Race Info
Next Price Increase: Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026
Choose Your Distance
All three courses take you on a beautiful route through downtown Historic Wilmington, North Carolina. The Half Marathon and 10K courses include the three bridges!
Half Marathon
Start Time: 7:45AM
Registration: $100
10K
Start Time: 7:30AM
Registration: $70
5K
Start Time: 7:00AM
Registration: $60
Challenge
Start Time: 7:00AM
Registration: $150
Register as a Team
Register as a team and still choose your own distance. Teammates do not need to run the same distance. Each teammate will choose to run the Half, 10K, 5K or Challenge. Plus, the biggest team wins a gift card to Oden Brewing Company!
Swag Included With Every Registration
See the swag that's included with registration for all Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, Challenge, and Virtual runners!
(1) Race Bib
(1) Finisher Medal (Challenge Runners will receive both the Half Marathon + 5K Finisher Medals)
(1) Long Sleeve Race T-Shirt
(1) Bonus Gift
Optional Add-On
T-Shirt
For an additional $25 during registration, you can pre-order a Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K T-Shirt in any of these three colors!
Schedule
We look forward to seeing you the first weekend of December!
Please see below for a complete schedule of events for Packet Pick-Up, Expo and Race Day!
Packet Pick-Up
& Expo
Friday, Dec. 4, 2026
12:00pm - 6:00pm
Cape Fear Community CollegeHealth Sciences-Learning Resource Center (L Building)
415 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401
Parking Tip: The L building is located at the corner of 2nd Street and Red Cross Street. There is a Visitor Parking Lot across the street from the L Building at the Corner of 2nd Street and Walnut Street. There is also plenty of street parking available downtown.
Please Note: Picking up your packet on Friday is preferred! If you are not able to attend, someone else may pickup your packet for you!
Race Day
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026
5:45AM - 7:00am
Packet Pickup
7:00am
5K Start
Finish Line Party Begins!
The Finish Line Party includes beer from Wrightsville Beach Brewery & Oden Brewing Company + BBQ from BH43 Sauces & Smoke!
7:30am
10K Start
7:45am
Half Marathon Start
Challenge runners must be able to complete the 5K in 45 minutes or less in order to return to the start line for the start of the Half Marathon.
11:30am
Finish Line Party Ends
Course Maps
Click here to download the Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K Course Map, or check out the individual race courses on Map My Run below.
All of the Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K courses are USATF Certified.
Half Marathon Course Map
USATF Course Certification Code: NC23040BDS
10K Course Map
USATF Course Certification Code: NC23039BD
5K Course Map
USATF Course Certification Code: NC21012BD
Road Closures
Road closures will begin on Saturday, December 5 at 6:00am and will re-open by 11:30am.
The following streets/lanes will be closed:
-
- Nutt St. between Cowan St. & Harnett St.
- Harnett St. between Front St. & Nutt St.
- Southbound Nutt St. between Harnett St. & Red Cross St.
- Southbound N Water St. between Walnut St. & S. Front St.
- Southbound N Water St. between Red Cross St. & Market St.
- N Water St. between Chestnut St. & Market St.
- Market St. between Front St. & Water St.
- Inside eastbound lane of Market St. between Front St. & 5th St. (no cross traffic allowed)
- Inside westbound lane of Market St. between 6th St. & 3rd St. (no cross traffic allowed)
- Westbound Market St. between 3rd St. & Front St.
- Southbound lane of N Front St. between Market St. & Hanover St. (cross traffic allowed)
- Southbound 3rd St. between Market & Princess St.
- Southbound lane of N Front St. between Hanover St & N 3rd St.
- Outside turn lane and downtown exit ramp of Isabella Holmes Bridge
- MLK exit ramp Isabella Holmes Bridge
- Outside northbound lane of US Hwy 421 between Isabel Holmes Bridge and northbound off ramp onto US Hwy. 421 off of Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
- Outside westbound lane of Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
- Westbound on ramp to Cape Fear Memorial Bridge/17/74/76
- Northbound S Front St. off ramp from Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
- Northbound lane of S Front St. between Dawson St. & Burnett Blvd/Carolina Beach Rd/S 3rd St.
- Greenfield St. between S Front St. & S 5th St./E Lake Shore Dr.
- Southbound lane of S 5th St./E Lake Shore Dr. & Willard St.
- Outside northbound lane of S 3rd St./Burnett Blvd. between Carolina Beach Rd. & Greenfield St.
