2027 twoday ultramarathon spans NC's Outer Banks
Sand dunes encroach on North Carolina's Highway 12 on Pea Island in the Outer Banks on May 15.
If you've been hitting the concrete hard running this summer, there's a unique opportunity to put your endurance to the test in 2027.
Blackbeard's Revenge is a twoday ultra-marathon starting March 20, 2027, spanning nearly the entire Outer Banks, from Corolla to Hatteras, taking the seemingly-endless N.C. 12 all the way and finishing at The Wreck Tiki Bar. It's on pace to surpass last year's 453 participants, the most in the race's seven-year history, according to Megan Warzecha, a spokesperson for the organizer of the event, Trivium Racing.
While the toughest parts of most long-distance runs are often the hills, the Revenge presents a different challenge: the mind games of a flat road stretching far beyond the horizon, along with whipping sand-blasting winds and other unpredictable weather conditions.
"Any ultra is about taking on a challenge head-on and how you choose to face adversity and tough conditions," Warzecha said in an email. "On its face, the course is relatively flat with smooth terrain, unlike trail ultras with tens of thousands of feet of climbing. But anyone who's run the OBX knows that the wind and sand and salt can be unforgiving, and the unchanging road ahead can prove its own mental challenge."
Beginning July 14, registration fees will increase by $30 for the 100-mile marathon, which starts at $300, and by $15 for the other events.
Entry fees, along with signup fees, will increase three more times leading up to the March 17 registration deadline. For full registration details, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/ Corolla/BlackbeardsRevenge100.
The race is not a qualifier for any others, but that doesn't mean it's not competitive. In 2025, the top two finishers in the 100-mile event reset the course record, which is now just over 14 hours, 44 minutes and 13 seconds — a pace of a mile about every 8 minutes and 50 seconds — set by Joshua Lecone, according to Warzecha.
The Wreck Tiki Bar, which is owned by a pair of serious runners, will be the endpoint for all the events in the race. Warzecha said the bar's staff work their own "ultra" to stay open from 11 a.m. Saturday to 7 p.m. Sunday serving the athletes and their families with a special menu along with live music.
For information about volunteering to support one of the race's aid stations, visit https://runsignup.com/ Race/BlackbeardsRevenge100/Page/ volunteer.
