The 10th annual Carolina Sports Medicine Battleship
North Carolina Half Marathon and Bay Six Battleship 5K is a beautiful and challenging
USATF certified (NC-05061-PH) half marathon that starts and
finishes at the Battleship North Carolina across the river from downtown Wilmington, NC.
The course crosses two bridges over the Cape Fear River, goes through
historic downtown Wilmington, tours beautiful Greenfield Lake, and
returns to the Battleship via the Memorial Bridge. Entries will be
limited to 1,300 runners this year. The course is challenging but
produced two State Records in 2001. Cathy Wides of Durham, NC beat her
own state record (F 50-54) with a 1:30:36. The late Lee Cooper of
Swansboro, NC set the State Record (M 70-74) with a 1:46:10. Hoorah!
IN 2007 two more State Records were set. One in the male 14-15 age
group and one in the male 65-69 age group. Open, Masters, and Grand
Masters M/F Half Marathon winners receive Asics running
shoes courtesy of Omega Sports. There is an Active Duty and
Retired Military Awards category in the Half Marathon. In the 5K Open,
Masters, and Grand Masters M/F winners receive New Balance runking
shoes courtesy of New Balance of Wilmington. All runners in
both races receive a free ticket to tour the Battleship.
RACE DEDICATION:
This year's race is dedicated to the men
and women who serve in the Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and to
the men who served on the Battleship North Carolina.
BIG NEWS:
Carolina Sports Medicine here in
Wilmington is our Title Sponsor again this year. Dr David Esposito,
Steven Bright ATC-L, and the other fine physicians, therapists,
trainers, and staff at Carolina Sports Medicine are showing the
Athletic Community in southeastern North Carolina that they truly
support running and fitness in our community. Everyone associated
with the race is extremely excited and pleased that Carolina
Sports Medicine is going to sponsor our race. Please take your
Sports Medicine related needs to them and support Carolina Sports
Medicine as they support running and sports in our
area. We will again use Set Up Events for our chip timing
services.
River Taxi - We will have TWO River Taxi Boats this year. Park
free downtown or stay at the Hilton Hotel and take the River Taxi on
the USS Maffitt to the Battleship. That’s right – runners take a free River Taxi
to the race start on race morning from 6AM until 7:30 AM. Each runner
will be given a River Taxi Ticket. Runners with tickets will board the
boat before any non-ticket holder is allowed on the boat. This will
assure that all runners get to the start on time. If runnes have
fans/spectators trying to ride the boat with them, the fans may have to
wait for another boat or take a trolley bus to the Battleship until all
runners have boarded every time the boat crosses to the Battleship.
Expo and Packet Pickup will be held at the Battleship in the auditorium from 1:00PM until 5:30 PM Saturday afternoon. The Hilton Downtown Riverside Reserve early to ensure
you get the discount race, or a room there at all. Check out the
Accommodations page for other Race Hotels offering discount rates for
runners.. Our other major sponsors are Neuwirth Motors, Gold's Gym, Coastal Carolina Pathology, and MEDAC.
The YMCA, 2710 Market Street, will be open at 11:30 AM on race day
for runners from out of town to take showers before the drive home. Go
straight up Market Street away from the River and the YMCA will be on
your right about 2.3 miles from downtown. Just show your race number or
tell them you ran the Battleship Race and they will issue a towel and
direct you to the locker room.
The 5K is a challenging out and back course that starts with you
running south on Battleship Road down to the a turnaround
underneath the Memorial Bridge, there you do a U-turn, run back past
the Battleship Memorial, head out the access road, turn right and loop
over and back across the Brunswick River bridge, and return to finish
in front of the “Immortal Showboat.” It is a sweet little course but
also has a bit of a bite. Open, Masters, and Grand Masters M/F winners
receive a free pair of New Balance shoes. Also, the local Mid-pack M/F
runners in both races receive a free 1-year membership to Golds Gym.
<>The race is directed by Ed Fore with help from the members of the Wilmington Roadrunners and staff of the Battleship North Carolina and the many great volunteers who make the race happen.