Start Line Corrals

Corral Information

After parking at Broadway at the Beach, all distances will make their way to the loading area on Robert Grissom Parkway & 21st during their permitted times. Participants are encouraged to enter their corrals at least 30 minutes prior to the start times.

Rules: Masks and maintaining 6 feet of social distance is required throughout the entire event and to access the start area. Masks can only be removed once a runner has crossed the start line. Runners must hold onto the masks during the run to put them back on after crossing the finish line.

Participants that registered before March 31 at 11:59 PM will be assigned a corral based on pace time. Your race bib will contain the corral number that you are assigned. Anyone who registers after this deadline will be assigned a corral based on corral availability.

Each participant will need to take the following steps to enter their assigned corral safely:

There will be a security check to check any bags being brought into the start area. Please note there will be no gear check for the 2021 event.

Marathon and Half Marathon runners will be permitted to enter their assigned corrals beginning at 5:30 AM after passing through the security checkpoint. All 5k runners can enter at 7:00 AM. We ask that runners patiently wait inside their parked vehicles until they are permitted to enter this area.

All runners will have the opportunity to use the restroom before entering their assigned corrals. Hand washing stations will also be made available to runners. Please note: This will be the only restrooms available to runners before the race begins. Runners should use the restrooms before entering their assigned corrals.

Marathon and 5k runners share a corral entrance (blue arrow). Half Marathon (red arrow). Once runners enter this access point, they can make their way to their assigned corrals.

Click the image for larger view.

It is imperative that runners only access their assigned corrals to ensure adequate social distancing.

Runners will make their way down the sidewalk until they find their assigned corral, marked by volunteers holding signs with the corral letter. Volunteers will then allow runners into their assigned corrals, separated by barricades and caution tape from other corrals. You will not be allowed to switch corrals at any point. 

You can find your assigned corral on your bib – see sample bib below.

Bib colors:

Marathon: BLUE | Half Marathon: RED | 5k: YELLOW

Marathon: 6:30 AM, with one corral starting every two minutes.

Half Marathon:  ~ 6:46 AM after all of the Marathon runners have started on the course, following the same 2 minute wave start.

5k runners access the marathon corrals ~ 7 AM. Start 2 minute waves at 7:40 AM

The start line announcer will communicate when each corral is permitted to start the race. After the first corral starts, the following corrals will walk with the corral volunteer down Robert Grissom until they reach the next checkpoint. Groups will continue to walk down Robert Grissom until they reach the start line and the announcer instructs them to start the race.

Hydration Stations

Plastic water bottles (8 ounces) will be placed on tables at hydration stations along the course. There will be no cups in the 2021 event. With these changes in mind, all runners are strongly encouraged to bring their own hydration packets for the 2021 event. . Hydration station locations for each distance are listed below:

  • Marathon: Miles 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11.5, 14, 16, 18.5, 21, 23, 25
  • Half Marathon:  Miles 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11.5
  • 5k: 1.5

Medical Stations

Grand Strand medical will be activating on site at the 2021 Myrtle Beach Marathon. There will be medical support at the start and finish line as well as on course at the following miles: 8, 11, 14, 18, & 23

Due to the new date and the warmer weather we are likely to experience in May, we want all of our participants to be aware of the possibility of a heat-related illnesses. We are taking ample precautions with our medical team and will have plenty of water, aminoVITAL and GU on course. We also highly encourage all of our runners to bring their own water packs to stay hydrated throughout their run.

As we are taking these precautions we also ask all of our participants to do their part in knowing the signs of a heat-related illness. Please take some time to view the CDC’s guidelines on what to look for and what to do if you experience a heat-related illness. Click here for the guide!

FAQs

You will receive your corral placement on your race bib. We will assign all corrals based on pace time and distance. The faster paces will be in the front corrals to start the race off. If you did not give us a pace time during your registration you will be placed further back.

The deadline to change your pace time was March 31 at 11:59 PM. We are no longer allowing participants to change their pace time.

No, all corrals have been pre-measured to allow for 200 runners in each while maintaining a social distance of 6 ft. All of our corral volunteers have been trained to only allow runners into their assigned corral that matched their race bib.

No, your corral placement will not alter your overall race time. Awards will be calculated based on your chip start time. Since we are doing ~ 2 minute wave starts your time will not start until you cross the timing pad.

We cannot guarantee that you will be in the same corral. We will be placing 200 runners with the same pace time in each corral.

All participants will start on Robert Grissom Parkway just South of the intersection of Grissom Parkway and Monticello Drive