Run Ocean Isle Beach (BAM! Race Series)
Ocean Isle Beach, NC
- Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, 1 Miler
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Join the Run Ocean Isle Beach Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and 1 Mile road race. Ocean Isle Beach is a beautiful coastal island in SE North Carolina. The courses take you through some beautiful communities and the half marathon takes you around most of the island with unforgettable oceanfront views. … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Oct 24):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 71 | 81 | 73 | 67 | 79 |
| L (°F) | 50 | 59 | 45 | 50 | 54 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Epic Ocean View, Medals & After Party
Run Ocean Isle Beach is one of those races that reminds you why coastal races are so special. The run starts by winding through quiet neighborhoods where locals come out … MORE
Run Ocean Isle Beach is one of those races that reminds you why coastal races are so special. The run starts by winding through quiet neighborhoods where locals come out to cheer you on before the course heads toward the Intracoastal Waterway.
Then comes the bridge.
You head up and over the ICW bridge with incredible views of the water, the marsh, and even the ocean in the distance. It is one of those spots where you almost forget you are in a race because the view is that good.
From there the course takes you along the eastern side of the island before turning back along the oceanfront. Running beside the Atlantic with the morning light and salt air is about as good as it gets for a half marathon.
The timing of the race is perfect. It is after peak tourist season so the island has that relaxed coastal feel. It makes for a great race weekend and honestly a great excuse to travel and enjoy the North Carolina coast.
Now let’s talk about the finish line and what might be the best part of the entire event.
Food, a beer garden, runners swapping stories, and the kind of energy that makes you want to hang out long after the race is over. I highly recommend the cider. It pairs nicely with finishing 13.1 miles.
Awards include age group recognition, a PR bell to ring if you set a personal record, and yes there is a podium. That always makes race photos a little more fun.
This race is also the final event of the BAM series each year. If you completed the series, this is where you receive your series completion medal as well.
And speaking of medals.
The BAM medals are legendary. They are huge, beautifully designed, and heavy enough that when you hang them next to your other medals they will immediately make those medals question their life choices.
Great course. Great views. Great post race party. Epic medals.
These races fill up fast and for good reason. If you want a race that combines the beauty of the North Carolina coast with a fun race weekend atmosphere, Run Ocean Isle Beach is absolutely worth the trip.
By far the best race!
This is the most beautiful course! Coastal race productions puts on the best races! They’re always SO organized and so nice! Highly recommend this race to anyone! MORE
This is the most beautiful course! Coastal race productions puts on the best races! They’re always SO organized and so nice! Highly recommend this race to anyone!
Great race organization
The race organization was great. Clear communication, easy bib pickup, and ample race parking. The HM course was mostly flat with some nice ocean views, but coming back around mile … MORE
The race organization was great. Clear communication, easy bib pickup, and ample race parking. The HM course was mostly flat with some nice ocean views, but coming back around mile 12, the bridge and strong headwind made the last stretch quite hard. Overall, a great race experience for me!
Race, Huge medal, snacks, beer, BBQ,
A.......,.,......................................BAD .....................,............ASS.................. RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??? .. MORE
A…….,.,………………………………..BAD …………………,…………ASS……………… RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???
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Gorgeous scenery, great race!
Run OIB is a well-organized race - 3 water stops on the 10k course. Super friendly staff and volunteers cheer on and direct runners. Beautiful course with sunrise view on … MORE
Run OIB is a well-organized race – 3 water stops on the 10k course. Super friendly staff and volunteers cheer on and direct runners. Beautiful course with sunrise view on the OIB bridge. Great race medals and award ceremony at the end. Could improve race with a search by race number for the photos.
Overall a blast!
Appreciate all the hard work you all do to set these up and plan. My only note, starting with the half marathon and 10k made it SO hard to get … MORE
Appreciate all the hard work you all do to set these up and plan. My only note, starting with the half marathon and 10k made it SO hard to get going and moving around. There was such an overcrowd of people and it really almost did not lift up until the half had to go straight and 10k to the right. I don’t know if I have seen half and 10k start together at any other race so far.
Just an opinion but made it harder than anticipated.
Thank you
Great Race for NC
I picked this race for NC because I saw the medal and t-shirt online and fell in love. And the medal did NOT disappoint! It's the biggest one I have, … MORE
I picked this race for NC because I saw the medal and t-shirt online and fell in love. And the medal did NOT disappoint! It’s the biggest one I have, and this is 1/2 marathon #15/50.
The race PRODUCTION for this race was great. Great communication from the race team. Very well organized and the volunteers were wonderful. I appreciated them very much. There was plenty of water stations along the course. Could have used a few more porta-potties at the start/finish.
Very small EXPO with just a few vendors so if you forgot anything you could grab nutrition. Great SWAG if you wanted extra to remember the race. AFTER-PARTY had beer, BBQ and music. Not huge, not small. They did start packing up very quickly which was surprising. People were still finishing, and they were taking down fences and the tables. Ran out of bananas and did not have much water.
The COURSE left me a little disappointed. Since it was along the ocean, I hoped to see more, well, ocean. But I only caught maybe 2 glimpses of the ocean because the area is so built up with homes/condos. The neighborhoods were nice, and the homes were beautiful, but I did miss the ocean. Mostly flat with 2 hills over the bridge. There is very little to do in OCEAN ISLE beach, but Myrtle Beach is about 45 minutes away and there is tons to do there if you are going to stay for the weekend.
Overall, I was happy with the experience and def. love my medal! Would recommend this race.
