Kiawah Island Marathon

Kiawah Island Marathon runs on December 11-12, 2026 at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. The Jingle Shells 5K and one-mile fun run open the weekend on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m.; the marathon (26.2 miles) and the half marathon (13.1 miles) start together at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Everything starts and finishes at West Beach Village, and the routes run through maritime forest, along marshes and past the island's homes. Entrants get a long-sleeve shirt, a finisher medal, full on-course support, a post-race meal, beer, finish-line entertainment and a free shuttle from off-island parking.

Island roads with that level of support make the marathon a reasonable place to attempt a Boston qualifier or a first 26.2, provided the work is done: sixteen weeks with a weekly long run out past 18 miles and regular running at goal pace. The half needs about twelve weeks on the same pattern. Racing the Friday 5K first is fine if you jog it, less so if you empty yourself the day before a marathon.