Shark Bite Half Marathon & 5K

Shark Bite Half Marathon & 5K runs over two days at New Smyrna Beach, in Volusia County, Florida, on January 16-17, 2027. Saturday opens with the Feeding Frenzy 5K at 8 a.m.; Sunday brings the Shark Bite Half Marathon (13.1 miles) at 7:30 a.m., the Shark Bite 5K at 7:40 a.m. and a 300 meter kiddie dash at 9 a.m. Challenge entries combine both days, adding up to 16.2 miles for the half marathon challenge and 6.2 miles for the 5K version. The coastal setting and the encouraging atmosphere suit families and first timers.

The challenge options are the interesting part of the schedule. A 5K on Saturday followed by a half on Sunday is a manageable double if you treat Saturday as a warm up rather than an effort, and it makes a gentle introduction to back to back racing. If the Sunday half is your first, twelve weeks of consistent running with one long run a week is the standard preparation, and the 7:30 start means an early breakfast worth rehearsing beforehand.