FAQ
Be sure to read the entire Race Details page in addition to this FAQ to make sure you have all the necessary info about The Hampton Half & 5k!
LIVE EVENT
Safety is the top priority for our runners, volunteers, and staff. If it is determined by race management and public officials that the event is unsafe to participate in, it will be cancelled. Refunds will not be given under any circumstance beyond our control.
The Hampton Half Marathon holds the safety of our staff, participants, volunteers, and attendees above all else. To ensure our event is as safe as possible, and you are comfortable both on and off the course, we’ll be implementing enhanced safety measures, and will provide a comprehensive list of measures to reference well in advance of event day. Our team continues to work in direct coordination with local public health authorities to meet or exceed all local guidance, rules, and regulations. In the event that we cancel the live event, each registrant will have the option of receiving a refund, deferring fees paid to the next year’s race, or applying the fees to entry into a virtual race, where we’ll mail your goodie bag right to your door.
For more information on what the Hampton Half Marathon is doing to protect runners, click here. For event-specific health and safety protocols for this event, click here.
For more information on what the Hampton Half Marathon is doing to protect runners, click here. For event-specific health and safety protocols for this event, click here.
For the start, portopotties are located next to the Sea Shell Stage on Ocean Blvd and D Street. Along the course, the State Park bath houses are at Miles 2.5, 5, and 11.
Half: There will be stops at Miles 2 (water), 5.5 (+Gatorade), 7.5 (Clif Shot energy gel), 7.8 (water), and 10.5 (water).
5k: There will be one water stop at Mile 2.
There are no changing facilities available, so please show up ready to run.
The course is not closed to auto traffic, but for the safety of the runners we strongly suggest that spectators stay right in the beach area for the best viewing.
No. Spectators are discouraged from coming to the event and will be prohibited from entering runner areas at the check-in, start, and finish line locations.
Packet pickup/registration will be held on March 4th (location and time TBD) and March 5th inside Ashworth by the Sea from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., if you plan to pick up on race morning we suggest arriving no later than 8:30 a.m. to ensure you have time to park, pick up your bib, and get to the starting line before 10 a.m.
The time limit for the course is 3 hours & 30 minutes. This is about a 16 minute per mile pace. We have strict rules from the State DOT and the towns about how long the course can be open. Participants found on mile 6 on the course at a slower rate than 16 minutes per mile will be asked to turn around and head back to the finish. They will still get a time and medal.
Because wearing headphones greatly reduces your ability to hear race marshals and car traffic, our insurance provider requires us to prohibit the wearing of headphones during the race.
You can check via this link!
For both the half and 5k, prizes are awarded to the top 3 men and women finishers overall and to the top 3 men and women in the following age categories: 19 and Under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+. The overall category will be scored using GUN time and the age group awards will be scored using CHIP time. Awards must be picked up at the awards table at the post-race celebration following the race. They will not be mailed.
There are two races: a 5k (3.1 miles) and a half-marathon (13.1 miles).
Yes, you can change distances online before registration closes. To do so, simply log into your account, here (you may need to reset your password first). Once you’re logged in, you’ll see your upcoming race on the right-hand side of the screen. Click “View registration.” You’ll see your current race distance under “Category.” Just click “Edit,” choose the distance you’d like to switch to. You’ll be prompted to review the rest of your registration, and re-sign the waiver for the new distance. If you’re upgrading from a distance, you’ll be required to pay the difference in price; however we don’t offer refunds for the difference in price when switching to a shorter distance.
The half marathon course is certified and accurate according to USATF standards. However your GPS measurement of the course is bound to be different and will most likely show the distance covered to be “long.” This is normal, and here's a very technical explanation why: In GPS We Trust.
All sales are final. No refunds will be given, unless you are registered for a live race and the live race is cancelled by the event organizer due to COVID-19 or any of its variants (the "Pandemic") and/or governmental restrictions put in place as a result of or in connection with the Pandemic which make the live race unfeasible or impractical to run, in which case refunds will be given in accordance with the policy outlined in the FAQ titled What happens if the race is cancelled?. A date or venue change is not a cancellation.
