Tybee Run Fest Review: If You’re on the Fence…

Julie Smith Maxwell(HF7805) – Race recommendation:
Tybee Island Run Fest
I dont typically write or share race reviews. From my experience, the same race during the same year in the same conditions can generate 30,000 different experiences. One person may say it was amazing and yet a different runner two feet away can share a completely opposite review. So, I simply just have MY experience and let others have theirs. So, note, IF I AM sharing, then it truly was AN EXPERIENCE for me.
This race has been on my bucket list for quite some time. 2026 was the year I finally scratched it off. I CAN NOT RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH. Its a full weekend of running options.

Tybee is dead in the winter so this race brings much needed funds to this small town. There are literally NO CHAIN restaurants on the island. 100% all small locally owned businesses. (I learned that from a local)
There is a race option for EVERY pace, ability, distance, etc. Friday night is a 5k in the dark. So folks can dress up in light up gear OR just wear a head lamp. (There is also a FREE kids run on Friday. So its family friendly.) Saturday starts with a 10k, then a Half marathon, then a 2.8 mile beach run, and ends with a 1 mile. DOGS are welcome on all courses except the beach run (because dogs arent allowed on the beach). How cool is that!! Participants can register for any or ALL. If you sign up for the challenge and do all 5 races, you get a bonus medal and will have accomplished 26.2 miles total!
Each race has the same start and finish and they are simply on different sides of a parking lot (well, and a row of businesses, but you get to one from the other through the parking lot). So you have zero concerns of getting from one race finish to the next race start like other challenge race events (like Flying Pig). The logistics are FLAWLESS. Each course is completely different even though the start and finish are the same. And I am NOT PICKING on the Flying Pig. Thiis year will be my 12th year at the Pig. I LOVE Flying Pig, but the Pig cant say that about their courses. They recycle the same course all weekend. MOST races do for a plethora of financial and logistical reasons. But at Tybee, all 5 courses are completely unique! And the scenery is gorgeous: light houses, ocean views, cute bungalows and massive beach homes alike. On one course you may run along a marsh watching shrimp boats and the next race is through adorable beach home neighborhoods. It was so cool to see so much of this beach town over 5 completely different race courses! There were so many water stops I had to skip a few because my belly started sloshing 🤣 Ample porta potties, awesome volunteers, photographers galore, and quality medals!! And since it’s the dead season, you can stay in a very nice ocean front hotel at the start line for $99 a night (Tybee Hotel). I CAN NOT WAIT to see the race photographers’ images. They were always camped out at the perfect spots!! But here are a few of mine!
5 stars!! I will definitely be back!!