5K – Participant Course Description

The 2026 Steve Haydu Lo Tide 5K starts and finishes on Cape Fear Boulevard near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk Stage.

Runners head west on Cape Fear Boulevard before turning left onto South 8th Street. Mile 1 comes up near Mike Chappell Park.

The course turns left onto Sumter Avenue and then right onto the Island Greenway heading south.

After passing the first water stop, 5K runners exit the Greenway at Greenville Avenue. The course turns left onto Greenville Avenue, right onto South 6th Street, left onto Augusta Avenue, and then right onto Greenville Avenue.

Runners turn left onto South 3rd Street. Mile 2 comes up just before Water Stop #2 on South 3rd Street. Participants turn left onto Columbia Avenue at the water stop.

The course continues right onto North 5th Street, right onto Atlanta Avenue (just past Carolina Beach Elementary School), and right onto South 4th Street.

From there, runners enter Carolina Beach Lake Park and follow the paved path before exiting onto South 3rd Street heading north.

At the divergence point at South 3rd Street and Charlotte Avenue, 5K runners continue straight toward Cape Fear Boulevard.

Participants turn right onto Cape Fear Boulevard. Mile 3 is near Sea Merchants grocery store, just before the finish stretch.

Runners cross US 421 with traffic control and finish near the Boardwalk Stage.

Flat, fast, and classic Carolina Beach.

5K – Technical Turn-By-Turn Directions

1. Start on Cape Fear Boulevard near the Boardwalk Stage.

2. Proceed west on Cape Fear Boulevard.

3. Turn left onto South 8th Street.

4. Continue south on South 8th Street (Mile 1 near Mike Chappell Park).

5. Turn left onto Sumter Avenue.

6. Turn right onto Island Greenway heading south.

7. Continue south on Island Greenway past Water Stop #1.

8. Exit Island Greenway at Greenville Avenue.

9. Turn left (east) onto Greenville Avenue.

10. Turn right (south) onto South 6th Street.

11. Turn left (east) onto Augusta Avenue.

12. Turn right onto Greenville Avenue.

13. Turn left (north) onto South 3rd Street (Mile 2 just before Water Stop #2).

14. Turn left (west) onto Columbia Avenue (Water Stop #2).

15. Turn right (north) onto North 5th Street.

16. Turn right (east) onto Atlanta Avenue.

17. Turn right (south) onto South 4th Street.

18. Turn left into Carolina Beach Lake Park and follow paved path.

19. Exit park onto South 3rd Street heading north.

20. Continue north on South 3rd Street through Charlotte Avenue (5K continues straight).

21. Turn right onto Cape Fear Boulevard (Mile 3 near Sea Merchants grocery store).

22. Cross US 421 at controlled crossing.

23. Continue east to finish near Boardwalk Stage.

Distance: 3.1 miles

10K – Participant Course Description

The 2026 Steve Haydu Lo Tide 10K begins and finishes on Cape Fear Boulevard near the Boardwalk Stage.

The opening mile mirrors the 5K, heading west on Cape Fear Boulevard and left onto South 8th Street. Mile 1 is near Mike Chappell Park.

Runners turn left onto Sumter Avenue and right onto the Island Greenway heading south.

Where the 5K exits, 10K runners continue south on the Island Greenway. Mile 2 is outbound near South Carolina Avenue.

The course exits the Greenway at Alabama Avenue and continues south on Spot Lane to the 10K turnaround point. Runners then retrace their steps northbound on the Island Greenway.

Mile 3 is inbound near 11th Avenue.

After returning north to Greenville Avenue, the 10K turns right onto Greenville Avenue and merges back onto the 5K route.

Runners then turn right onto South 6th Street, left onto Augusta Avenue, right onto Greenville Avenue, and left onto South 3rd Street.

Mile 4 is on South 3rd Street just before Water Stop #2.

After turning left onto Columbia Avenue at the water stop, runners continue through the neighborhood grid, enter Carolina Beach Lake Park, and exit onto South 3rd Street heading north.

At South 3rd Street and Charlotte Avenue, 10K runners turn left onto Charlotte Avenue.

Mile 5 is on Charlotte Avenue just after the courses diverge.

The course turns right onto South 8th Street heading north, then right onto Cape Fear Boulevard.

Mile 6 is along Cape Fear Boulevard in front of the KDB Hines Senior Center.

Runners cross US 421 with traffic control and finish near the Boardwalk Stage.

This extended Greenway section provides a longer, scenic southern stretch before returning to the classic CB Downtown finish.

10K – Technical Turn-By-Turn Directions

1. Start on Cape Fear Boulevard near the Boardwalk Stage.

2. Proceed west on Cape Fear Boulevard.

3. Turn left onto South 8th Street.

4. Continue south on South 8th Street (Mile 1 near Mike Chappell Park).

5. Turn left onto Sumter Avenue.

6. Turn right onto Island Greenway heading south.

7. Continue south on Island Greenway past Water Stop #1.

8. Continue straight where 5K exits.

9. Mile 2 outbound near South Carolina Avenue.

10. Exit Island Greenway at Alabama Avenue.

11. Continue south on Spot Lane to designated turnaround.

12. Reverse direction and proceed north on Spot Lane.

13. Reenter Island Greenway heading north.

14. Mile 3 inbound near 11th Avenue.

15. Continue north to Greenville Avenue.

16. Turn right (east) onto Greenville Avenue.

17. Turn right (south) onto South 6th Street.

18. Turn left (east) onto Augusta Avenue.

19. Turn right onto Greenville Avenue.

20. Turn left (north) onto South 3rd Street (Mile 4 just before Water Stop #2).

21. Turn left (west) onto Columbia Avenue (Water Stop #2).

22. Turn right (north) onto North 5th Street.

23. Turn right (east) onto Atlanta Avenue.

24. Turn right (south) onto South 4th Street.

25. Turn left into Carolina Beach Lake Park and follow paved path.

26. Exit park onto South 3rd Street heading north.

27. Turn left (west) onto Charlotte Avenue (Mile 5).

28. Turn right (north) onto South 8th Street.

29. Turn right (east) onto Cape Fear Boulevard.

30. Mile 6 near KDB Hines Senior Center.

31. Cross US 421 at controlled crossing.

32. Continue east to finish near Boardwalk Stage.

Distance: 6.2 miles