2027 Coastal Delaware Marathon - Apr 11 Countdown

Q: When is the 2027 Coastal Delaware Marathon and what time does it start?

The full marathon is held on Sunday, April 11, 2027, with a 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time start on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. It is the centerpiece of the Coastal Delaware Running Festival, a two-day event that also includes a 5K on Saturday plus a half marathon, 9K and challenge runs on Sunday. Plan to arrive early, since boardwalk parking near the start fills quickly on race morning.

Q: Where does the Coastal Delaware Marathon course go?

It is a scenic loop that starts and finishes on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. The route runs the Gordons Pond Trail through the wildlife area, the Walking Dune Trail under pine cover, the paved Bike Loop through Cape Henlopen State Park past historic Fort Miles, then out toward historic Lewes before returning over the Junction and Breakwater Trail to the boardwalk finish. You pass beach, marsh, forest and two state parks along the way, so confirm the latest official course map before race day.

Q: Is the Coastal Delaware Marathon flat and fast?

It is genuinely flat — only about 82 m (272 ft) of total climb, with the high point barely 47 ft above sea level — but it is not a simple road PR course. Roughly a quarter of the route is on packed crushed-stone trail (Gordons Pond and the Junction and Breakwater Trail), and an ocean breeze can push back on the exposed boardwalk miles. Run it for even pacing rather than expecting hard-pavement splits, and use the pace calculator to plan a steady effort.

Q: Is the Coastal Delaware Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier — the 2027 race counts toward 2028 Boston Marathon entry. With its flat profile it is a realistic qualifying option, though the soft trail surface and shore wind make it less of a pure speed course than a paved net-downhill race. Check your needed time on the Boston qualifying calculator and pressure-test it with the race time predictor.

Q: What is the time limit for the Coastal Delaware Marathon?

The full marathon has a 6-hour-45-minute course time limit from the 7:00 a.m. start, which works out to roughly a 15:27 per mile overall pace. There are intermediate cutoffs along the way — about mile 11 by 9:45 a.m. and mile 20 by noon — so steady walkers and run-walkers should plan their pacing to clear each checkpoint, not just the finish.

Q: How do I register and how big is the field?

Registration is handled online through RunSignup on the official Coastal Delaware Running Festival page; there is no lottery, so entry is first-come, first-served and prices rise as race day nears. The full marathon is capped near 900 runners (about 776 finished in 2025), which keeps the trail and boardwalk sections from getting crowded. Register early both to lock a lower price and to secure a spot before the cap fills.

Q: What shoes and gear suit this course?

Because about a quarter of the marathon is on packed crushed-stone trail, many runners choose a lightweight road shoe with a little extra grip or a road-to-trail hybrid rather than a thin racing flat. The trail sections are firm but can hold puddles or loose grit after spring rain. Add a wind layer for the exposed boardwalk and coastal stretches, and expect a true beach-town atmosphere with a finish-line celebration of food, music and local cheer.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Coastal Delaware Marathon - Apr 11
City	Rehoboth Beach
Date	2027-04-11 at 07:00
Field Size	~776 runners
Time Limit	6 hours 45 min
Cutoff pace	9:36/km
Timezone	America/New_York
Official Site	Coastal Delaware Running Festival

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	10.7°C / 51°F
Humidity	81%
Wind	30.2 km/h
Rain Chance	31%
Typical Conditions	Cool, breezy mid-April morning at the Delaware shore — around 52 degrees F (11 degrees C) at the 7:00 a.m. start, with an ocean breeze off Rehoboth Beach that can feel chilly before the sun is up

What to Prepare: Mid-April at the beach starts cool, often near 52 degrees F (11 degrees C), and a steady onshore breeze can make the boardwalk miles feel colder than the thermometer says. Dress for a brisk start you can shed — throwaway gloves and an old long-sleeve work well — and pack a light wind layer in case a coastal front moves through. The crushed-stone trail sections can hold puddles after spring rain, so trail-ready shoes with a bit of grip are smart.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 30.2 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	7°C	10.7°C	14.3°C
Dew point	2°C	7.5°C	12.4°C

