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Jekyll Island Marathon
Race Details:
- Location: Jekyll Island, Georgia, USA
- Race Date: 01/17/2027
- Race Distances: Full Marathon, Half Marathon
What This Race Counts Toward:
Boston: Yes
World Marathon Majors: Yes
Jekyll Island Marathon Description
Run Jekyll is the only 26.2-mile race on any of Georgia’s barrier islands, tracing a flat, fast, Boston-qualifying loop around Jekyll Island each winter. Starting at the corner of Shell Road and Beachview Drive, the mostly-loop course includes a short out-and-back stretch before circling the island’s beaches, maritime forest, and historic district. With a seven-hour time limit and forgiving terrain, it’s a relaxing option for a personal best or a first Boston qualifying attempt. A half marathon and 10K round out race weekend on Georgia’s coast.
Always check the official race website for the most accurate and up-to-date race information and logistics.
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Jekyll Island Marathon Additional Details:
Run Jekyll keeps things intentionally small, and that’s exactly the point. With one of the more modest fields on the Georgia coast, runners get genuine one-on-one encouragement from aid station volunteers rather than getting lost in a crowd, and the post-race festival feels more like a neighborhood cookout than a corporate expo. The course ducks in and out of canopies of centuries-old live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, offering welcome shade between open, breezy stretches along the marsh. Registration includes entry to the post-race gathering, complete with food and music, giving finishers a reason to linger on the island rather than rush off. It’s the kind of race where regulars know each other by name.
Course Information
Profile: Very Flat
Type: Mostly Loop
Surface: Mixed Surfaces
Pace Groups: No
Time Limit: 7 hours
# of Finishers
Half Marathon: 200-300
Marathon: 250 to 300
Elevation Details
Elevation Gain: 328 ft
Elevation Loss: 328 ft
Average Temperature
- Low: 39°F
- High: 58°F
Train Smarter for Race Day
A great race starts long before the starting line. Whether you’re chasing your first finish or hunting a new PR, a structured training plan takes the guesswork out of race prep — building your fitness, your confidence, and your mileage at the right pace for you.
Explore plans for every distance and experience level, from your first 5K to your next ultra.
Beginner, intermediate, and advanced plans to get you to the start line ready.
Your bridge into marathons, with a plan built for stepping up the distance.
Structured plans for every experience level, first finish to chasing a new PR.
Things to Do in Jekyll Island, Georgia, USA
Make the most of race weekend — here’s how to fill the time before and after you cross the finish line.
Food & Drink
Beach Village
Grab a bite at one of the restaurants in Jekyll’s Beach Village, the island’s walkable dining and shopping hub — a relaxed way to refuel after race day.
Museums & History
Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum
Explore Native American, Colonial, and Gilded Age history at the Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum, inside the island’s historic district — an easy, indoor, low-impact stop after race day.
Shopping
Pier Road Shops
Browse unique gift shops and Jekyll Island collectibles along Pier Road in the historic district — an easy, flat stroll for a post-race souvenir.
Scenic Drives & Viewpoints
Driftwood Beach
Wander Driftwood Beach, filled with weathered driftwood and quiet stretches of shoreline — a relaxed, flat way to spend a rest day after racing.
Landmark
Jekyll Island Historic District
Wander the Jekyll Island Historic District, home to preserved Gilded Age cottages once used by America’s wealthiest families — an easy, flat, low-impact stop after race weekend.
Outdoors & Trails
Jekyll Island Trail Loop
Bike the flat, 20-mile paved trail loop around Jekyll Island, winding through marshes, maritime forests, and oceanfront stretches — an easy option for tapering or recovering legs.
Hotels & Lodging Near the Jekyll Island Marathon
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Boston Qualifier: Yes