The Palmetto Running Company's Daufuskie Island Marathon and Half

The Palmetto Running Company's Daufuskie Island Marathon and Half is run on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, on January 16, 2027. The marathon (26.2 miles) starts at 8:30 a.m. and the half marathon (13.1 miles) an hour later at 9:30 a.m. Both courses are USATF certified, which makes the marathon usable as a qualifier for other events. The race is hosted by Haig Point, a private community off Hilton Head Island, and the finish brings refreshments, a picnic, drinks and live entertainment. Finisher medals can be personalized by a local artist.

Certification matters if you have a qualifying time in mind, since an uncertified course cannot be used no matter how fast you run it. Plan a 16 week build for the marathon, with a weekly long run and marathon pace work over the final six weeks. Reaching an island start line takes more logistics than a city race, so settle travel and the return trip before race day rather than after the finish, when a picnic and live music are likely to hold your attention.