Inaugural Cape Fear Marathon and Half Marathon

AdventureCORPS® – the organizers of the iconic worldwide series of Badwater® ultramarathon races – is pleased to present the inaugural Cape Fear Marathon & Half Marathon on Bald Head Island, North Carolina on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Bald Head Island is the home of fabled and legendary Cape Fear, and the home to AdventureCORPS' annual spring ultramarathon, Badwater Cape Fear – now in its 11th year!

The Cape Fear Marathon & Half will begin at 10 am, allowing runners to make a day trip of their experience, enjoying the Bald Head Island Ferry to and from the island. But for those who want to make a weekend of it on the island, there are family-friendly Halloween activities happening on Saturday.

With 26.2 and 13.1-mile race options, Cape Fear Marathon and Half Marathon takes place entirely on Bald Head Island and its car-free, one-lane-wide roads, plus a short but spectacular stretch on the beach around Cape Fear herself. The start line is located at Old Baldy, the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina, while the finish line will be on the marina end of the Timber Bridge, next to Jules' Salty Grub & Island Pub. 

Jules' Salty Grub will host Racer Check-In on race morning from 8:30 to 9:40 am and will host the Official Post-Race Party all afternoon with DJ Fray playing the music and hamburgers or bean burgers and beer or non-alcoholic drinks provided to all competitors and volunteers. 

There will be three aid station locations along the race route, passed a total of nine times during the marathon and four times during the half marathon. One aid station will be near Old Baldy and the Timber Bridge, one will be located at Beach Access 35, and another will be located at the Bald Head Island Conservancy.

There is a 6.5-hour time limit for the marathon and 3.5 hours for the half marathon.

Registration will be available until ­October 20 at RunSignUp.com. There is no registration at the event.

The Official Charity of CAPE FEAR MARATHON and BADWATER CAPE FEAR is the Bald Head Island Conservancy, a leader in barrier island conservation, preservation, and education. Race participants and supporters appreciate that BHIC cares for this race route's pristine setting and its role as a sea turtle nesting site, and are encouraged to fundraise for BHIC and support its mission.

Since 2014, AdventureCORPS has made or facilitated more than $125,000 in donations to the Bald Head Island Conservancy. As Chris Kostman, Chief Adventure Officer and Race Director, says: "We love Bald Head Island and we love working with the Conservancy and supporting the important work they do both on and off the island!"

According to Chris Shank, Executive Director of the BHI Conservancy, "Badwater has been a wonderful supporter of the Bald Head Island Conservancy for a decade through generous sponsorships and magnanimous donations from racers. We love working with Chris Kostman and his team each and every year - it is an annual highlight for the Conservancy and for all of Bald Head Island!" Sponsors and Local Partners also include Jules Salty Grub & Island Pub and the Village of Bald Head Island.

The event is hosted under special event permits from the Village of Bald Head Island, with Bald Head Island Public Safety, Public Works, and Public Safety Volunteers providing direct support for the event.

2024 Cape Fear Marathon results will be posted here. Image Galleries will be posted here.

Published by Christi Golder
Wednesday, October 9, 2024