Rehoboth Seashore Marathon - Race Reviews

The race started near the pavilion. Parking was easy, but there were not enough restroom facilities to accommodate all the runners. The early portion on the boardwalk is fun and there are a lot of spectators. The course is flat and fast, the rain this year made the last portion on the trail muddy but can't help the weather. I almost missed a turn later in the race, I did to see any volunteers or signs. After running the full, not much food was leftover. The tent party was awesome with a DJ and plenty of beverages which is a big draw for many. The race, hotel and dining sells out so sign up and book your choices early.

The course is generally flat, so if you are looking for something fast this will fit the bill. Large sections are out and backs on park bike trails. That will help or hurt depending on your preferences. Pre race communication is, ahem, extensive. There were more emails from the race director for this marathon than any other race (marathon or otherwise) that I have ever run. The only glitch was at the start. The race has an 'informal drop off' for clothes you want for the finish line. At the start, there are no signs for where to find it nor does anyone associated with the race seem to know where they are. After asking quite a few people and getting increasingly frustrated and closer to the starting time we finally got an answer. They are along the road near the pavilion towards the beach. You might want to note that if you plan to run this race.

I did not expect so many people at a small beach town in December! Starting line has a giant lit up Christmas tree. Friendly people all around. Some are dressed as elfs. Parts of the course is an out and back so I got to cheer on some of the fastest runners. Great scenery. Cold, windy, and wet, you know, 'Duck weather', but most of that was late in the race. Legs got muddy. Loved it. Only regret was that I had no appetite for all that food and drink at the finish line.

At least 2 dozen porta potties short at race start and supplied only 4 during the remainder of the entire race. They cram all the marathoners with the half marathoners into a starting area way too small to accommodate everyone instead of starting the full at 7 and the half at 8 (hint, hint race directors). No one at the aid stations had pitchers to fill up bottles and not enough GU stations (even though it was advertised on the website). Weather was horrible, obviously not their fault, but they did choose to route the course onto dirt trails which turned the race into a tough mudder and was downright DANGEROUS!!! Oh and smoking pot may be acceptable nowadays but you shouldnt allow it after the finish area at the party tents. I got an actual high instead of a runners high. Fellow 50 staters, pick a different DE marathon.

Very disappointing. The line to get into any of the two locations for the after party was very long. Very disorganized and no-one taking control. Once you are inside, there is another long line to get a drink and another long line to get some food. We purchased two additional tickets for our wives but we had to leave to go somewhere else serving real food and offering a place to seat. Cold burgers, hot dogs and canned beans don't do the trick after running a full marathon We tried to talk to the marathon director to share our feedback and frustration but it was a waste of time. The director was standing in front of the marathon prices the entire time so it was clear that she had no idea how bad it was, or had very low expectations on the experience for everyone. As far as the marathon, it was nothing special. I was hoping for something unique but it was way overrated specially when you paying over 160.00...I will not consider or recommend this marathon. There are way too many Marathons out there for almost half the fee.

This is a great marathon. The course is flat with about 1/3 on roads, 1/3 on a trail through oceanside wetlands, and 1/3 along wooded paths. The crowd is great, but there are sections on the paths where there is not crowd. Bring your own gu/cliffshot/what ever, since they are available in limited areas on the route. Cool shirt and medal too.

Thought this was one of the best organized races I've ever been at. Plus the volunteers were as was the crowd support. I very much enjoyed myself. Thanks for a great race.

No marathon production is perfect. Each and every one, big or small, has something that could be improved upon, Rehoboth Beach is no exception. However, I would rank this marathon near the top of my favorites list. Kudos to Mary Beth and her crew for an outstanding job organizing this event. Also, I cannot forget and thank the army of volunteers who graced their presence coming out early on a chilly Saturday morning to make this event possible. Fifty-Staters should seriously consider making Rehoboth Beach their Delaware marathon destination.

