Tybee Marathon Official Website

The "Nitty Gritty" Details (User Opinions)

Christopher S.
New York, NY

  (03-18-2010)

"A flat course with plenty of out and back. You see some of the ocean, you run past the iconic lighthouse, and you finish on the beach.

As other reviewers have mentioned, parking is a nightmare - enough of a pain that it almost spoiled the race and is enough to convince me not to race this event in the future."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Hutch D.
Atlanta, GA

  (05-22-2009)

"If you have read one of my reviews before (this is number 6 with a bullet!) you may be noticing a recurring theme - namely races by the ocean! Hey, why not!?!? It's a great place to run and the view is always amazing! (No guys, I'm talking about the ocean - I'm a happily married man!)

The Tybee Half race is a great race for a lot of reasons. Did I mention it was by the ocean? ;-)

Despite the fact that the race is usually in the first of February, the temperatures are relatively mild and make for perfect running conditions. The event is very well organized although admittedly not boasting the numbers of some of the larger races.

One of the things I particularly like is the artwork on the T-shirts, which has been wonderfully created, year after year, by a local artist. She always seems to feature the Tybee Lighthouse in her work and, well, maybe I like lighthouses too!

Tybee is a small island do there is a great deal of looping around although there's no significant back tracking. In fact, the course is basically a figure eight with the start and finish right in the middle of the figure eight where the lines (or two circles) converge.

As for the medal, it is only too cool! It's a beautiful (and heavy) three dimensional seashell that is wonderfully cast in a pewter looking finish with a rim around it which provides the race details.

The hotels out on Tybee are all pretty much in the same category - modest and nothing fancy. If you want to do it up, and especially if you are bringing family (since it's a bit cold to enjoy the water) you might consider one of the B&B's in Savannah or one of the riverfront hotels such as the Marriott at the end of Riverstreet or the Mulberry Inn.

After the race or the night before, if you have got to eat at the Crab Shack there on Tybee Island. Better seafood is not to be found in the Southeastern United States and it's set under large oaks with tables out on the deck that face the water.

Okay - now for the bad news! Parking for the race is horrible! Carpool if possible and go ahead and get there early (real early) or you'll regret it. One more thing - there are a great many potholes on one or two portions of the course (back in one of the neighborhoods) although they do spray paint circles around them to bring them to your attention.

All in all, definitely worth running at least once! "

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2008