2027 Myrtle Beach Marathon - Mar 6 Countdown

Q: When is the 2027 Myrtle Beach Marathon and what time does it start?

The Myrtle Beach Marathon is held on Saturday, March 6, 2027, the race's 30th running. The full marathon starts early — around 6:35 a.m. Eastern Time — to give runners cooler conditions and a long window on course, with wheelchair and handcycle athletes setting off a few minutes ahead. Early-bird registration is already open; confirm the exact start time on the official Myrtle Beach Marathon site closer to race weekend.

Q: Is the Myrtle Beach Marathon a good course for a PR or a Boston qualifier?

Yes — it is one of the flattest, fastest marathons in the Southeast. The course is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier, with only about +86 m (283 ft) of total elevation gain, no bridges and no hills. That makes it a strong choice for chasing a Boston-qualifying time or a personal best. Run the tangents on the residential turns and watch the wind on the open oceanfront miles. Check your target on the Boston qualifying calculator.

Q: Where does the Myrtle Beach Marathon course go?

It is a coastal loop that starts and finishes near Pelicans Ballpark, off Grissom Parkway by Broadway at the Beach. The signature section is several miles straight up Ocean Boulevard, running parallel to the Atlantic past the boardwalk, the SkyWheel and beachfront hotels. The route also runs through The Market Common, along Kings Highway and into the Grande Dunes area before a flat finish back toward the ballpark. Check the official course map for the current 2027 layout.

Q: What is the time limit for the Myrtle Beach Marathon?

The full marathon has a 6.5-hour (6 hours 30 minutes) course time limit, which works out to roughly a 14:53 per mile (9:15 per km) pace. The early start time helps runners near the back make the cutoff. If you are unsure whether your training pace clears the limit, plug it into the pace calculator before race day.

Q: How big is the Myrtle Beach Marathon?

It is a mid-sized regional marathon. The full marathon drew about 1,674 finishers in 2026, up from roughly 1,167 the year before — a growing field, but still small enough to avoid big-city congestion. The wider race weekend, with the half marathon, marathon relay and 5K, brings several thousand runners to the Grand Strand. Expect lively crowds near the start, finish and oceanfront, with quieter stretches through the residential miles.

Q: How do I register for the Myrtle Beach Marathon?

Registration is handled online through the official Myrtle Beach Marathon site — there is no lottery, so entry is first-come, first-served until distances fill. Early-bird pricing for 2027 is already open and rises as race day approaches, so registering early saves money. The full marathon, half marathon, marathon relay and 5K are all part of the same race weekend.

Q: What is the weather usually like for the Myrtle Beach Marathon?

Early March on the South Carolina coast is typically mild for a marathon — a start near 55 degrees F (13 degrees C) warming into the 60s, far gentler than a northern winter race. The trade-offs are Atlantic humidity, which can make the oceanfront miles feel warmer, and wind: the long Ocean Boulevard straightaways are fully exposed, so an onshore breeze or headwind is the main thing that can slow a fast day. Dress light, carry a throwaway top for the start, and check the wind forecast the week before.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Myrtle Beach Marathon - Mar 6
City	Myrtle Beach
Date	2027-03-06 at 06:35
Field Size	~1,674 runners
Time Limit	6 hours 30 min
Cutoff pace	9:15/km
Course speed	Challenging course Speed index 1.12 — median of the last 5 winners' times against the global same-year median. Winner times track elite fields and prize money, so this reads the course as a proxy, not a pure measurement.
Timezone	America/New_York
Official Site	Myrtle Beach Marathon

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	13.9°C / 57°F
Humidity	79%
Wind	28 km/h
Rain Chance	30%
Typical Conditions	Mild, often breezy early-March coastal Carolina morning — around 55 degrees F (13 degrees C) at the 6:35 a.m. start, with humid Atlantic air and a real chance of onshore wind along the oceanfront miles

What to Prepare: Early March on the Grand Strand is usually mild for a marathon — a start near 55 degrees F (13 degrees C) warming into the 60s — but the oceanfront sun and Atlantic humidity can feel warmer than the thermometer once you turn onto the beach. The bigger variable is wind: the long Ocean Boulevard straightaways are exposed, so a stiff onshore or headwind can swing your pace. Dress for the start with a throwaway top you can shed, and check the forecast for wind direction the week before.

