Sledgehammer Beach Run
About this race
Event Address:
2950 Island Drive
North Topsail Beach, NC
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Experience the beauty of North Topsail Beach while testing your endurance in the Sledgehammer Beach Run—featuring a Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K. This unique race takes place right on the sand, offering both breathtaking views and a rewarding challenge.
Hosted by the Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission, the event is held in memory of Dr. E.B. Sledge, a Marine and World War II veteran whose legacy continues to inspire. The mission of the Sledgehammer Beach Run is simple yet powerful: to honor the memory of Sledgehammer and all combat veterans.
Dr. Sledge, a lifelong Marine, spent his postwar years reflecting on the sacrifices and experiences of those who served alongside him. In his honor, a portion of race proceeds supports Semper Fi & America’s Fund, which provides assistance to wounded, ill, and injured service members and their families.
Add this bucket-list race to your calendar and run with purpose as you honor heroes, support a worthy cause, and take on the challenge of the Sledgehammer Beach Run.
Course Information
Half marathon,10k & 5k course are all on the beach
**Half marathon cut off time is 4 hours. Anyone left on the course after the fourth hour will be picked up by a staff member and will be disqualified for awards.
T-shirtsIn order to keep the cost of races low for runners we have created the option to purchase a shirt instead of just including one in the registration. Register and select to purchase any item from our race store. Your items will be available to pick up with your packet or shipped to you if you're doing the race virtually. We have a variety of items to choose from.
Reminder: this is a rain or shine event
Shuttle only available on March 27, 2027
Due to event popularity we're expecting to fill up the parking at the start/finish area. We have setup a shuttle at Beach Access #31 (address 4030 Island Drive, North Topsail Beach). It will start at 7:15am-8am and then resume from the finish at 9am through 12:45pm. LAST SHUTTLE LEAVES AT 8:00AM SO DON'T MISS IT.
This is a free shuttle and you will be given a parking pass if you park before 7:55am. The parking lot will be free for those with a parking pass until 1pm on March 27th only.
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This event is owned & operated by the Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission. Learn more about us at www.playjosc.com
Pick your distance
Running
Sledgehammer 5k Beach Run
Registration comes with finisher medal (only those that finish the race), drawstring bag, exclusive restaurant discounts, bib with chiming chip and access to finish line refreshments.
Sledgehammer Half Marathon Beach Run
The entire course will be on the beach.Cutoff time of 4hours. Registration comes with finisher medal (only those that finish the race), drawstring bag, exclusive restaurant discounts, bib with chiming chip and access to finish line refreshments.
Sledgehammer 10k Beach Run
Registration comes with finisher medal (only those that finish the race), drawstring bag, exclusive restaurant discounts, bib with chiming chip and access to finish line refreshments.
Sledgehammer Half Marathon Virtual Race
Sledgehammer 10k Virtual Race
Sledgehammer 5k Virtual Race
Race-day daylight
We have no recorded weather for N Topsail Beach yet, but sunrise and sunset follow from the venue and the date.
The sun rises at 7:05 AM and sets at 7:25 PM local time (EDT) in N Topsail Beach on March 26, 2027 — 12h 20m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
Reviews
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Results — Sledgehammer Beach Run
Other races near N Topsail Beach
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Surf to Sound 5K
Salty Turtle Cycling Club Haunted Hundred
The Omkc Non-Runners Run or Go the Extra Mile for the Military Kids
Hampstead Kiwanis Park Turkey Trot
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 1 N Topsail Beach event
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