6 events in Chesapeake, Virginia

EVENT OVERVIEW:

5 Mile, 10 Mile & 15 Mile Sunday, February 8, 2026 8:30AM start for everyone.

Race Course:

Distance Series 2 on February 8th is now at the Dismal Canal Trail, 1246 Dismal Canal Trail, Chesapeake 23322. Those running the 5 miles will go out and back 2.5 miles. Those doing the 10 miles will go out and back 5 miles. Those doing the 15 miles will go out and back 5 miles, cross the timing mats and go out 2.5 miles and turn around. Everyone will start at 8:30 and the finish line will stay open until 12:15.

After Race Party:

Will be at Tap It Local, 648 Grassfield Pkwy, #12, Chesapeake 23323. Just 3 1/2 miles from the race venue.

Race Day Packet Pickup for Distance Series 2 will be at the Start/Finish line. Look for the Striders tent.

Inclement Weather: The Race Director and the Tidewater Striders reserve the right to cancel or reschedule or adjust distances as needed in the interest of safety or access restrictions to the venue. There are no refunds but we will try and reschedule.

Grand Prix: The 10 and 15 milers are part of the Tidewater Striders Grand Prix

If you want to register for Distance Series 3, click here

https://runsignup.com/tidewaterstridersdistanceseries3

15 miler for Distance Series 2 only is a Hampton Roads Super Grand Prix

EVENT OVERVIEW:

10K, 20K & 30K Saturday, February 28, 2026 8:30 AM At Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, 1246 Dismal Canal Trail, Chesapeake. There are no refunds. Everyone will start at 8:30.

Race Courses:

Begin and finish at the entrance to the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail. 10K runners and walkers will go out to the 5K turnaround (3.1 miles) and return to the finish line. The 20K and 30K runners and walkers will go out to the 10K turnaround (6.2 miles) and return to the finish line, where the 20K participants will be done, while the 30K participants, after crossing the timing mats will go back out to the 5K turnaround and return to the finish line completing the 30K. Finish line closure is based on a 15 minute per mile and will close at 1:15. Early start, 8:15AM, for 30K walkers/slow runners ONLY may be arranged by contacting [email protected].

After Race Parties:

After race party is Tap It Local, 648 Grassfield Pkwy, #12, Chesapeake 23323 just 3 1/2 miles from the start/finish line in the Wal-Mart shopping center

Directions:

Dismal Swamp Canal Trail:, Trail Start, Old Route 17 and George Washington Hwy, Chesapeake, VA 23323 just off Rt 17. GPS tracking 1246 Dismal Canal Trail, Chesapeake, VA.

Inclement Weather: The Race Director and the Tidewater Striders reserve the right to cancel or reschedule or adjust distances as needed in the interest of safety or access restrictions to the venue.

Registration closes at 9:00 PM the Friday before each event. You may pick up your race number starting at 7:15 to 8:20 AM race morning at the start/finish line. Early packet pickup will be at Running Etc., Hilltop Location on Friday, February 27 starting at 4:00 to 6:00.

Distance Series 3 20k and 30k is a Strider Running Grand Prix.

The 10k is a walker Grand Prix.

Welcome to the Striders Spring Festival

Dismal swamp 5 Miler and 1 miler

COURSE: This is a 2.5-mile out and 2.5-mile back course on the closed 2-lane roadway at the Dismal Swamp Trail Park in Chesapeake. One Miler is .5 miles out and back. 1 mile is an up-and-back on the Trail

PACKET PICKUP: Early Packet Pick will be at Point 2 Running Company, Chesapeake, on Friday, April 24th, from 3-6 pm! Race day pick-up will start at 7 am

FLUIDS AND FOOD: There will be 1 aid station with water. The aid station location will be at 2.5 miles.

AMENITIES & POST-RACE: T-Shirts will be provided. Onsite hospitality & refreshments

TIME LIMITS: 5MILER--- The race starts at 8:00 AM! The finish line will close at 10:30. One mile starts at 9:30 a.m.

AWARDS: Top 3 overall Males and Females and the top 3 males and females in 10-year age groups will receive awards for the 5-mile race! 1-mile awards top 3 overall males and females and top 3 males and females in the following age 6&under, 7-8 9-10 11-12 13 & up

REGISTRATION: Registration will be open until, 9PM April 24th 2026.

STRIDER PLUS/LEGACY RUNNERS: Automatically applied at checkout thru April 24th.

CLUB MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS: A Club membership discount of $5.00 is available up thru April 25th. Discounts are automatically applied on the payment page during registration. You should use the account you used to register for the club to apply for this discount. We will also attempt to match on name/date of birth.

Paper entry forms are not available.

This is a Strider Grand Prix & Youth Grand Prix

Welcome to the Tidewater Striders Marathon and Half Marathon Home to one of the Flattest and fastest Marathons in the country and the Fastest in Virginia!!!!

Website Find my Marathon rates The Tidewater Strider Marathon as the 52nd fastest Marathon in the Country and the Fastest Marathon in Virginia! This marathon ranked 37th in 2025 for BQ percentage in the country https://findmymarathon.com/race-detail.php?zname=Tidewater%20Strider%20Marathon

In 2021, the Tidewater Strider BQ invitational and the Strider Marathon both ran on the same course and were ranked #2 and #35 in the country for their Boston Qualifying percentages!

COURSE: This is a Marathon and Half Marathon course on the closed 2-lane roadway at the Dismal Swamp Trail Park in Chesapeake. The full Marathon course will be USATF Certified course and that means its a Boston Qualifying race

PACKET PICKUP: Early Packet pick-up will be at Point 2 running company in Chesapeake Friday, April 24th from 3-6pm! Race day pick-up will be from 6:15 -7:30 am!

FLUIDS AND FOOD: There will be 4 aid stations with water for the half Marathon and 9 water stations for the full.

AMENITIES & POST-RACE: Finishers receive a Medal and Premium Long Sleeve Shirt. Onsite hospitality & refreshments. Post-race party onsite!

TIME LIMITS: The Full Marathon will start at 7 am and Half Marathon will start at 7:30 AM! The finish line will close at 1:30 PM. Walkers may arrange an early start or self-time after 1:30 PM.

AWARDS: Top 3 overall Males and Females and top 3 overall Masters Male & Female the top 3 males and females in 10-year age groups will receive awards!

REGISTRATION: Registration will be open until April 24th, 2026.

LEGACY RUNNERS/STRIDERS PLUS: Discounts available thru April 25th.

CLUB MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS: A Club membership discount of $5.00 is available up thru April 24th. Discounts are automatically applied on the payment page during registration. You should use the account you used to register for the club to apply for this discount. We will also attempt to match on name/date of birth.

Paper entry forms are not available.

ELITE FIELD: Back this year we will have an Elite Entry for this year's Race: to receive a Comp Elite Entry, you had to have run faster than the time listed below in the last 2 years! If you would like to claim the entry, contact Thomas [email protected]! We will also have Prize Money for the top 3 Males & Females in the Marathon & Top Males & Females in the Half! We will also have Nutrition drop tables set up in multiple areas of the course.

Marathon

MEN: 2:40

Women 3:00

Half Marathon

Men 1:15

Women 1:23

Strider Spring Running Festival Challenge is Back - Run the Dismal Swamp 5 Miler on Saturday and the Half or the Full on Sunday to receive a challenge Medal!

Snake Challenge- 5 miler & Half Marathon

Bear Challenge- 5 miler & Full Marathon