that’s a plus. Overall a good race and travel experience.
Not what I was expecting
The weather was good. I thought that we would be running where we could see the water most of the time (it is an island), but we ran through a … MORE
The weather was good. I thought that we would be running where we could see the water most of the time (it is an island), but we ran through a neighborhood for the vast majority of the race, it was a nice neighborhood, but not what I was expecting. T-shirt was great!