This was my first marathon, and I'm worried I may have spoiled myself. The course is absolutely breathtaking, as it varies from the beachfront, to small-town Rehoboth streets, to beautiful flat trails through the woods and marshes... It was gorgeous. The temp was about 45 when I started and 55 when I ended. Beautiful weather for running. The biggest impact however is how committed the Rehoboth Beach Running Company is to this race! The online forums have hundreds of users that make hundreds of posts and comments each week. You really feel like you're part of a huge family. The town is decorated to the 9's for Christmas for the race, and there is loads of community support. After such a great experience, I'm already signing up for my next one and it hasn't even been a week.

This course was perfect blending of packed trails and asphalt. The first 22 miles were flat with a mild downhill, keep in mind that mile 22-25 is a mild up hill grind.

Rehoboth is my 6th marathon and was absolutely one of my favorites. I love heading through the quiet wildlife and beach areas, and finishing in town with great crowd support. Like any road race there were some out and back slogs but nothing terrible. I prefer a quiet race, no DJs etc, and Rehoboth really had a nice balance. The after-party was crazy but amazing. Also, I was able to park a block from the finish, so no need for a gear bag. I would highly recommend this race.

Absolutely perfect weather and the course is fantastic. Could be challenging with wind but otherwise very flat. Easy recovery due to lots of trails. Organization is five star. Easy packet pickup. Highly recommended.

The RD and volunteers did a wonderful job with the race and its organization, and the after-parties. Packet pickup was very easy. Logistics to get to the start were easy, too (we stayed 2 blocks away). We had friends who drove from a hotel further away and didn't hear about any difficulties finding a parking space. Great course, but be prepared for the hardpack gravel. The hardpack gravel is there on the first out/back and again on the second. This is a very flat course with a barely mentionable hill in the first half. Course was well marked with marshals and traffic cops there when needed, and cones/arrows on the street when marshals weren't really needed. The after party is divided into two areas, one under the tent is billed as more raucous and the one at the Cultured Pearl is billed as quieter. Both were fairly crowded, and we opted for the quieter one. The food was easy to get and was real food - hamburgers, pulled pork, hot dogs, etc. The bar looked somewhat crowded so I waited a bit to get beer - by the time I went the kegs were kicked but they had bottles available. Only negative comment: would like to see some improvement in the way drop bags are handled. While we stayed 2 blocks from the start, the finish was 1/2 mile from our hotel, and we wanted to have the option to just go to the after party without going back to the hotel. Drop off was very easy with unattended bins next to the starting area, but for pick up all bags and clothes collected at the start were piled in the same area. While the clothes were on one side and the bags on the other, people going through the clothes tossed them willy nilly and covered some of the bags. The spectators were wonderful, but being a small secluded marathon were only in selected spots, which is why my rating of 4 rather than 5. This year the weather was perfect, but I assume being at the beach wind could be an issue. Still my weather app said there were 9 mph winds during my race, but I didn't feel it so maybe it was blocked well most of the time.

I'm doing the 50, and this is a good time to knock one off. Unfortunately, I didn't plan ahead, and signed up late. $160 for late registrants? Obscene. Only more expensive races are NYC and Boston. This is a race run on unpopulated roads and an off-season state park. Massive profit margin for a for-profit operation. Pros: - flat and fast - good post race party Cons: - poorly organized aid station - bad swag - half marathoners dominate the race and get in the way; including post race - crappy t-shirt - no real community interest

I love running with Marathon Maniacs since they are so much fun. I met maniacs from all over the US and they were all very friendly. The post race party had tons of food and beer. The high winds slowed me down as did the temperature. I was happy I did Rehoboth and may do Dover in the future. The local businesses were very supportive and I picked up some cool gifts from nieces and nephew! I highly recommend this race. The views are great!

This was my 44th different marathon. I found the course to be scenic and varied enough to be interesting with the dirt path sections, the marsh bridge, the glimpses of the ocean, and the brief run through town around mile 18. The dirt trail portions were not technical. No roots, rocks or ruts to trip you up and it was packed pretty hard. The race organization was top notch. Packet pickup was great, water stops were all great, and the indoor post race party was awesome. They never ran out of beer or food. My only complaint would be that their website is really in need of improvement. Rehoboth Beach was a great place to visit! Even though it was off season a lot of shops and restaurants were open. Take a drive out to the Dogfish Brewery if you have the time.

