A Celebration of Service: 2026 Coast Guard Marathon Recap

More than 2,000 runners took part in the 2026 Coast Guard Marathon weekend from April 10-12, participating in a 5K, half marathon and full marathon.

The Coast Guard Foundation was proud to return as the Marathon’s presenting nonprofit partner, supporting both the race and the shared connections the event creates across the Coast Guard community. 

For the past six years, we've supported the Coast Guard Marathon, which draws people from all over the country (and beyond!) for something that’s about more than running. Its a chance to highlight the service and bring people together around a shared respect and love for the Coast Guard, those who serve, and their families.

Along the course, the Coast Guard Foundation set up a Memorial Mile, a line of signs that marked the names of the Coast Guard’s 154 fallen heroes who have died in operational, line of duty service since 1972. The tribute stood in a powerful way. It gave runners a quiet moment to reflect and remember the service’s fallen heroes and their families.

Many runners also took part in the Coast Guard Foundation’s Run to Remember,  by choosing a Coast Guard fallen hero or loved one and carrying that name with them throughout the race. You could see these names on shirts and bibs and hear the shared stories of fallen shipmates during the race expo and before the start of the races. It added a really special moment to the event.

The Coast Guard Foundation was represented by its program team, Sage Williams and Jennifer Crowley Fyke, along with Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Ron LaBrec, and Board Member Charlotte Gentry.

This weekend means a lot to us. We’re moved by the conversations, connections and sense of community we share with volunteers, race organizers and runners and their families. We have the chance to meet scholarship recipients, Coastie Camper families, and Coast Guard spouses who received support for college or professional training. Those moments remind us who we serve and why, and why the Coast Guard Foundation matters to the Coast Guard community.

The Coast Guard Marathon came together with the lead of Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City and support from local and state partners and many dedicated volunteers. It was so inspiring to be part of the whole weekend - from the waterfront festival, to the "Toast to the Coast Guard" event on base, to cheering through neighborhoods and along the waterfront to be sure that every runner along the way was supported and everything in between. 

We look forward to seeing what 2027 will bring!