My First Badwater Marathon Experience

Last fall, I participated in the inaugural Badwater Half Marathon and in true runner fashion, decided I was ready for more. This year, I challenged myself to run the full Badwater Marathon, and completed 26.2 miles around Bald Head Island!

Runners on race day

Badwater races are hosted by the AdventureCORPS organization, with two races being held on the Island. The Badwater Half and full marathon, and the Badwater Cape Fear. Chris Kostman, the owner of the company, is dedicated to seeking adventure on our island, while also helping us keep it pristine. AdventureCORPS has given more than $125,000 in donations to the Bald Head Island Conservancy!

The 2025 race took place on Sunday October 26th at 10am. The morning was crisp and gusty with the sun trying its best to poke out from behind the clouds. The course began at the Old Baldy Lighthouse and took us around the different ecosystems of BHI. My favorite part of the course was the beginning portion down Middle Island. I have worked and ran on BHI for over 3 years now and I had never been down the particular path we took. It was a beautiful and nicely shaded run through the woods that led us out by the salt marsh where we returned to the Bald Head Side to finish our first lap. Personally, I thought running on the Cape Fear Shoals “point” was the most difficult part of the race. For the full marathon, you ran around the point 3 times to increase the mileage and difficulty! The beach provided a beautiful change of scenery, but my knees did not appreciate the uneven terrain.

BHIC staff cheering Heather on

The running community and Bald Head Island Community worked together to create a really enjoyable and motivating experience for all runners. The great thing about the course was how many opportunities it gave spectators to cheer on the runners! People would drive by on golf carts, honking and cheering for racers they didn’t personally know! Families would sit on their outdoor porches playing music and cheering us on as we passed. Public safety officers gave fistbumps and encouragement as some participated in the marathon! The Conservancy staff also played a large part in the fun atmosphere by directing runners and cheering them on as they transitioned from the beach to the main course and passed by our facilities!

I was very thankful and touched by the amount of support I received from my family, fellow Conservancy staff, Board members, and Island residents alike! I hadn’t expected to see that many friends cheering us on and celebrating as I ran and it made the run much more fun!

My major takeaway from this race was how amazing a community we have here and how supportive people are. The Badwater race is one that I look forward to every year because despite all the grumbling that goes into training runs, it always ends up being a lot of fun. I told myself that I would be happy with finishing this marathon and being done with it, but I’m already planning my strategy for my next race.

Heather Bariso, Coastal Educator II