Description

Note: We have sold out of our 2025 10k & 5k medals so we opened up the option to register for a discounted rate and receive a previous year medal at the finish line. Runners will still qualify for the awards and receive JOSC Race Series Points. 

Event Address:

2950 Island Drive

North Topsail Beach, NC

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Take in the views and explore North Topsail Beach while running on the beach in either our Half Marathon, 10k or 5k. 

Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission is proud to present the "Sledgehammer Race Series" in memory of Dr. E. B. Sledge.  The mission statement of the "Sledgehammer Race Series" is: To Honor the memory of Sledgehammer and All Combat Veterans."  Sledge was a lifelong Marine who spent the remainder of his post war years coming to terms with what he and his fellow combatants experienced during World War II. 

E. B. "Sledgehammer" Sledge chose to volunteer for the U. S.  Marine Corps in 1942.  He was assigned to K company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Division (K/3/5) where he reached the rank of Corporal in the Pacific Theater. Sledgehammer was a 60mm mortarman at Peleliu and Okinawa where he served with Corporal R. V. Burgin and PFC. Merriell "Snafu" Shelton.  Sledgehammer also served as a rifleman and stretcher bearer when fighting was too close for effective mortar use.
  
Sledge would go on to earn a doctorate in biology and was a beloved professor at the University of Montevallo.  In 1981, Sledge published his memoir, With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa, which centered on his combat experiences during the Pacific Campaign.  His book was used as a reference for Ken Burns' PBS documentary, "The War" and Tom Hanks and Stephen Speilbergs' HBO miniseries "The Pacific" starring Joseph Mazzello as Sledge.
 

Course Information

Half marathon, 10k & 5k course are all on the beach

**Half marathon cut off time is 4 hours. Anyone left on the course after the fourth hour will be picked up by a staff member and will be disqualified for awards.

Enjoy FREE beer from Salty Turtle Beer Company (Half Marathon & 10k Runners only) finish line snacks provided by Onslow County Tourism and a Hot Cocoa Bar presented by Fit4Life Richlands!

T-shirts

In order to keep the cost of races low for runners we have created the option to purchase a shirt instead of just including one in the registration. Register and select to purchase any item from our race store. Your items will be available to pick up with your packet or shipped to you if you're doing the race virtually. We have a variety of items to choose from. 
 

Athlete Information Sheet- All runners please read before race day!

Click here for all the race details. 

Hotel Discounts

Available under our Visitor Information tab

Reminder: this is a rain or shine event

This event is owned & operated by the Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission. Learn more about us at www.playjosc.com