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OFFICIAL CHARITY: Bald Head Island Conservancy: Please join and donate to BHIC today!

2023 Badwater Cape Fear Image Galleries:

• 2023 Racer Mugshots by Robert Lee of BeamCatchers.com + Pre-Race Activities and Racer Check-In, by Chris Kostman: Flickr Album

• 2023 Start Line at OId Baldy Lighthouse, runners at Mile 6, and runners round Cape Fear Mile 13 at Cape Fear, by Chris Kostman and Stacey Shand: Flickr Gallery

• 2023 Finish Line at Bald Head Island Conservancy, by Chris Kostman: Flickr Gallery / Facebook

• COMING SOON! Massive gallery of incredible images from the start line bridge and on the beach by Robert Lee of BeamCatchers.com

2023 Badwater Cape Fear Facebook Live Videos:

• Live from Fort Fisher, location of Aid Station 3, the Sunday prior to the race

• Live from Cape Fear, the Tuesday prior to the race

• Live from the Southport to Bald Head Island Ferry, the Tuesday prior to the race

• Live from the Maritime Forest trail section of the race route, the Tuesday prior to the race

• Live from the Ferry from Southport to Fort Fisher, the Wednesday prior to the race

• Live from the 2023 Start Line at the foot of Old Baldy Lighthouse

• Live from Cape Fear itself on race morning as racers round the Cape | Part 2 | Part 3

The ninth Badwater Cape Fear 50km / 51mi ultramarathon took place on March 18, 2023 on Bald Head Island and Fort Fisher, North Carolina. A field of 195 runners competed in either the 50km race or the 51-mile race. Eighty-nine runners completed the 50km race, while 103 completed the 51-mile race. Click here for the race results.

The 2023 race included runners representing Argentina, Bosnia, Canada, Japan, Philippines, United States, and United Kingdom, plus 33 American states and territories: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Ages ranged from 15 to 77. There were 61 females and 134 males, and 150 Badwater Cape Fear rookies and 45 race veterans. For the full race roster, click here.

With 50km and 51-mile race options and a start line at the foot of Old Baldy, Badwater® Cape Fear features a twelve-mile warm-up on the car-free, one-lane-wide roads and maritime forest trails of Bald Head Island, followed by either 19 or 38 miles of running on the wild and secluded sandy beach between Cape Fear and Fort Fisher. The beach stretch features spectacular views of the Frying Pan Shoals to the east and the wild and undeveloped Cape Fear River marshlands to the west. Running this remote coast is a dramatic, invigorating, and inspiring manner in which to experience Bald Head Island, Fort Fisher State Recreation, and the Cape Fear region in all its grandeur! 

This exquisite natural setting is the perfect antidote to the “real world” and a wonderful counterpart to the desert sands and mountains of Death Valley and Anza-Borrego Desert featured in the two West Coast BADWATER® races.

Special thanks, Volunteers! YOU made it happen!

Racer Check-In: Stacey Shand, Keith Weitz, Keith Pardue, Julie Lee, Robert Lee, Abigail, Emily Lyons, Chris Shank, Ted Williamson, Thomas & Anne Marie Brock, Rita Castro, Linda O’Brien, Bob Becker, and others

Trail Marking: Bob Becker and Armen Manukyan

Start Line: Keith Weitz, Keith Pardue, Julie Lee, Stacey Shand, and Chris Kostman

Broom Wagon (first 10.5 miles): Brian Million

Trail Sweep: Armen Manukyan

Morning Directions: Chris Shank, Julie Lee, Craig Bandoroff, Margaret Piscano, Susan Parker, Nicole Orringer, John Ivan, Bald Head Island Public Safety volunteers, and other Bald Head Island residents

UTV Pilot: Ali of BHIC

AS1 at Bald Head Island Conservancy: Emily Ryan, Anne-Marie Brock, Thomas Brock, Rita Castro, Julie O’Brien, and others

AS2 at Mid-Beach: Ted Williamson, Bonny Mcclain, Marcia Bosch, and Friends of Pleasure Island State Parks, with assistance from Fort Fisher State Recreation Area rangers!

AS3 at Fort Fisher: Eleanor Erickson, Keith Weitz, Keith Pardue, and Hailey Leon.

Timing: Julie Lee with assistance from Stacey Shand and others.

Finish Line: Chris Kostman, Stacey Shand, Armen Manukyan, Telma Altoon, Brian Million, Chris Shank, and others

Photography: Robert Lee of BeamCatchers and Chris Kostman

Public Safety Support: Village of Bald Head Island Public Safety and Fort Fisher State Recreation Area Rangers

Thank You!

This event is held under permits from the Village of Bald head Island, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, and North Carolina Division of Coastal Management, and with the incredible support of Bald Head Island Conservancy and Friends of Pleasure Island State Parks. We thank them, and all our North Carolina friends, for their support!