The Course: Beach Road Out, an Inland Loop, Beach Road Home
Both races start and finish at Laem Charoen Public Park in Pak Nam, Mueang Rayong district [1][2]. The half marathon heads west along the coast road for the first 4 km, then turns inland: north to about 5 km, west along an inland road from 6 km to 8 km, south again at 9 km, and round a loop with a turning point near 12 km. At about 14 km it rejoins the coast road and runs east past Saeng Chan beach to the finish [3]. It is not a straight out-and-back: roughly ten of the 21 km are inland, away from the sea [3].
The organiser describes it as a flat, straight seaside route for personal bests, and says it passes three beaches, Laem Charoen, Saeng Chan and Suchada [1][2]. The route map shows no elevation profile [3]. The race holds a World Athletics Road Race Label, for the second year running in 2026 [4][2].
The 2026 map marked about 300 m of road construction on the coast road between the 16 km and 17 km markers, on the way home, with a request to slow down and take care [3].
The Weather: Saturated Air Before Dawn
U-Tapao airport, about 28 km west of the start and the nearest station, recorded 28°C at the 4.30am start with a dew point of 28°C, 100% humidity and a 1-knot wind [5]. It stayed at 28°C and 100% until 6.30am. The humidity eased only as it warmed: 29°C and 94% at 7am, then 30°C and 84% from 7.30am, with the wind picking up to 9 knots by 8am, when the half-marathon limit ran out [5].
When the dew point equals the air temperature, the air holds all the moisture it can, so sweat evaporates very slowly and the body struggles to shed heat; water poured over the head and arms does more than usual. That, not the flat profile, sets the pace. The median half-marathon finisher took 2:25:41 [6].
Aid Stations and Cut-offs
The 2026 half-marathon map shows nine water points, near 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17 and 19 km, so roughly every 2 km. Sports drink was at three of them, near 8, 13 and 17 km; energy gel and fruit at one, near 10 km. There were six medical points and four toilet stops [3]. The series says it keeps medical teams every 5 km with ambulances carrying defibrillators [7].
The limits were three and a half hours for the half marathon and two and a half hours for the 10 km [4]. The rules say runners who miss a cut-off point are taken out of the race [1]. At the finish, though, the results point to a looser line: 51 half marathoners were given gun times beyond 3:30, the slowest 3:50:32 [6]. Every 10 km finisher was inside 2:30 [6].
The field was slow to cross the line: the gap between gun and chip time reached 17 minutes at the back of the half marathon [6]. Overall prizes go on gun time, age-group prizes on chip time [1].
How Fast the Field Is
Thai runners won every title in 2026. Nattawut Innum won the men's half marathon in 1:11:39, more than three minutes clear of Pongsakorn Suksawat (1:14:55) and Intouch Jongjaijit (1:14:57); tenth was 1:26:02 [6]. Ornanong Wongsorn won the women's race in 1:27:53, from Arunya Hinsui (1:28:19) and Premkamon Wongvichai (1:28:34); tenth woman was 1:45:22 [6]. Both winners took the overall and Thai titles [2]. The 10 km went to Somchok Kongdee in 34:45 and Sutinee Dansoonthornwong in 38:17 [6].
The same pair won in 2025, Nattawut in 1:15:25 and Ornanong in 1:27:00 [8]. In 2024, by contrast, Ethiopia's Ebisa Takele won in 1:07:50 [8][9].
It is a Thai race: 2,116 of the 2,195 half-marathon finishers were Thai, with runners from 23 other countries, most from the Philippines [6]. Of the finishers, 1,686 were men and 509 women; 19 did not finish [6]. Prize money in the half is THB 20,000, 15,000 and 10,000 for the top three overall, with a separate Thai podium paying THB 15,000 to its winner; Thai podium finishers can also collect the open prize. There are trophies five deep in each age group [10]. A 1:26 half would have placed tenth among the men.
Race Weekend Logistics
Race packs were collected at the Expo on Saturday 1 August, 10.30am to 6pm, at PASSiONE Hall on the third floor of the PASSiONE shopping centre, with more than 30 stalls [2]. Series rules ask for ID at pack collection, allow collection for someone else with a copy of their ID, and open the baggage drop at 4am; runners are asked to arrive 60 minutes before the start [7][11]. Parking near the start is free but limited [7].
Entry for the half marathon cost THB 900 in the flash sale, 950 early bird or 1,100 regular, and THB 1,250 in the championships category; the 10 km cost THB 700, 750 or 850. A charity entry for either was THB 2,500. All fees exclude a 7% registration and payment fee [12]. Half-marathon runners get a race shirt, medal and finisher shirt; 10 km runners a shirt and medal [12]. The minimum age is 16 for the half and 14 for the 10 km [1]. Every registered runner is covered by a group accident policy [11].
Entries are not refunded, even if the race is cancelled, and cannot be transferred [7]. The organiser says it has caught runners using other people's bibs, and for 2027 has announced ID checks at pack pickup, spot checks at start and finish, disqualification and bans, and an optional Flex ticket that turns a withdrawal into entry credit, not cash [7][11].
The organiser's release put the field at more than 4,500 runners [2]; the official results list 3,971 finishers across both distances [6]. The 2026 race had an Under the Sea fancy-dress theme, Rayong FC players ran the 10 km, and the organiser gave THB 40,000 to Rayong City Municipality for education and THB 12,000 to a local hospital [2].
Should You Enter the 2027 Race?
Yes, if you want a half marathon by the sea with water every 2 km or so, a 3 hour 30 limit and entry from THB 900. A club runner around 1:26 has a real chance of a top-ten place, and age-group trophies go five deep.
Think twice if you want a fast time or sea views all the way: the 2026 start was fully saturated air at 28°C, and about ten kilometres of the course run inland.
The 2027 date, fees and route had not been published when this was written. Check the route map for the construction zone and the aid positions before you go.
Nobody from this site ran the race. This review draws on the organiser's race information, route map, rules and results, airport weather records, and Thai news reports.