- Outside right-hand southbound lane of S 3rd St. between Wright St. & Greenfield St.
- Southbound S Front St. between Dawson St. & Nun St.
- Queen St. & S Front St. (west side)
- Church St. & S Front St. (west side)
- Westbound lane of Nun St. between S Front St. & S Water St.
- Southbound N Water St. at Chestnut St.
Lodging
The Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K has room blocks at two local hotels. Visit their websites for more information!
229 N 2nd Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Located in the heart of downtown Historic Wilmington, the Courtyard Marriott is easily accessible to all of the area attractions. The Riverwalk is only two blocks away too!
Booking Deadline: Nov. 4, 2026
1706 N Lumina Avenue
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
Located less than 20 minutes from downtown Wilmington, the Lumina sits on Wrightsville Beach. The Lumina features beach access and incredible oceanviews!
Booking Deadline: Nov. 4, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out a list of our most frequently asked questions below. If you don't find what you're looking for and still have a question, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Age Restrictions
We currently have no age restrictions! However, anyone under 18 must have their parent or guardian sign the waiver when registering on RunSignup.
Awards
Every participant earns a finisher medal. We also celebrate and award our top runners!
Award recipients must come to the Awards Tent to claim their award!
We will not have a ceremony due to all the different start times. We are also unable to mail awards after the race.
The awards will be as follows:
Half Marathon Awards:
- Top 3 Overall Male/Female
- Top 3 Masters Male/Female
- Top 3 in Age Groups Male/Female: 18 & Under, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+
10K Awards
- Top 3 Overall Male/Female
- Top 3 Masters Male/Female
- Top 3 in Age Groups Male/Female: 18 & Under, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+
5K Awards
- Top 3 Overall Male/Female
- Top 3 Masters Male/Female
- Top 3 in Age Groups Male/Female: 13 & Under, 14-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+
Bag Drop
There is a Bag Drop tent at the park on race day. You can drop your things off anytime before the race and collect them afterwards.
The Bag Drop tent is unmanned, so we advise you not to leave anything valuable there. Items that are left at the end of the race will be donated.
Bibs
Race bibs must be worn on the front and be visible at all times for EVERYONE on the course.
If anyone is on the course without a bib you will be asked to leave. If you are running with a companion that does not have a bib you will both be asked to leave the course. No companion bicycles, scooters, golf carts, or unregistered runners/walkers are allowed.
Why? This is strictly prohibited by USATF sanctions and our insurance.
Spectators are welcome along the course and may move from one point to another to see participants in different places.
Bib Exchange/Transfer
You can transfer your bib to another runner prior to the race.
You may log into your RunSignup account and initiate this bib exchange by adding the name and email address of the person you are transferring your bib to.
There is a $15 processing fee.
The recipient will receive an email to accept the bib and sign our online waiver.
Need Help? Click here and look for “Transfer to Another Runner” for a tutorial on how to edit this.
Course Certification
Our event is certified with USATF and measured for accuracy.
Race courses certified by USATF are measured by a proven method that incorporates the calibration of measuring devices against a steel tape and is verified by multiple measurements. Our courses are not “close,” they are exact measurements. If your GPS watch or phone shows that you ran a little less or longer of a distance, please keep in mind that GPS devices are not always exact!
You can see USATF’s statement on the use of GPS devices by clicking here.
Click here to view a list of our USATF Course Certification Codes.
Course Maps
Click here to download the Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K Course Map, or check out the individual race courses on MapMyRun below!
- Half Marathon Course Map
USATF Course Certification Code: NC23040BDS - 10K Course Map
USATF Course Certification Code: NC23039BD - 5K Course Map
USATF Course Certification Code: NC21012BD
Defer to Next Year
Runners may defer their registration to next year’s race. The deferral must be for the same distance at the same race.
The cutoff to defer to the following year's race is 60 days prior to the event, which is when we purchase all of the race swag (medals, t-shirts, giveaways, etc.).
There is a $15 re-activation fee and deferrals are only good for one year.
Need Help? Click here for a tutorial on how to defer your race.
Click here for a tutorial on how to claim your deferral.
Virtual registrations are not eligible for deferrals.
Discounts
We offer a 10% discount to: Military, Teachers, Firefighters, Police, and EMTs. We also offer a discount to students. Please contact us to receive your discount code.
Dogs
All of our courses are USATF Certified and sanctioned. For this reason, dogs are not allowed for safety.