Linda and Mary Beth go above and beyond with this wonderful marathon. PROS: - Mostly flat course, a couple of bumps, but they're almost welcome when encountered. - early 7am start. - beautiful course with great nature views. - About half of the course is on crushed stone trails = easy for recovery. - vibrant after party. - easy package pickup. - Extremely responsive facebook page. - A run for all abilities, as the cutoff is 7 hours. - good shirt and finisher medal. CONS - after party food, although varied, I found to be dry and couldn't each much of it. Maybe simplify the menu and have better quality? - The two out and backs on trails can be a bit mentally draining. Plus, no bounce on trails, so you have to work a bit more to maintain speed. - Wind can be factor, but, for every headwind there will be a tail wind. - Personally, I didn't like the beer selection at the finish, but no biggie, this is more on me. A simple lager would work - they offered an IPA, a pumpkin lager and a dark beer. - Pricing is too high. You can register 10 months early for $100, but registering a couple of weeks out costs $170 with fees. They charge $20 to change races (really should be free unless upgrading to the full) and the Zip shirt I had to have was a bit pricey at $65. Overall, a great race and you can tell Linda and Mary Beth really care about the race. It could improve in certain areas but, so could any race.

One of the most beautiful marathon courses! The early miles along the coast when the sun was rising were stunning. The race is flat, well organized and Rehoboth was nice to visit. I would recommend this marathon especially for the 50 states looking for DE. But do not expect a free beer if you finish after 4 hours. Both after parties were completely out of beer before the 4 hour finishers. There are plenty of other places in Rehoboth to get a beer but it was disappointing after all the hype not to be able to even buy a beer at the after party.

A wonderful race, especially for 50-staters looking to cross Delaware off their lists. it's a fast, flat course with beautiful views in Cape Henelopen State Park. The fans during the first and last few miles were very enthusiastic, and I thought the race was well organized. Parking around Rehoboth Beach is easy, and it's a fun town to explore, even in the off season. I highly recommend this race and would definitely run it again.

Mary Beth and team do a great job! The shirts were bright green Brooks tech t-shirts and the real key is the after party with free local beer and good food. The course is on trail for a significant portion (two sections). If it rains, be prepared for potential mud, but otherwise you're mostly running in parks and it's really pretty. The course is essentially two different out and backs. Half marathoners run with the marathoners in the first couple of miles and then share the roads and trails for the last ~8 miles as well. Very flat, but watch out for tiny rocks especially in the second half out and back. Make sure to check the Facebook page for this race to stay informed. FYI, there is also race day pick up for bibs. Not many people on the course for cheering, but this is not a race that you go to if you want crazy crowds. It's more of a scenic destination one. Thanks LSD (Lower, Slower Delaware)!

I am a Half Marathon Runner and have participated in many different races. The Rehoboth Marathon is top-notch in comparison to many of the big name events out there. For a small town race it is amazing how well this event is organized and how well the runners and spectators alike are treated. Packet pick-up is always a breeze (and convenient as well - allowing race day pick-ups which is mostly unheard of at other races). The course is absolutely beautiful and I love that it is so varied, running through the town of Rehoboth Beach, venturing into State Park land, and offering multi-surface running (road, gravel trail, boardwalk). It is never boring! There are lots of spectators throughout - more than I've seen in a number of larger races! The finisher's medals are awesome and the finish line party is amazing! Yes, there are lines to get into the tent but those lines are WELL WORTH the wait! Catered breakfast foods, as well as burgers, mac n' cheese and vegetarian options too. There is always plenty! If you are a beer drinker (and let's face it, most runners are!) you won't be disappointed. A local craft brewery backs their truck right into the tent and taps are pouring 3 or 4 different brews to suit everyone's taste! This year the taps kicked and the brewer left to bring in more kegs. In the meantime the race director made bottled beer available to everyone! I am at this race year after year and have never heard the words 'Sorry, there is no more' Talk about treating the runners well - this race definitely does! Thank you for another terrific race and I'll be back next year!

