HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) — The 2025 Hilton Head Island Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K will no longer take place.
The annual race was planned for Feb. 15 and 16. On Jan. 30, the marathon announced via Facebook post that it was canceled "due to unforeseen safety and support challenges."
"While we were unable to secure a permit this year, we hope to see you in 2026," said the marathon's website.
Assistant Town Manager of Town of Hilton Head Island, Angie Stone, said that the organizers never applied for the proper permits to run the races, but the organizers said they did and then released how much security needed.
Stone said the town spoke with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office said that without the manpower and infrastructure needed, they would have a difficult time providing security and keeping runners safe.
Though the area is not expected to a be vulnerable spot, there were concerns that Cross Island Parkway, which is where a large portion of where the race would take place, could be a potential target. The town had to rethink security and safety after the attack in New Orleans, she said.
Stone told WSAV that the permit was not approved, and the South Carolina Department of Transportation will not allow the race to be run on state-maintained roads.
Information on refunds can be found on the site by clicking here.