Wet-day chance: 31% Runnability: 69/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Boardwalk and state-park loop
Elevation Gain	82m
Terrain	Mixed (paved road and boardwalk plus packed crushed-stone state-park trail, roughly 25 percent trail)
Profile	One of the flattest marathons on the East Coast — only about 82 m (272 ft) of total climb, with the high point barely 47 ft above sea level — but flat does not mean fast-track simple, because roughly a quarter of the route runs on packed crushed-stone trail rather than road. The race starts and finishes on the iconic Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk on Rehoboth Avenue. From there it threads coastal Delaware's best scenery: the Gordons Pond Trail through the wildlife area (packed crushed stone with a short elevated boardwalk), the Walking Dune Trail under pine cover, the paved Bike Loop through Cape Henlopen State Park past historic Fort Miles and its observation tower, then out toward historic Lewes before doubling back over the Junction and Breakwater Trail — a former rail line of crushed stone through forest and coastal marsh — to the boardwalk finish. It is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier (the 2027 race qualifies for the 2028 Boston Marathon), but the soft-surface miles, possible sand and a brisk shore wind mean it rewards even effort over chasing a hard-surface PR. The full marathon is capped near 900 runners, so it stays uncrowded.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2027 Coastal Delaware Marathon - Apr 11

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2027 Coastal Delaware Marathon and what time does it start?

The full marathon is held on Sunday, April 11, 2027, with a 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time start on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. It is the centerpiece of the Coastal Delaware Running Festival, a two-day event that also includes a 5K on Saturday plus a half marathon, 9K and challenge runs on Sunday. Plan to arrive early, since boardwalk parking near the start fills quickly on race morning.

Where does the Coastal Delaware Marathon course go?

It is a scenic loop that starts and finishes on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. The route runs the Gordons Pond Trail through the wildlife area, the Walking Dune Trail under pine cover, the paved Bike Loop through Cape Henlopen State Park past historic Fort Miles, then out toward historic Lewes before returning over the Junction and Breakwater Trail to the boardwalk finish. You pass beach, marsh, forest and two state parks along the way, so confirm the latest official course map before race day.

Is the Coastal Delaware Marathon flat and fast?

It is genuinely flat — only about 82 m (272 ft) of total climb, with the high point barely 47 ft above sea level — but it is not a simple road PR course. Roughly a quarter of the route is on packed crushed-stone trail (Gordons Pond and the Junction and Breakwater Trail), and an ocean breeze can push back on the exposed boardwalk miles. Run it for even pacing rather than expecting hard-pavement splits, and use the pace calculator to plan a steady effort.

Is the Coastal Delaware Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The course is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier — the 2027 race counts toward 2028 Boston Marathon entry. With its flat profile it is a realistic qualifying option, though the soft trail surface and shore wind make it less of a pure speed course than a paved net-downhill race. Check your needed time on the Boston qualifying calculator and pressure-test it with the race time predictor.

What is the time limit for the Coastal Delaware Marathon?

The full marathon has a 6-hour-45-minute course time limit from the 7:00 a.m. start, which works out to roughly a 15:27 per mile overall pace. There are intermediate cutoffs along the way — about mile 11 by 9:45 a.m. and mile 20 by noon — so steady walkers and run-walkers should plan their pacing to clear each checkpoint, not just the finish.

How do I register and how big is the field?

Registration is handled online through RunSignup on the official Coastal Delaware Running Festival page; there is no lottery, so entry is first-come, first-served and prices rise as race day nears. The full marathon is capped near 900 runners (about 776 finished in 2025), which keeps the trail and boardwalk sections from getting crowded. Register early both to lock a lower price and to secure a spot before the cap fills.

What shoes and gear suit this course?

Because about a quarter of the marathon is on packed crushed-stone trail, many runners choose a lightweight road shoe with a little extra grip or a road-to-trail hybrid rather than a thin racing flat. The trail sections are firm but can hold puddles or loose grit after spring rain. Add a wind layer for the exposed boardwalk and coastal stretches, and expect a true beach-town atmosphere with a finish-line celebration of food, music and local cheer.