Runners' Almanac
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Mid-January · Southeast · Loop

The Palmetto Running Company's Daufuskie Island Marathon and Half

Daufuskie Island, SC · Saturday, January 16, 2027

Event: Daufuskie Island Marathon

  • Best for PR
  • Boston Qualifier
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Registration opens on the organizer's site

Typical start

46°

Cooler than 64% of U.S. marathons

Modeled historical conditions

Elevation gain

40ft

Flatter than 98% of races

Estimated total climb

Field size

400

Larger than 4% of races

Estimated field

PR potential

9.2/10

Ahead of 69% of races

Almanac model

Percentiles compare this race against all 224 U.S. marathons in the Almanac.

Course profile

40 ft gain · 0 ft net

Flat course, loop.

0510152026.2
Schematic profile drawn from total gain, total loss and course category, on a shared vertical scale of 200 ft. Not a surveyed GPS trace.

Race-day weather

Modeled from location, month and coastal proximity, not verified race history.

6 AM

38°

Start

46°

Midday

57°

ExcellentGoodWarmHeat risk

Typical start sits at 46°F, excellent marathon conditions.

Typical dew point 39°F, 22% chance of precipitation, wind around 7 mph. All modeled.

The bottom line

A quietly fast race that does not ask for much beyond honest pacing.

The Palmetto Running Company's Daufuskie Island Marathon and Half is a strong choice for a PR attempt, and Daufuskie Island offers very little meaningful elevation. The tradeoff is atmosphere: expect long quiet stretches and few spectators.

Why runners choose this race

A loop course around Daufuskie Island, SC, with very little meaningful elevation change.

The case for it

  • PR attempts
  • Boston qualification
  • Runners who want a low-key start

The tradeoffs

  • You want crowds and on-course energy

Course and logistics

Course type
Loop
Surface
Road
Profile
Flat
Total gain
40 ft(estimated)
Total loss
40 ft(estimated)
Net elevation
0 ft(estimated)
Field size
~400 runners(estimated)
Crowd support
Quiet, low-key
Entry
Moderate
Entry fee
$125(most recent listed price)
Day of week
Saturday
Start / finish
Start and finish in the same area

Race details

Typical timing
Mid-January
Next confirmed date
Saturday, January 16, 2027
Registration
Open now
Region
Southeast
Editorial tier
Recommended
Data last reviewed
2026-08-26
  • Best for PR
  • Boston Qualifier
  • Loop course
  • Flat course

Similar races

Races with a comparable profile.

Late November · Southeast

White River Marathon

Cotter, AR

Weather
47°Ftypical startModelled estimate
Field size
~600 runners
Course
Flat
Elevation
120 ft gain · 0 ft net

Event listed as: Marathon

PR9Weather9Experience7

Mid-March · Southeast

Wrightsville Beach Marathon

Wrightsville Beach, NC

Weather
47°Ftypical startModelled estimate
Field size
~1,000 runners
Course
Flat
Elevation
100 ft gain

Fast coastal North Carolina qualifier

PR9Weather9Experience7