Under the Oaks 10K & Half Marathon Challenge

2026 Southern Food Series

550 South Beachview Dr., Jekyll Island, GA or Home Run Run

Support 4-H as you run races at Camp Jekyll. Earn points for four races in two series: the Clover Glove Race Series and the Black Bag Race Series. The four races (Shrimp 4K, Grits 4K, Green Eggs 4K, and Ham 4K) will be run on Jekyll Island. These races are IN PERSON only. Pre-registered runners will receive one collectable shirt if running at least two races and pre-registered by March 23, 2026.

Schedule:

• April 11, Shrimp 4K (5:24 pm)

• April 11, Grits 4K (6:14 pm)

• April 12, Green Eggs 4K (7:34 am)

• April 12, Ham 4K, 8:24 am)

Fees: $12.44 per race

• Shrimp 4K

• Grits 4K

• Green Eggs 4K

• Ham 4K

To be guaranteed shirt and meal - register no later than March 23, 2025.

Race day registration accepted. No shirts available or meals guaranteed with race day registration.

Questions: boryles@gmail.com or rkeel@mindspring.com

The fan-favorite annual race event returns to the road on Saturday, April 25th, 2026! Race with us on Jekyll Island as we mark the start of sea turtle nesting season on the Georgia coast. This important fundraising event supports the lifesaving work of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, through the Jekyll Island Foundation. Your support helps continue the Center’s mission of sea turtle rehabilitation, research, and education.

PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RUN/WALK IN ANY OF THE EVENTS

Register to participate in one of this year’s races:

• 10K Race 7:00 a.m.

• 5K Race 7:20 a.m.

• Fun Run (1 kilometer) 8:30 a.m.

• Ghost Crawler (Virtual)

Registration includes a 2026 Turtle Crawl t-shirt for their support*! Runners placing in their age group will also receive a medal.

ONLINE RACE REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22nd AT 11:59 PM – registration will be available during packet pick up and on-site the morning of the races, closing 30 minutes prior to race start. CASH OR CHECK ONLY. Prices for packet pick up and race day registration: 10K $65, 5K $55 FUN RUN $35. Race Shirts are not guaranteed at time of registration and you'll need to check after all the races are complete to see if one is available.

*To guarantee your race T-shirt size, complete your online registration NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, APRIL 10th. Anyone that registers after April 10th is not guaranteed to receive a shirt. April 10th will also serve as the deadline for anyone wishing to switch their registration to virtual. Changes after the 10th will not be accepted.

The deadline to switch races online is April 21st, 2026. In person changes can be done on race day and must be communicated to the timer.

Race participants can pick up their t-shirts at packet pickup (details below) or on the morning of the Turtle Crawl. For Ghost Crawlers, every effort will be made to deliver your t-shirts by race day however delivery could be delayed due to mail carrier shipping and production delays.

Become a sea turtle ambassador and race for a cause.

Additional details and course maps will be posted soon.

Packet Pick Up: Friday, April 24th from 2 p.m.-7 p.m. location TBD. You can also pick up your packet on race morning.

Turtle Crawl was created in 2003 as a fundraiser for the Georgia Sea Turtle Center to support its mission of sea turtle research, rehabilitation, and education. In more than a decade of operation, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center has provided care for more than 3,000 patients, including various sea turtle species and other coastal wildlife. Turtle Crawl participants have raised more than $100,000 to help save sea turtles and we sincerely appreciate your support for this event!

42nd Annual July 4th Sunshine Festival 5k Race and 1-mile on St Simons Island!

Finisher medals for all 5k and 1-mile finishers!

Website

There are many local social media and web "local event" calendars for the Golden Isles, they are not always up to date for our event in spite of our efforts. This is our OFFICAL Race Website!

Hotel Discount

Sea Palms Resort

Attention Runners! Getting a good night's rest is essential for crushing your 5k race, come stay with us at Sea Palms for a quiet and peaceful rest with a view!

Use this link for 10% off! Sea Palms Resort (travelclick.com)

IMPORTANT NOTES

Starting Line is self-seeded by average expected pace per mile

Strollers ARE ALLOWED, be careful and respectful of the Adaptive Athletes.

Dogs ARE NOT ALLOWED; this is due to insurance liability and safety issues.

PRE-RACE DAY Walk-up registration on July 3rd is available.

NO RACE DAY registrations on July 4th

RACE DAY Packet up is available on July 4th

PACKETS unclaimed by 8 am on Race Day are forfeited.