With all the hype, I expected more. I ran the marathon. The 'packed trail' was really just sand and gravel for the first leg. I had to stop three times to dump rocks out of my shoes. The second trail had pretty large rocks that had already been loosened by the half marathoners. I saw two nasty falls. Trail was also too narrow. There were long sections where you were crossing paths with faster runners and half marathon runners. The after party food was unimpressive, which would be fine if they hadn't been calling it the best food ever (think microwaved pancakes). Didn't try the beer, line was way too long. Packet pick up was super easy. Town was very nice and restaurants were really great.

Overall I had a great run. I must say, I know I wasn't the only one to make this mistake so I wanted to write. Please, in the future, where the half and full separate, put more volunteers/signs/ANYTHING to show the split. I NEVER saw the split, therefore missed it and ran the half, then more or less, did the half AGAIN. I had to leave the course to make up 4.75 miles that I'd missed. I then got back on the course to complete an entire 26.2 (GPS watch very helpful this day). (Also, I'd never been to Rehoboth before or did this marathon before, so it was an unfamiliar area to me.) What's unfortunate is that I don't even show up in the marathon results as having run the race, though I crossed the finish line (TWICE). I realize I didn't cross all the mats on the course, but I did cross several of them (and a couple more than once&) I know a few other runners would agree; please BETTER mark the split for half vs full. PLEASE. I ran my best marathon time ever, and now it's like it doesn't even count. I did receive a finish time text of 4:01:00, so somewhere out there it shows I did this.

Packet Pick Up was a breeze. Participants shirt is very nice. Race Day Parking was excellent. Plenty of spaces. Showed up at 6:10am and that was plenty early. Only two bathrooms at the start. This was a big miss. I saw several at the finish that was a 1/2 mile away. In my mind, 1/2 mile each way is too far to walk for a bathroom before the race. Course was tight. Streets were small and with the largest number of runners the race has had, it made for a tight first 3 miles until the half marathoners broke off. From miles 20-24 you were on a path that was only wide enough for two people. Because it was an out and back, if you wanted to pass, you had to be sure no one was coming in the opposite direction because there was no room. The footing during this stretch was difficult as there were large stones all over the path. Lots of out and backs throughout the course. One at 8.5 to 12 was on the berm of a highway and proved to be mentally difficult. Course contained many out and backs. I am typically a fan of out and backs, but this one contained far too many in my opinion. Water stations were tough. I had to stop my stride at each one due to the volunteers not appropriately holding the water/Gatorade. I often encountered a volunteer holding 4 cups in one hand and in order for me to grab one without spilling all, I had to come to a complete stop. This started at the very first water stop and was often the case. I appreciate the volunteers, but believe it is the job of the staff of the race to teach proper distribution practices. The volunteers and fellow runners were some of the nicest Ive met on a course. Spectators were sparse, but excellent when I saw them. Seemed to gather in large groups. Finish small, but nice. Finishers Medal was neat. I didn't much care for this race and would not recommend it for a Delaware marathon.

This race has it all! Well organized, great course, amazing volunteers, great town atmosphere and after party!

I am a local here, and I never miss this race. I love the camaraderie of all the awesome runners. This race is well organized by Race Director, Mary Beth Hannah Evans and a long list of volunteers. I enjoy volunteering at packet pick up as much as the run itself. The post race party is great; having plenty of food for everyone weather you are a vegetarian or meat lover. The course is beautiful and well marked. Its a perfect course and a perfect race!!

Nice, scenic course with beach and woodland trail views. Easy parking, no traffic, plenty of water/Gatorade stations. My only 'complaint' is that the 5 of the last 6 miles is on a rail trail that is a little too narrow if you're in the large 10min/mile segment of runners. It wasn't exactly crowded, but if you were planning to kick up your pace here you'd be doing a lot of dodging.

