Rehoboth Beach Marathon

Registration is open to all runners and opens in early January each year. Spots fill to capacity on a first-come basis, so register early. There is no waitlist, but spots do open up as participants defer or request refunds.

Yes, the course is USATF-certified and qualifies as a Boston qualifier. Roughly one in eight finishers earns a BQ, which reflects the flat, fast nature of the course.

The time limit is seven hours, which is generous and accommodates a wide range of finishing paces.

The course is an out-and-back through Rehoboth Beach and the surrounding flat terrain. Total elevation gain is very modest and spread evenly, with no significant climbs. It is one of the flatter marathon courses on the East Coast.

December mornings in Rehoboth Beach are cold, often in the low 30s at the gun, with afternoon highs in the upper 40s. Dress in layers you can shed and plan for possible coastal wind, especially on the return leg.

The race sees roughly 1,000 finishers, making it a mid-size event with a low-key, community feel rather than a big-city race atmosphere.

The start and finish are both within a half mile of each other in downtown Rehoboth Beach near the boardwalk, with free street parking close by. Philadelphia and Baltimore are each about two hours away by car.