AWARDS cannot be picked up early. This is a chip timed event that starts when you cross the starting line; early result print outs are subject to change.

No shirt exchanges, until after the race has ended

Pre-Race Day Packet Pickup & Walk Up Registration

Friday, July 3rd, 4-7 pm at (Location to be determined)

Your friends or family can pick up your packet but may have to get in multiple lines.

After picking up your bib, you will proceed to a different line to pick up your shirt.

Race Day

NO RACE DAY registrations

RACE DAY packet pick up is available

Saturday, July 4th, 6 am Kings Park basketball courts (Park & Mallery streets)

Race Day 5k packet pickup: 6 am until 6:45 am

5k Race starts: 7 am

1 Mile packet pickup: 6 am until 7:45 am

1 Mile Run starts 8 am

Unclaimed packets/shirts will be forfeited at 8:15 am

Awards Ceremony: 8:30 am

Starting Line:

Start/Finish Location: St Simons Park / Kings Park, 515 Park Ave, St Simons Island, GA 31522 (Across from Mallery Park and by the basketball court)

Only the Overall Fastest Male and Female winners are scored by gun time, everyone else is by chip time including Masters and Age Group. Otherwise, your time doesn't start until you cross the starting line

The starting line will be sorted by expected pace with 10 different pace group sections.

PLEASE seed yourself in the right location. Fastest up front and slower in the back. The line will stretch all the way back to Oak Street.

The Push Rim division of 5 racing strollers for Adaptive athletes will be in front and start 2 minutes ahead of everyone else.

Starting Line Sections by Pace per Mile

Section 1: 5–6-minute pace

Section 2: 6-7-minute pace

Section 3: 7-8-minute pace

Section 4: 8-9-minute pace

Section 5: 9-10-minute pace

Section 6: 10-11-minute pace

Section 7:11-12-minute pace

Section 8:12-13-minute pace

Section 9:14-15-minute pace

Section 10: Walking

Bathrooms:

2 multi-stall bathrooms across the street in Mallery Park by the ball field,

8 bathrooms in the Village Pier Casino building on Beachview Drive (0.25 miles)

8 Porta-potties by the starting Line.

Photos:

Sports in Motion Photography will be photographing our event this year. We are providing the digital images for FREE! Please look for an email after the event with a direct link to your images or you can go to www.simphotos.com to view photos too.

Food and Snacks On-Site Race Day

Sandy Bottom Bagels - bagels

Parkers - water handing out water bottles

Georgia Watermelon Association - handing out watermelon

Pepsi & Coca Cola - donated water bottles

Fuse Frozen Yogurt - handing out frozen yogurt while it lasts

Winn-Dixie & GITC - oranges, bananas, cookies

Friendly Express - handing out water bottles

Starbucks - serving cold brew

Golden Isles Center for Plastic Surgery, PC / Centered on Wellness Cooling Scarves while they last.

5K ROUTE

USTAF Certified 5k route

5K Route video preview

Sunshine Festival July 4th 5k Map - MapMyRun

1 MILE ROUTE

Start and Finish will be at 5K starting Line.

Course will follow 5K course on Park Ave. turning right onto Magnolia Ave where you make a turnaround between Park and Bartow Street, stay to the right, cross Mallery Street, turn left on Oak St. and finish at the Start Line on Park Street.

The 1-mile fun run will be chip timed.

Sunshine Festival 1 Mile MAP

AWARDS

Awards cannot be picked up early. This is a chip timed event that starts when you cross the starting line; early result print outs are subject to change.

The Award Ceremony will take place at approximately 8:30 am

All 5k and 1-mile Mile participants who complete the course and are wearing a bib will receive a Finisher medal

Chip timing provided by Second Wind Timing

5k Awards:

Overall, Masters (40-49), Grand Masters (50-59), Senior Masters (60+), and top 3 male and female finishers in each age group. Age groups - 9 & under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 & over.

Overall & Master Awards include a medal, a bag of Vidalia Onions from Herndon Farms, and a free pair of shoes from Game Changers Running Store

Note: Overall Male and Female start time is at gun time, Masters and Age Group awards are from chip time.

1 Mile Awards:

12 and under, 1st, 2nd, 3rd male and female

13 and over, 1st, 2nd, 3rd male and female

Award for the Best Costume. (1st Place only, must be present at the Awards ceremony for judging)

Award for the Best Team (Largest). (1st. place)

Award for the Fastest Team. (1st, 2nd & 3rd place)

To compete in the Fastest Team awards, your team must have at least 2 men and 1 female. We take the top 2 fastest men and the fastest female (1) for a total of 3. You don't have to do anything to compete, it is automatic as long you meet these requirements.

