Welcome to the Tidewater Striders Marathon and Half Marathon
Part of the Tidewater Striders Spring Running Festical Weekend
Home to one of the flattest and fastest marathons in the country and the fastest in Virginia!!!
Events
Strider Marathon
Strider Half Marathon
Strider Marathon Walkers
3 spots left. Price increases after December 30, 2025 at 11:59pm EST
Strider Half Marathon Walkers
13 spots left. Price increases after December 30, 2025 at 11:59pm EST
For additional registration information, including discounts and elite entries, scroll to bottom.
Dismal Swamp Canal Trail
Course Information:
The Marathon (26.2 mi) and Half Marathon (13.1 mi) take place on the closed 2-lane roadway at the Dismal Swamp Trail Park in Chesapeake.
The Full Marathon course is a USATF Certified Course—this means this is a great Boston Qualifying race.
Hydration:
Half Marathon: 4 Aid Stations
Marathon: 9 Aid Stations
Aid stations will have water and hydration drinks.
Start Times and Course Time Limits:
Full Marathon: 7:00 AM
Half Marathon: 7:30 AM
Course Time Limit:
The finish line will close at 1:30 PM.
Walkers may arrange an early start or self-time after 1:30 PM.
Race Location:
Dismal Swamp Canal Trail
at Rest Stop at Mile Post 4
1200 Dismal Swamp Canal Trail,
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Packet Pickup Information:
Early Packet Pickup:
Location: Point 2 Running Company
741 Eden Way N #310, Chesapeake, VA 23320
Date and Time: Friday, April 24th from 3-6pm!
Race Day Packet Pickup:
Location: Parking Lot—near the Starting Line
Time: 6:15–7:30 AM — Race Morning
Post-Race Party:
Cross the Finish Line and Receive one of our awesome finisher's medals. Then stick around for hospitality and refreshments to celebrate your accomplishments!
Post-race Party is Onsite!
Make sure to stick around for our awards ceremony
Awards given for the following
- Top 3 Overall Male and Female
- Top 3 Overall Masters Male & Female (Ages 40+)
- Top 3 Male and Female in 10-Year Age Groups
Make a weekend of the running festivities and give yourself a challenge!
Join us for the full Strider Spring Running Festival and conquer on of our awesome challenges!
RATTLESNAKE CHALLENGE
Conquer the Dismal Swamp 5 Miler on Saturday
and the Strider Half Marathon on Sunday
BIG BEAR CHALLENGE
Conquer the Dismal Swamp 5 Miler on Saturday
and the Strider Marathon on Sunday
Looking to qualify for Boston?
Find my Marathon rates The Tidewater Strider Marathon as the 52nd fastest marathon in the country and the fastest marathon in Virginia! This marathon ranked 37th in 2025 for Boston Qualifying percentage in the country.
https://findmymarathon.com/race-detail.php?zname=Tidewater%20Strider%20Marathon
In 2021, The Tidewater Strider BQ Invitational and The Strider Marathon both run on the same Dismal Swamp course and were ranked #2 and #35 in the country for their Boston Qualifying percentages!
For Further Questions:
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Additional Registration Info
LEGACY RUNNERS/STRIDERS PLUS:
Discounts available thru April 25th
CLUB MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS:
A Club membership discount of $5.00 is available up thru April 24th. Discounts are automatically applied on the payment page during registration.
You should use the account you used to register for the club to apply for this discount. We will also attempt to match on name/date of birth.
Paper entry forms are NOT available.
ELITE FIELD:
Back this year we will have Elite Entries:
To qualify for a complimentary elite entry, you need to have run faster than the time listed below in the last 2 years.
Marathon
Men — 2:40
Women — 3:00
Half Marathon
Men — 1:15
Women — 1:23
If you would like to claim the entry, contact Thomas Hicks
Orangerunning@yahoo.com
We will have nutrition drop tables in multiple areas of the course.
Prize Money for:
Top 3 Male & Female in the Marathon
Top Male & Female in the Half Marathon
