Media Contact:

Ally Dorrough, APR • Alabama’s Beaches Sports & Events
[email protected] • alabamasbeaches.com/sports
1-800-745-SAND • 251-968-9327 (direct) • 334-391-7745 (cell)

GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, ALA. – Trade the Thanksgiving leftovers for running shoes and make a few new family memories at the beach. Registration is open for the 19th annual Coastal Half Marathon, 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run, returning Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, beginning and ending at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.

A post-Thanksgiving tradition along Alabama’s Beaches, the event offers a distance for everyone, whether participants are chasing a personal best in the half marathon, taking on the 5K or enjoying the 1-mile fun run with family and friends.

“We look forward to this race every year because it gives families another way to experience Alabama’s Beaches together,” said Michelle Russ, vice president of sales for Alabama's Beaches Sports & Events. “It is a fun way to spend Thanksgiving weekend, get outside and experience our destination beyond the beach. It also brings visitors to our area during the shoulder season, helping support local businesses and contribute to the economic impact of sports tourism in our coastal communities.”

The accessible, flat courses take racers through the scenic, paved Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail at Gulf State Park, giving participants a look at the area’s diverse natural landscape along the way. All three races start and finish at the Orange Beach Sportsplex, with the half marathon also extending along the beach road before returning through the park.

The fun continues after the finish line for racers and spectators alike. Families and friends are invited to enjoy the Columbia Southern University Family Fun Zone, featuring inflatables and face painting. Racers can refuel with post-race food sponsored by Alabama Coastal Catering and drinks provided by Coca-Cola while enjoying the post-race celebration, live music and awards ceremony.

Registration and packet pickup will be held from 3-5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27, at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. Race-day registration will be available from 6:30-7:45 a.m. Saturday. The half marathon begins at 8 a.m., followed by the 5K at 8:10 a.m. and the 1-mile run at 8:20 a.m.

Ready to run off Thanksgiving at the beach? Register now to secure a spot in the Coastal Half Marathon, 5K or 1-Mile Fun Run at MagicSportsUSA.com/events/coastal-run. For information on upcoming athletic and major leisure events along Alabama’s Beaches and to book accommodations, visit alabamasbeaches.com/sports.

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Photos:

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Caption: Register now for the 19th annual Coastal Half Marathon, 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run taking place Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, beginning and ending at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.
Credit: Magic Sports

About Alabama’s Beaches Sports & Events:

Alabama’s Beaches Sports & Events (AB Sports & Events) is a partnership among Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (GSOBT), the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, Gulf State Park and the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. In 2007, the organization became a department within GSOBT. In this role, AB Sports & Events – along with assistance from both cities – works to bring quality athletic and leisure events to Alabama’s Gulf Coast. To learn more about sports and events along Alabama’s 32 miles of white-sand beaches, please visit alabamasbeaches.com/sports.