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About RaceIndexOur methodologyData coverageCyclingTriathlon
  • Marathon
  • 42.2 km
  • Gulf Shores
  • Event dates –
  • Open entry

Big Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & Safari 5K Marathon

This race edition

Race date
Date not confirmed for this distance
Race timezone
Timezone not confirmed
Edition status
Status not confirmed

Entry options

2027 edition

Entry options are not yet confirmed for this edition. Check the organiser before making plans.

Official event website & entry ↗
Plan my trainingPlan my paceData current as of

Decision summary

Big Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & Safari 5K Marathon at a glance

Cut-off average pace
9:57/km

7:00:00 total limit divided by distance. Check gun/chip timing and intermediate limits; allow time for stops.

Typical conditions
73/100

Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast

Evidence depth
36 verified facts

Source facts available

Route details

Known course facts at a glance

Methodology →

Big Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & Safari 5K Marathon has known course details for its marathon race. The summary below keeps the focus on what is confirmed for the course.

Official distance
42.2 km
Terrain
Road, Trail, Beach
Scenery
Coastal, Parkland, Desert, Waterfront, Forest, Lakeside

Quick answers

What runners ask first

How hilly is the Big Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & Safari 5K?

The Big Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & Safari 5K is described as pancake flat. The course listing puts the climb at 95 m. The course notes also call it flat and fast course on the fully paved trail system through Gulf State Park.

Where does the Big Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & Safari 5K route go?

The Big Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & Safari 5K route starts at The Hangout, 101 E. Beach Blvd. Gulf Shores, AL (marathon & half marathon); Lake Shelby, 21101 State Highway 135, Gulf Shores, AL (Safari 5K) and finishes at The Hangout, beach-side, Gulf Shores, AL. Underfoot, expect paved. It passes Gulf State Park, The Hangout, Lake Shelby and Gulf of Mexico beaches. Flat and fast course on the fully paved trail system through Gulf State Park.

What should runners know on race day for the Big Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & Safari 5K?

5K gear check at Shelby Lakes (race site); marathon and half marathon gear check at The Hangout under the Mermaid (small) stage 3. Pacer guides offered.

Race character

Scenery

  • Coastal
  • Parkland
  • Desert
  • Waterfront
  • Forest
  • Lakeside

Atmosphere

  • Destination
  • Scenic Tour

Terrain

  • Road
  • Trail
  • Beach
Elevation character
Pancake Flat
Technicality
Non Technical
Source-stated ascent
95 m
Net elevation
0 m

Entry, logistics and records

Entry requirements

Entry status
Open entry: The held registration model is open entry and this edition is not marked sold out.
Minimum age
18+
Cut-off
7 hours (course closes 2:30 PM CST)
Qualification status
USATF Certified Boston Qualifier course.
Boston qualifier
Yes

Race day logistics

Pacers
Pacer guides offered.
Bag drop
5K gear check at Shelby Lakes (race site); marathon and half marathon gear check at The Hangout under the Mermaid (small) stage 3.
Medal
Finisher medals awarded; Shark Challenge (5K + marathon) and Dolphin Challenge (5K + half) participants receive both race medals plus a third challenge medal.

Access and course status

Start
The Hangout, 101 E. Beach Blvd., Gulf Shores, AL (marathon & half marathon); Lake Shelby, 21101 State Highway 135, Gulf Shores, AL (Safari 5K)
Finish
The Hangout, beach-side, Gulf Shores, AL

Course facts

Surface
Paved
Landmarks
Gulf State Park, The Hangout, Lake Shelby, Gulf of Mexico beaches
Notable features
  • Race weekend after-party at The Hangout on Sunday with post-race food, beer and live atmosphere
  • Saturday 5K serves as a shakeout before Sunday's marathon and half
  • Flat and fast course on the fully paved trail system through Gulf State Park
  • described as scenic, flat and FAST

What are typical race-day conditions?

  • 13°CTypical temperature
  • 23 kphTypical wind
  • 4 mmTypical rainfall
  • 73Favourability /100
Typical conditions for the race date and locality, warmer than the endurance-optimal window. These are climatological norms, not a forecast, and are shared across every distance at this event.

How we calculated this

Published facts and derived model outputs on this page are tied to stored sources or a published, version-locked methodology. We show the provenance so runners, coaches and organisers can check it. Data on this page is current as of .

Derived numbers use scoring-methodology-v1.0.

Sources used on this page (2)

Read the full methodology →