Some races ask you to survive them. This one asks you to enjoy it. The Rehoboth Seashore Marathon and Half Marathon goes off Saturday, December 5, 2026, in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware — a flat, certified loop on the road, with a typical race-day high of 50 and a low of 38. That's the kind of weather that makes you glad you trained through the summer. If you've been circling a late-fall goal race, this is your nudge to register now.
The Course: Flat, Certified, and Built for a Good Day
Let's start with the part that matters most on race morning: the ground under your feet. The half is a road loop, and it's flat. Not rolling-flat, not mostly-flat — flat. That means fewer surprises, fewer gear changes, and a course that lets you settle into a rhythm early and stay there.
The course is USATF certified, which matters whether you're chasing a personal best or just want the confidence that the distance is exactly what it says it is. A certified loop also means you can compare your time to other certified races without wondering if the course came up short.
A loop has its own charm, too. You get to know the course on the way out, and you get the satisfaction of recognizing landmarks on the way back. For first-timers, that familiarity can be a real comfort. For anyone hunting a fast day, flat and certified is about as friendly a combination as you'll find.
The Experience: A Beach Town in December
Rehoboth Beach in December is a different kind of coastal morning. The summer crowds are gone, the air is crisp, and the town has that quiet, bundled-up charm that makes a winter race feel like a small adventure rather than a big production.
That's part of what earns this race a quality score of 95 out of 100 — a Runner Favorite by any measure. A flat certified course is one thing. Pair it with a location people actually want to spend a weekend in, and you've got a race worth planning around. Bring the family, make a night of it, and let the race be the reason for the trip.
And if December in Delaware doesn't fit your calendar or your climate, there's another way to run with us: the Rehoboth Seashore Virtual Marathon and the Rehoboth Seashore Virtual Half Marathon. You can choose to run virtually anywhere in the world. Same race energy, your own route.
Who This Race Fits
First-timers
A flat course, mild race-day temperatures, and a certified distance make this a genuinely welcoming first half. You won't spend the morning managing hills or second-guessing the mileage. You'll spend it doing the thing you trained for. Whether this is your first half or one of many, that's a good setup.
PR-seekers
Flat, certified, and cool. A typical high of 50 and low of 38 is close to ideal for a hard effort — cool enough to keep you from overheating, warm enough that you're not fighting the cold. If you've been waiting for a course that gets out of your way, this is it.
50-state chasers
Delaware is one of those states that's easy to put off and satisfying to check off. A Runner Favorite-quality race in a beach town makes it a stop worth planning a weekend around, not just a box to tick. From your first 13.1 to your fiftieth state, this one earns its place on the map.
Logistics and Weather
The race is Saturday, December 5, 2026, in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Plan for a race-day high near 50 and a low near 38 — layers you can shed, gloves you'll be glad you brought, and a finish-line plan that includes something warm afterward. December mornings on the coast can feel cooler than the number suggests, so pack accordingly.
Because this is a December race, register now rather than later. Holiday-season calendars fill up fast, and a race this well-regarded tends to reward the people who commit early. If you're on the fence, the virtual option gives you a way to be part of it even if travel isn't in the cards.
The Bottom Line
A flat, certified course. A beach town with off-season charm. Race-day temperatures that cooperate. And a quality score of 95 out of 100. The Rehoboth Seashore Marathon and Half Marathon is the kind of race that makes the half marathon journey feel less like a grind and more like a good story.
Ready to make it your next adventure? See the full race page for the Rehoboth Seashore Marathon and Half Marathon and get registered for December 5, 2026.