Myrtle Beach is the kind of race you choose when you want a fast, uncomplicated spring marathon. You line up before sunrise on Robert Grissom Parkway, and by the time you reach the oceanfront the sky over the Atlantic is turning pink and you can smell the salt and hear gulls working the beach. The course is a loop through the Grand Strand's beachside neighborhoods, nearly flat with under 300 feet of total gain, so your job is simply to hold an even pace and resist going out too hard in the cool early miles. Runners do mention a noticeable crown on the road around miles 10 to 12, so drift toward the centerline where you can. March weather is usually mild, the course is certified and Boston-eligible, and the six-and-a-half-hour limit leaves room for a patient day. The finish at Pelicans Park is low-key and friendly.
A very flat certified loop along the Grand Strand with flat oceanfront miles and beachside neighborhoods; the 2026 edition started on Robert Grissom Parkway at 21st Avenue N and finished at Pelicans Park, with runners noting a pronounced road crown around miles 10-12.
Registration is open online through Race Roster (Capstone Races). Deferral window closes February 24, 2027; bib-mailing deadline January 29. Price tiers not published on the pages reachable at verification time. Register ↗
- The marathon time limit is 6 hours 30 minutes (a 15-minute-per-mile pace) and the course is a Boston qualifier. ↗
- 1,674 runners finished the 2026 marathon, up from 1,167 in 2025; Find My Marathon measures 283 ft of gain on a 'very flat' loop. ↗
- The 2026 race started at 6:35 AM on Saturday March 7 at 1251 21st Avenue N, Myrtle Beach. ↗
- The race added an Elite Invitational with prize money and offers a 'Myrtle Beach Double' pairing the marathon or half with a virtual 10K. ↗
- The flat course runs along the Atlantic coast, starting on Robert Grissom Parkway and finishing at Pelicans Park. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.