Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon /Half Marathon/50K Relay
- Date
- December 6, 2026
- Distance
- Dismal Swamp 50K · Dismal Swamp Marathon · Dismal Swamp Half Marathon & more
From the Organizer
Welcome to the 7th Annual Dismal Swamp /50K/Marathon/Half Marathon and 50k Relay
Marathon will take place on our USATF Certified Course! Ranked the Fastest course in Virginia and 47th Fastest in the US by Findmymarathon.com! Huge BQ opportunity!
50K & Half Marathon courses are also on a Certfied course
COURSE: The 50k & Relay Starts at 7:00 am & Marathon/Half Marathon starts at 7:30 am. There is a 9hr limit (4 PM). The course is an out and back 3.88 miles each way for the 50k. There are 4 loops for 50k. The Marathon course is a Certified BQ Course, it's 6.55 up 6.55 back 2 loops for the Marathon & one Loop for the Half Marathon. very fast course! The 50k and Marathon/Half Marathon courses are USATF Certified.
FLUIDS AND FOOD: 1 full aid station at start/finish after every loop with food, water, and nutrition drinks! This year, due to the marathon& Half Marathon, there will be water stations set up on the course where the Marathon runners will hit 9 times & Half 4 times during the race. The manned stations will only be set up during the Marathon! We will leave an unmanned water station set up close to the 50k turnaround for the Ultra race when the Marathon is complete.
AMENITIES & POST-RACE: Finishers receive a Medal, Hoodie Sweatshirt for 50K, and long-sleeve shirt for Marathon & Half Marathon and Finishers items. All Runners who qualify for Boston will receive a BQ Shirt! New this Year, we will have a Beer Garden from 9 am-2 pm. Those of you who finish after the Beer Garden is closed will be able to redeem your two drinks at Garage Brewery until next weekend. We can only keep the Beer Garden open for a certain amount of time. We will also have Pizza to enjoy!
TIME LIMITS: The 50K & 50K Relay Starts at 7 am & Full Marathon & Half Marathon starts at 7:30 AM -- Finish line will close at 4 PM.
AWARDS: The top three males and Females overall and the top three males and females in the following Age groups: 39 and under/40-49/50-59 /60 and over will receive awards for the 50K! The top three males and Females overall and the top three males and females in 10-year age groups will also receive awards In the Marathon & Half
REGISTRATION: Registration will be open race day up to the Race Start
STRIDER PLUS/LEGACY RUNNERS: A Discount will be applied at checkout.
CLUB MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS: A Club membership discount of $5.00 is available up thru race day. Discounts are automatically applied on the payment page during registration. You should use the account you used to register for the club to apply for this discount. We will also attempt to match on name/date of birth.
Paper entry forms are not available.
PACKET PICKUP: Pre-race day Packet Pick will be at Running etc VB Saturday, December 5th, from 1-3 p.m., &Race day packet pick up will be at the start line starting at 6:15 am until the Marathon & half Marathon start!
50K RELAY: When registering, please signup your team if you are the 1st member signing up. Other members, please use the same team name.
You can have anywhere from 2 to 4 members on your team!
ELITE FIELD: We will have an Elite Entry for this year's Race: to receive a Comp Elite Entry you had to have run faster than the time listed below in the last 2 years! if you would like to claim the entry, contact Thomas Orangerunning@yahoo.com! We will also have Nutrition drop tables set up in multiple areas on the course for the marathon.
Marathon
MEN: 2:40
Women 3:00
50K
Men:3:15
Women: 3:50
Half Marathon
Men 1:15
Women 1:22
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
55°
Typical Low
38°
Chance of Rain
32%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Norfolk S, 9 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Chesapeake, VA
Population
251,153
as of 2023
Elevation
6 ft
Nearest Airport
ORF
Norfolk International Airport · 11 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
A big city race. Expect multiple lodging options and plenty to do the day before.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon /Half Marathon/50K Relay, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
181
Days to train
- Race
- Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon /Half Marathon/50K Relay
- Date
- December 6, 2026
Coming Up
More Running races near Chesapeake, VA
2026 | New Energy Summer Camp
Less than a mile away
Strider Mile
Less than a mile away
Bra-ha-ha 5K
5K
Less than a mile away
Run for Healing 5K
5K
Less than a mile away
From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
The half marathon is the distance where you find out what you're actually made of. Long enough to demand real preparation. Short enough that it doesn't consume your life to train for it. Most people who run their first half describe it as the race that changed their relationship with what they're capable of. Once you cross this finish line, the bar moves. That's not a warning — that's the point.
Race day energy varies by event size, but the finish line feeling is the same regardless. Big races keep the noise going the whole way. Smaller races give you stretches where it's just you and the miles — and that solitude becomes its own kind of fuel.
The half marathon rewards people who show up for the boring training miles.
How long to train: 10–14 weeks. If you're already running consistently, 10 weeks of structured buildup is enough. If you're building from a casual base, give yourself 14.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon /Half Marathon/50K Relay?
- Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon /Half Marathon/50K Relay is a running race held in Chesapeake, Virginia on December 6, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more running races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
- When and where is the Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon /Half Marathon/50K Relay?
- Sunday, December 6, 2026 in Chesapeake, Virginia at Rest stop at mile post 4 Dismal Swamp, Chesapeake, VA. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon /Half Marathon/50K Relay?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon /Half Marathon/50K Relay
Dec 6, 2026