Award for the best-decorated homes along the route. 3 awards: Patriotic, Creative, and Old Glory

Parking

Parking is a challenge, please carpool, be dropped off, ride a bike, or walk! Otherwise, you can park along Mallery Street, around the ballpark, in the village, by the library or lighthouse. Stay away from private residences.

Golden Isles Track Club uses the race proceeds to encourage and promote Good Health in the Golden Isles

July 4th Activities

Sunshine Festival Craft Show (Postell Park)

530 Beachview Drive, St. Simons, GA

Be sure to visit our 3-day festival with 60 artists and makers featuring exquisite handmade items, original art, and specialty foods. We'll have fresh lemonade and our local Kona Ice out.

Friday July 3rd 10-5

Saturday July 4th 10-5

Sunday July 5th 10-4

More at: www.facebook.com/CraftsintheVillage

Golf Cart Parade – July 4, 11:00am

Deck out your golf cart in red, white and blue and join the golf cart parade! Carts line up adjacent to Mallery Park, then make their way through the St. Simons Island Village.

Live Music – July 4

Throughout the day, live bands entertain on the bandstand in the village area.

Fireworks – July 4, 9:00pm

The annual fireworks display is launched from the pier, so the best viewing areas are Neptune Park and nearby waterfront locations. Bring a chair, sit back and enjoy the show! Parking is tight, so arrive early, walk or bike.

For All Levels: Whether you're a seasoned runner or just want to enjoy a few laps, on paved trails, under the beautiful oak trees of St. Simons Island, this event is for YOU!

🚨 How It Works:

• Run Anytime: You can join us at any time between 7 AM and 7 PM. (6:30 final lap) Run as many laps as you want – even if it’s just one, you're part of the action!

• Complete One Lap (5k) Get a Medal: Every participant who finishes a lap gets a commemorative finisher’s medal and shirt.

• Push Your Limits: Want to go for the entire 12 hours? Great! Run at your own pace and challenge yourself.

• Aid Stations: There will be a water point with snacks at the aid station at the start/finish. This is a self-supporting race, but there will be a Jimmy John’s and Smoothie King at the race start/finish.

🏆 Awards:

• Top 3 kings & queens: The top finishers with the most miles will be awarded special medals and exclusive prizes!

Get ready for a race weekend like no other at the Run Jekyll Weekend! Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or a first-time 5k participant, this weekend offers something for every level of runner. Set on the beautiful Jekyll Island, runners can choose from four exciting race options: On Saturday choose between the 5k or 10k and on Sunday run either the half marathon or the marathon. However, if running only one race doesn't cure your appetite for racing you can choose to run a double!

This scenic event offers breathtaking views of the island’s unique landscape, featuring a mix of coastal beauty, lush nature trails, and historic landmarks. No matter if you're looking for a fun challenge or aiming for a personal best, the Run Jekyll weekend provides a perfect opportunity to push your limits, celebrate your fitness goals, and experience the natural beauty of Georgia’s coastline.

Mark your calendars for January 16th-17th, 2027, and join us for an unforgettable race weekend!

RACE DATE: JANUARY 16-17, 2027 (Average temps: 61/43 and please no rain)

EVENT TIMES:

Friday January 15th PACKET PICK UP 3pm-7pm Jekyll Island Club

Saturday January 16th PACKET PICK UP 12pm-6pm Jekyll Island Club

10K START 7:30AM STABLE ROAD

5K START 7:45AM

Sunday January 17th PACKET PICK UP 6:00am-7:15am Jekyll Island Club

FULL/HALF START 7:30AM STABLE ROAD

FINISHER MEDALS FOR ALL RACES

REGISTER BY DECEMBER 11th TO GUARANTEE A TSHIRT

Jekyll Island Club returns as the host hotel and you can make your reservations below:

JEKYLL ISLAND CLUB

371 N. Riverview Dr. Jekyll Island, GA 31527

Book your room here

Jekyll Ocean Club

80 Ocean Way

Jekyll Island, GA 31527

Book your room here

After selecting the booking dates, a detailed rate breakdown can be found under the “# of Nights Stay” section.

Frequently Asked Questions can be found here

Course maps can be found here

FOLLOW US on Instagram at q_running and run.jekyll to stay up to date on information.