Fun Fall race for big bling
Ran this as part of the 3 race series in 2024. Of the 3, this was my favorite course. The start line location is near parking and retail which makes … MORE
Ran this as part of the 3 race series in 2024. Of the 3, this was my favorite course. The start line location is near parking and retail which makes it very convenient. The course itself is flat apart from the intercoastal bridge but the Ocean Isle bridge just didn’t seem as bad as Sunset or Oak Island.
Shiny bling and great shirt design!
North Carolina makes State #34
The BAM race series does such a nice job with the production of the races. I did not get to attend the expo as I got stuck in traffic driving … MORE
The BAM race series does such a nice job with the production of the races.
I did not get to attend the expo as I got stuck in traffic driving down from Maryland, luckily, they offered race day pick up. The only swag was a race shirt. Again, not sure if there was more at the expo.
Parking was a breeze-it’s a field right next to the start line-literally yards from the start line. This also starts in the Lowe’s grocery store parking lot so if you want a real bathroom and to warm up-they open at 6am.
The weather was absolutely perfect! About 60 at start time with a breeze.
The whole race production was smooth-water stations perfectly placed and loved that the stations alternated Gatorade flavors. All volunteers were super friendly and pleasant.
On the course, it is pretty flat with the exception of the climb over the bridges. First time is before mile 1-great positioning. On the way back, you hit it around mile 10 which is a killer. You really don’t see the ocean all that much, you mainly run through neighborhoods. So much is under construction so construction port a potties were abundant. The other thing to note is around mile 4.5 you need to run through rocks for about a 1/3 or so of a mile-maybe a bit longer-certainly felt longer. They were deep rocks as well so you slide around versus gliding on top.
The race was not super huge but not super small either. The finish line production was smooth-you are also given a free beer and free food ticket. Not sure where the beer was but the bbq was pretty good.
Given that my parents live about an hour away from here, I will definitely participate in the BAM series again.
Best Course to Get a PR
Coastal Race Productions take great care to ensure the runners are cared for on all measures. The medal is HUGE, the race support stellar and the course...GLORIOUS! Sure there is … MORE
Coastal Race Productions take great care to ensure the runners are cared for on all measures. The medal is HUGE, the race support stellar and the course…GLORIOUS! Sure there is a bridge to run but it is a short one and you get a great view of the water. The entire course was fast and filled with cheering spectators. Absolutely a MUST to run and will be on my list of faves that I will run every year!
Great Race!
Fun race! Great scenery, cool trucker hat and huge metal. Great BBQ and beer at the finish. I loved running through the neighborhoods. Really cute beach homes all colored in … MORE
Fun race! Great scenery, cool trucker hat and huge metal. Great BBQ and beer at the finish. I loved running through the neighborhoods. Really cute beach homes all colored in different colors. Water and gatorade stations were well placed. Course was well marked. Will do it again.
You will love Run Ocean Isle!!!
The volunteers are awesome! There are beautiful views of the intracoastal waterway at the start, beautiful homes and then the ocean as you come into the last couple miles. Plenty … MORE
The volunteers are awesome! There are beautiful views of the intracoastal waterway at the start, beautiful homes and then the ocean as you come into the last couple miles. Plenty of water/Gatorade stations. Great BBQ and beer at the finish. The race organizers are amazing and quick to respond to any inquiries. It’s just a great overall race experience!
Great Fall Race-cooler weather, great ve
Awesome medal, great camaraderie, race starts just as sun is coming up. Enthusiastic volunteers; well-organized race. Half marathon takes off in one direction and the 5K starts 15 minutes later … MORE
Awesome medal, great camaraderie, race starts just as sun is coming up. Enthusiastic volunteers; well-organized race. Half marathon takes off in one direction and the 5K starts 15 minutes later in the other direction- good logistics. Finishers wanted to hang out at the finish!
Great opportunity to PR!
Pancake flat. Small town feel! Loved going over the bridge at sunrise and running beside the beach (not on the sand, though- cause PR!). Coastal Race Productions does a great … MORE
Pancake flat. Small town feel! Loved going over the bridge at sunrise and running beside the beach (not on the sand, though- cause PR!).
Coastal Race Productions does a great job & I appreciate swag that isn’t a t-shirt (we got hats!)
Weather was great! Volunteers awesome!
Finisher medals are always great! It’s better to run/ walk with friends. Take deep breaths and enjoy the views! What a great excuse to come to the beach! Everyone/volunteers are … MORE
Finisher medals are always great! It’s better to run/ walk with friends. Take deep breaths and enjoy the views! What a great excuse to come to the beach! Everyone/volunteers are always nice & friendly! Don’t forget the after party furan awesome time.
Nice small production
Loved staying in Ocean aisle and walking out our door to this race. The race is smaller but the start is kind of crowded. The route is not really scenic … MORE
Loved staying in Ocean aisle and walking out our door to this race.
The race is smaller but the start is kind of crowded. The route is not really scenic and has lots of turns. Running through neighborhoods was fun as lots of people came out to cheer.
Really very flat course except the bridge but that was quite short.
Not much race swag but such a fun large medal. Beer and bbq was plentiful at the end.
Nice finish to the entire BAM series
Get there early enough for parking and avoiding the bridge being closed. Nice time of year for the beach. Not too hot or crowded. Once your back over the bridge … MORE
Get there early enough for parking and avoiding the bridge being closed.
Nice time of year for the beach. Not too hot or crowded.
Once your back over the bridge the rest of the course is flat with some nice beach scenery.
Next years BAM medals are crazy. That alone is enough to get in on this series.
Great job by the organizers, especially Ms. Johnna and her daughter. They make a great team. Thanks to the volunteers for their assistance.