If you have a four-legged running companion for medical reasons, please follow these steps for an exception:
1. File an accommodations request through the USATF ADA Committee by clicking here. The process takes approximately 4-6 weeks.
2. If your request is approved, they will provide you with documentation of your approval. Please email your proof of approval to erica@racebash.com.
Event Transfer
If you want to change from one distance to another, we allow you to do this yourself prior to the event.
The cutoff to switch distances is the final week leading up to race day and is based upon availability in that event.
You may manage this through your RunSignup account. There is a $5 RunSignup processing fee plus the difference in events or shipping.
Need Help? Click here for a tutorial on how to edit this.
Finish Line Party
Finish Line Party Hours:
7:00AM - 11:30AM
You can count on a good time at the Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K Finish Line Party! You won’t want to miss it!
Hosted in downtown Riverfront Park, the Finish Line Party includes beer from Wrightsville Beach Brewery and Oden Brewing Company as well as some yummy BBQ from BH BBQ Sauces & Smoke.
Runners will have voucher tabs on their bib for the beer and BBQ! We can't wait to see you there!
Insurance
For an additional fee during registration, there is an option for you to add on an insurance plan that would refund your registration fee if any of the covered reasons were to occur.
For a very affordable cost, the plan covers things such as injuries, airline issues, car trouble, jury duty, military duty, hurricanes/weather and so much more.
Click here to read the plan details.
Please Note: Insurance coverage is provided by a third party insurance company and we do not control coverage. If you have any questions concerning the insurance plan, please contact them directly by clicking here.
You may also explore your own third party insurance options to protect your registration fee as well.
Lodging
The Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K has room blocks at two local hotels. Visit their websites for more information!
1. Courtyard by Marriott
Booking Deadline: Nov. 4, 2026
229 N 2nd Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Located in the heart of downtown Historic Wilmington, the Courtyard Marriott is easily accessible to all of the area attractions. The Riverwalk is only two blocks away too!
2. Lumina on Wrightsville Beach
Booking Deadline: Nov. 4, 2026
1706 N Lumina Avenue
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
Click here to book your room
Located less than 20 minutes from downtown Wilmington, the Lumina sits on Wrightsville Beach. The Lumina features beach access and incredible oceanviews!
Pacers
There are pacers for the Half Marathon only.
The pacing times are as follows:
1:35, 1:40, 1:45, 2:00, 2:15, 2:30, 2:45, and 3:45.
Please Note: 3:45 is the cut off time.
Packet Pickup
Friday, December 4, 2026
Cape Fear Community College
Health Sciences-Learning Resource Center (L Building)
415 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC, 28401
Parking Tip: The L building is located at the corner of 2nd Street and Red Cross Street. There is a Visitor Parking Lot across the street from the L Building at the Corner of 2nd Street and Walnut Street. There is also plenty of street parking available downtown.
Please Note: Picking up your packet on Friday is preferred. If you are not able to attend, someone else may pick up your packet for you.
Parking
There are over 10,000 public parking spots in Downtown Wilmington. Click here for a complete list of available parking.
Please Note: Please do not park along the race route or if there is a covered meter or sign.
Race Day Start Times
Saturday, December 5, 2026
- 7:00AM: 5K Start
- 7:30AM: 10K Start
- 7:45AM: Half Marathon Start
RaceJoy
Spectators can track their Wilmington Historic Half Marathon runner using the RaceJoy app on their phone.
RaceJoy is a GPS-based tracking app that follows a participant's progress in real-time as they run their race. Both the runner and the spectator must download the app, and keep their phones with them. If your runner is not using RaceJoy, you will not be able to track their progress.
Live Phone Tracking:
This is based on the actual position of the participant's phone.
GPS Progress Alerts:
Both the participant and spectators receive progress alerts when the participant crosses milestones along the course. Typically, alerts are sent at EVERY MILE including location, pace, elapsed time and estimated finish time.
Cheers:
Family and friends can send motivational, pre-recorded audio cheer clips or personalized Text-to-Cheer messages to race participants leading up to, during, and after the race.
To Download the RaceJoy App:
- General Download: Click here
- RaceJoy for Participants: Click here
- RaceJoy for Spectators: Click here
Refund Policy
We currently do not offer a refund on any of our events. If an event is canceled, we will transfer all participants to a “Virtual Race” where we will ship the swag items to you.
If you would like to purchase an insurance plan to protect your registration fee, please see the Insurance tab under the FAQ to learn more.