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 28 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	9.3°C	14.7°C	18°C
Dew point	2.7°C	10.3°C	16.4°C

Wet-day chance: 30% Runnability: 70/100

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

Course Profile

Course Type	Coastal loop
Elevation Gain	86m
Terrain	Road (flat asphalt city streets and oceanfront boulevard)
Profile	One of the flattest marathons in the Southeast and built for fast times. The loop course starts near Pelicans Ballpark, heading out near Broadway at the Beach off Robert M. Grissom Parkway, and winds through the heart of Myrtle Beach before delivering its signature stretch — several miles straight up Ocean Boulevard, running parallel to the Atlantic with the boardwalk, the SkyWheel and beachfront hotels in view. The route also threads The Market Common, Kings Highway and the Grande Dunes section before a flat, fast run-in on Grissom Parkway to the finish in the Pelicans Ballpark area. There is almost no meaningful elevation — about +86 m (283 ft) of gain across the whole course, a max point near 41 ft, and no bridges or hills — so this is a genuine PR and Boston-qualifying track. The honest caveats are the many 90-degree turns through residential neighborhoods (run the tangents) and the exposure of the oceanfront straights, where a headwind is the only thing standing between you and a flat-out time. It is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2027 Myrtle Beach Marathon - Mar 6

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

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Wind Effect on Running — How Much Does Wind Slow You?

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Marathon Predictor — 5K, 10K & Half Marathon Race Predictor

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2027 Myrtle Beach Marathon and what time does it start?

The Myrtle Beach Marathon is held on Saturday, March 6, 2027, the race's 30th running. The full marathon starts early — around 6:35 a.m. Eastern Time — to give runners cooler conditions and a long window on course, with wheelchair and handcycle athletes setting off a few minutes ahead. Early-bird registration is already open; confirm the exact start time on the official Myrtle Beach Marathon site closer to race weekend.

Is the Myrtle Beach Marathon a good course for a PR or a Boston qualifier?

Yes — it is one of the flattest, fastest marathons in the Southeast. The course is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier, with only about +86 m (283 ft) of total elevation gain, no bridges and no hills. That makes it a strong choice for chasing a Boston-qualifying time or a personal best. Run the tangents on the residential turns and watch the wind on the open oceanfront miles. Check your target on the Boston qualifying calculator.

Where does the Myrtle Beach Marathon course go?

It is a coastal loop that starts and finishes near Pelicans Ballpark, off Grissom Parkway by Broadway at the Beach. The signature section is several miles straight up Ocean Boulevard, running parallel to the Atlantic past the boardwalk, the SkyWheel and beachfront hotels. The route also runs through The Market Common, along Kings Highway and into the Grande Dunes area before a flat finish back toward the ballpark. Check the official course map for the current 2027 layout.

What is the time limit for the Myrtle Beach Marathon?

The full marathon has a 6.5-hour (6 hours 30 minutes) course time limit, which works out to roughly a 14:53 per mile (9:15 per km) pace. The early start time helps runners near the back make the cutoff. If you are unsure whether your training pace clears the limit, plug it into the pace calculator before race day.

How big is the Myrtle Beach Marathon?

It is a mid-sized regional marathon. The full marathon drew about 1,674 finishers in 2026, up from roughly 1,167 the year before — a growing field, but still small enough to avoid big-city congestion. The wider race weekend, with the half marathon, marathon relay and 5K, brings several thousand runners to the Grand Strand. Expect lively crowds near the start, finish and oceanfront, with quieter stretches through the residential miles.

How do I register for the Myrtle Beach Marathon?

Registration is handled online through the official Myrtle Beach Marathon site — there is no lottery, so entry is first-come, first-served until distances fill. Early-bird pricing for 2027 is already open and rises as race day approaches, so registering early saves money. The full marathon, half marathon, marathon relay and 5K are all part of the same race weekend.

What is the weather usually like for the Myrtle Beach Marathon?

Early March on the South Carolina coast is typically mild for a marathon — a start near 55 degrees F (13 degrees C) warming into the 60s, far gentler than a northern winter race. The trade-offs are Atlantic humidity, which can make the oceanfront miles feel warmer, and wind: the long Ocean Boulevard straightaways are fully exposed, so an onshore breeze or headwind is the main thing that can slow a fast day. Dress light, carry a throwaway top for the start, and check the wind forecast the week before.