I ran this race in 2012, and it was a real pleasure to come in 2015 and see the change to the course. Still very flat and a PR/BQ is gettable. Now, the two out-and-backs on trails are wonderful, especially the stretch from Mile 3 to Mile 16+ in Cape Henlopen State Park. Really enjoyed this stretch. The second out-and-back trail, from mile 19-24+, is rockier and a bit harder on the feet, but still enjoyable. There aren't many fans on the course because of the trails. Aid was very consistent. Small suggestion: move the GU to the front of the aid so people can grab it, quickly eat, and down the nastiness with some water. But the GUs were appreciated, they were available at multiple points throughout the race. Another area of improvement: some more signage warning of the half/full split. That happened when the crowd was still heavy, and although there were several volunteers right at the split, I bet there were a few people with headphones not paying attention that missed it. Overall, a very enjoyable race. Nice tech short-sleeved T this year, plus a nice medal. Very impressive post-race food offerings and music. It gives you the chance to post a nice finishing time, definitely recommend.

Rehoboth really welcomes the runners. They offered discounts to the eateries and were pleased to see us. The expo was pretty organized. Shirts were nice (unisex ran big) and the volunteers at the expo were having fun and drinking wine. This prompted my friend and I to do some wine tasting across the street, then boutique shopping (great stores for gifts for people who have everything) then a wonderful dinner. We stayed at The Breakers Hotel. It was a perfect location, just blocks from both the start and finish. It is a beach hotel so small, but very clean with on site parking. They let us do a late checkout and couldn't have been more accommodating. They don't provide breakfast though, but couldn't have made a better choice for location. The course was scenic, with a few glimpses of the ocean. Most was off the road on trails. This was a nice change and out of traffic. There were some winds though. The race has 176 feet of elevation so is mostly flat. The last 8 miles involve about 6 miles of a trail that is a little rougher than the initial trail, so I didn't like that at all. They had plenty of water, gatorade and gel. Volunteers were terrific but sometimes weren't ready with cups in hand. Course was well marked. I did very poorly in the race but I cannot complain about the race itself. The conditions were perfect in 2015, but I suspect that the wind can be a huge factor at times. It is definitely NOT a PR course for me...didn't like the last 6 miles of trail. I almost fell a lot, but I was tired too. There were several timing mats throughout the course, so cheaters beware. You cannot cheat this course and turn around early. I enjoyed it from the time I drove into Rehoboth until the end. Cute medal.

This is my 31st state and 39th marathon overall. The Pros: Beautiful course: salt marsh/coastal plains/ocean views Nice changes of surface  road to crushed gravel to road to packed dirt, nice for the feet Very active Facebook group, which let people 'get to know' each other before the race and also gave everyone access to the very responsive race organizers Great little town: cute, lots of great restaurants, lots of affordable lodging in walk-to-start-line range, friendly people Mild weather (and I have heard it's usually, but note not always, mild) Unlimited free street parking, start and finish close together so your car is an easy walk no matter where you parked Option of race morning packet pick-up After-party supposed to be really nice (I didn't go, so I don't know) The medal! One of my faves. Aid stations  more than adequate and well-organized. Race size  big enough to give it an 'event' feel, small enough that nothing was overcrowded (except the line at the party  see below) The Cons: A few people who were really trying to get a fast time didn't like that so much of the race was on trails. I thought the trails were fine myself, but it is something to consider. I do feel like the website slightly understates the amount of trail in the race. Line for the after-party was horrendous, and it looked to be shoulder-to-shoulder under the tent as I walked around the outside trying to find a faster way in as I really had to get out of there quick. I was really cold and really hungry, but there was no food available at the finish line except Gatorade, everything else was under the tent with the prohibitive line to enter. I would've even been satisfied with a bagel or banana, but I didn't see anything and the people I asked just said it was in the tent. I had to stop at a service station on my way out of town to buy snacks. (I finished in 3:45 by the way... so not a late finisher.) Spectators  not many on course, except in town. This is more a 'zone out with beautiful nature' race as opposed to a 'crowd support' race. Despite those few cons, overall many more pros than cons.

This was my fastest time ever. The course is definitely flat and if you're looking for a PR this is the race. Spectators were few and far between but very nice. This was a really small race and barely anyone was there an hour before the start. There was plenty of parking and you could easily show up at 6:45am and be fine. There were no corals and no pace teams. The half marathoners broke off to a separate course at mile 3 but there was never really any problems with congestion at the start. The course did not have enough bathrooms at all and I saw multiple runners (male and female) hitting the sides of the course. There seemed to be plenty of water/Gatorade but the stations are a bit farther apart than every 2 miles once you go in to the state park area. Post race food/drinks was excellent with a large spread of hot food and different beers.