Rewards
Get rewarded for referring other runners!
Earn $5 every time you refer another runner. There is no limit to how much you can earn!
Learn how:
- Register for the race.
- Check your registration confirmation email for a unique referral link.
- Share that unique referral link with others.
- When a runner registers using your unique referral link, you will earn $5! It's that simple!
Shirt Size Swap
You may adjust your shirt size by logging into your RunSignup account more than 30 days prior to the race.
Please Note: If you miss the 30-day cutoff, we cannot accommodate the size change due to shirt ordering deadlines and you will receive the size you selected during registration.
Need Help? Click here for a tutorial on how to edit your shirt size.
Spectators
Spectators are welcome along the course and may move from one point to another to see participants in different places.
See the RaceJoy tab for information on how to track your runner throughout the race.
Be sure to join us in cheering your runner on as they cross the finish line!
Sponsorship
The Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K would not be possible without the support of our incredible Sponsors!
To learn more about these great local businesses or for more information on how to become a sponsor, please visit our Sponsorship page.
Strollers
Strollers are allowed on all three courses.
We ask that stroller runners please start near the back of the corral to avoid tripping or congestion with other runners.
Stroller runners are still eligible for age group awards, as your chip time is tracked from the time you cross the start line to the time you cross the finish line.
Team Signups
We offer team signups!
Grab your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc. and sign up together as a team.
Plus! The biggest team wins a gift card to Oden Brewing Company!
Click here to register as a team!
Please Note: Teammates do not need to run the same distance. Each teammate may choose their own distance (Half, 10K, 5K or Challenge).
Time Limits
Please see the time limit for each race below:
- Half Marathon: 3.5 hours
- 10K: 3.5 hours
- 5K: 1.5 hours
Timing
We provide an official chip and gun time.
Please see the timing used for each award group below:
- Overall Awards: Gun Time (as most major races do)
- Age Group Awards: Chip Time
Please note: If you are going for an Overall Male/Female Award in your respective race, be sure to start up at the front of the corral.
Transgender Policy
All of our courses are certified distances and sanctioned by USATF, therefore we follow their guidelines:
“This policy requires that certain medical benchmarks be achieved before an athlete may compete as the opposite gender for medals, prize money, and other benefits. The intent of this policy is to establish competitive eligibility and to help ensure fair competition. The policy also contains safeguards to protect the privacy of any athlete(s) making the request for eligibility.”
Click here to see their policy.
Volunteer
Looking for more information on how to volunteer for the Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K?
Check out our Volunteer page for more information.
Virtual Options
All of the Historic races offer a virtual option. You must register for this separately.
The following Virtual Registration Policies apply:
- Runners must be registered for the virtual option in order to receive their race packet by mail.
- All virtual packets will be mailed within two weeks of the race.
- Virtual packets will not be available during the in-person Packet Pickup on race weekend.
- There is no need to submit your virtual time. Run when you can!
Transferring from In-Person to Virtual:
If you are registered to run in-person and can no longer attend or want to transfer to the virtual option for any other reason, you may do so prior to race day.
Runners can manage this through their personal RunSignup account.
There is a $15.00 processing fee to make the transfer.
The cutoff to switch to the virtual option is typically the final week leading up to the race.
Transferring from Virtual to In-Person:
If you are registered to run virtually and want to transfer to in-person, we would love to have you join us!
This must be done at least 7 days prior to the race and you can make this change through your online RunSignup account. You will have to pay the difference in price, as well as a $15.00 processing fee.
Need Help? Click here for a tutorial on how to manage your registration on RunSignup.
Water Stations
The Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K Course Map includes the water station locations.
- Click here to view the Course Map.
Beverages available at each station:
- Stations 1 and 6: Water only
- Stations 2, 3, 4 and 5: Water and Gatorade
Weather
The Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K is rain or shine!
If there is lightning, we will postpone until the weather is cleared.
If there is rain, we will do our best to continue the event without delay.
In the case of a hurricane, we will do our best to accommodate an alternate date for the event, as well as offer a Virtual Race.
Please Note: There are no weather-related refunds.
RESULTS
Come back here on race day and click the button below to see race results LIVE!
Awards are also listed by clicking below.
Race Day Pics
Search through and find yourself in our Historic Race Day Pics.
Download pics, share them, and don't forget to tag us on social media too!
Contact Us
If you have questions about the Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K, send us a message. Someone from our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
You can also find answers to our most Frequently Asked Questions on our Race Info page.
