Hilton Head Torch Relay

Hilton Head Torch Relay takes place on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, on November 7, 2026. One distance is on the program, a 5K (3.1 miles), and it goes off early, at 5 a.m.

A start time like this changes your preparation more than the distance does. Plan on waking at least 90 minutes beforehand, keep breakfast light and familiar, and give yourself a longer warm-up than usual because your body will still be in night mode. The 5K itself is short enough that almost anyone with a few weeks of regular running can finish it, whether you run the whole way or mix in walking breaks. If you want to race it, hold something back through the first mile and press once you find your rhythm.