The location is nice for December. This was my first Rehoboth Beach Marathon. I found myself fishing around the website for answers to simple questions. The website needs a facelift. To find the informaion, I 'friended' the Facebook page. The race director is very prompt with answers. I thought many of the questions asked should be addressed and added to the website. Could have saved her lots of time. The course was nice. There were several 'out and backs' of which I am not a fan. I hate passing runners wondering when do I get to the turn around point, over and over again. The course LACKS BATHROOMS. I get it. It's on scenic trails, but for the love of God, the first port-a-potty at mile SEVEN...and there is only ONE?! I chewed 6 minutes of my time because I HAD to go. At mile 13ish, I had to walk off the course to the nearest bathroom to go again. It was one of those days for me and so disappointing that there were not enough bathrooms.The running community for this race is nice. It's rarevery 'home-townish.' Perhaps if I didn't need the course amenities, I would have liked the race more. It was okay.

I can't say enough positive things about this race. It's scenic, flat, and fast. There was no wind at all this year, and although there had been rain earlier in the week, the trail sections of the course were completely free of any puddles or standing water. The volunteers and race directors were top notch (one of the race directors has a very active FB page for the marathon where she promptly answers any questions leading up to the race). Water stops were plentiful, and GUs were provided at three different spots on the course. They changed the course this year to include 3 miles of new multi-use trails that recently opened just north of Rehoboth in Cape Henlopen State Park, and that section of the course was definitely my favorite part of the race. If you want to join the 50 States Club, run Rehoboth as your Delaware race. If you want to do a December marathon, run Rehoboth. If you want to attempt a BQ, run Rehoboth. You won't regret it.

I ran the December 2014 half-marathon last week and it is now my favorite race of the year! I loved that it is small (rolled out of my hotel at 6 am, parked a block from finish line/Starbucks, did bib pick up and had time to warm up!). Flat! Loved that at least 5 miles of the half were on trails. Even though a small # of participants and spectators, the way the course is laid out made it feel bigger! Loved the state trooper hollering support. And the food tent! Hot food, pancakes, salad, bacon, mac and cheese and 3 choices of craft beer. Just outstanding.

This was my first road marathon in 2012 and remains a sentimental favorite. I returned for the third straight year intrigued by the course change. A lot of people whined about the additional trail, but I loved it. I was worried there would be boring straightaways, but the section through the marsh really was beautiful. When the weather cooperates, as it did, this course is just about perfect. (My training was not, so my time this year was a lot worse.) Note that there is a fair amount of rail trail/crushed stone instead of asphalt, but it's predominantly fast and flat. The congestion at the start works itself out pretty quickly, but if you are hoping to go out at a quick pace get to the front. Parking is fairly easy so don't feel you have to stay somewhere near the start. There are several great restaurants in town that are still open in December, and tax-free shopping. There are frequent water stops with helpful volunteers. Crowd support is minimal but enthusiastic. The post-race party is always a good time. Free beer, plenty of water, lots of food unless your finish time is over 5.5 hours, a DJ, and the chance to meet other runners. Overall, there is just a very positive, warm vibe.

Scenic and gentle course. Terrific volunteers and staff. a post-race party that was among the best. Class act awarding a runner finishing her 50 states with a Delaware plaque. I highly recommend this race.

This was my 48th overall marathon on 40 different courses. This rates among the best. I am a no frills guy so the simple expo was welcome. Parking feet from the start was fantastic. I wish they had opened the public restrooms which would have alleviated the lines a bit at the porta potties but that is a minor issue. The course was the best. It is as flat as you could hope and most of it was on firm packed crushed gravel which was so easy on the knees. The scenery on the trail portions was beautifulbay and marsh. The aid stations were easily maneuvered and the volunteers always smiling. Plentiful aid stations also. We got very lucky on the weather. The rain held off until after noon and the temps were perfect in the mid 40's with a cloud cover and no wind, perfect for running a marathon. If you are trying to knock off Delaware, this is the race to run. Thank you to the race organizers, all of the volunteers and the spirited spectators.