The course will not be closed to car traffic but there will be runner lanes with cones, signs, and race marshals directing traffic.
No. Bag check will not be available. Parking is available near the start and finish and allows easy access to whatever you may need.
No, for safety reasons, strollers are not allowed on the course.
No, dogs are not allowed on the course.
If the live race is cancelled due to COVID-19 or any of its variants (the "Pandemic") and/or governmental restrictions put in place as a result of or in connection with the Pandemic which make the live race unfeasible or impractical to run, each registrant will have the option of receiving a refund, deferring fees paid to the next year’s race, or applying the fees to entry into the Hampton Half Marathon Virtual Run. Each registrant must indicate his/her choice within thirty days of being notified of the cancellation by answering the questionnaire sent with the cancellation notice and returning such questionnaire to us. If a registrant does not make a timely election, the registrant will be entered in the virtual run and the live race fees applied to the virtual run entry fee. In no event will the processing fee or fees paid for merchandise orders be refunded due to the race cancellation. Merchandise orders paid for will be shipped to the address associated with the registrant’s race profile by the scheduled date of the cancelled event. In addition we will not be responsible for any costs relating to changed or cancelled travel plans or other related arrangements a registrant may incur due to any such cancellation.
Ventures Endurance happily welcomes all athletes to participate in our events. Athletes with Disabilities (AWD) include, but are not limited to the flowing athletes, Blade Runners, Visually Impaired Runners, Adaptive / Guided Runners, Pushed Athletes, Push Rim, Racing Chair and Hand Cycles. To participate as an AWD athlete you must notify the Race Director of your participation a minimum of 20 days in advance. This allows our staff to ensure the safety and security of each athlete on the course prepare the ES (early starters) corral for athletes. To ensure your spot and be approved as an AWD participant please contact [email protected]. Should there be a duo team, a coupon code may be provided for the pusher/coach by emailing [email protected]. Ventures Endurance Athletes with Disabilities Event Rules can be found here.
VIRTUAL EVENT
Anywhere! This is your virtual run, and we want you to complete it wherever and whenever you want between February 21st and March 31st. Sidewalks, trails, and treadmills are all fair game. Want to make this a family run or walk with a stroller or your miniature schnauzer Sprinkles? Now’s the chance! Make the race you want.
We’ll ship the same awesome goodie bag* right to you that includes a mid-weight soft and stretchy running pullover and a medal for everyone!
*The Smuttynose beers given to participants at the live event is not included in the virtual offering.
You can complete your run anytime between February 21st and March 31st. Once you complete your run, you can log your results online. After that, you can download your Finisher’s Certificate, see how you rank on our active leaderboard, and upload photos to share with fellow participants. To receive a Finisher’s Certificate, your run must be completed and logged by March 31st.
For the Virtual Run, we accept results on the honor system, but the most accurate tracking is typically via a device with GPS tracking.
After you’ve completed your run, click the Log Result button on your Virtual Run registration to enter your time. Once you’ve entered your run time, click the Finisher Certificate button to download your personalized Finisher Certificate.
Race packets for the virtual run will begin to ship within 1-2 weeks of the live event.
No. Your medal will be mailed to you with your packet after you register!
The Hampton Half Virtual Run is currently available only for addresses within the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii*.
*Shipments to Alaska and Hawaii will incur an additional shipping fee.
We do not offer any size exchanges post packet shipment. All changes to sizes need to be made prior to confirming registration. We highly recommend that all participants take care to view the sizing chart to order the correct size.
Still Have Questions?
The answers to 99.9% of the questions we get asked every day are already on this awesome website, which means you'll find an answer much quicker here than by emailing us and waiting a few days for a response! Of course, if you've read every word on this site and still can't find the answer, shoot us an email and we'll respond as soon as we can!
Race Questions: [email protected]
