Charlotte is a city marathon that feels like a neighborhood tour. You line up on South Tryon Street among the Uptown towers at 7:20 a.m., and within a few miles the skyline gives way to the tree-lined streets of Myers Park and Dilworth, where porches fill with people holding coffee and cowbells. The route loops through South End, NoDa and Plaza Midwood before bringing you back to Uptown. Mid-November usually means crisp mornings and leaves still on the oaks, so dress for a cool start and a warmer finish. The field is modest, around 1,500 marathoners, so you will have room to run your own race. Pick up your bib at the convention center expo the day before, drop a bag at Mint Street and MLK, and know that your entry fee helps Hemby Children's Hospital.
A loop that starts and finishes in Uptown at 525 S. Tryon Street and tours Charlotte's tree-lined neighborhoods including Myers Park, Dilworth, South End, NoDa and Plaza Midwood. Course map ↗
Current price tier ends November 12, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET; final close not stated. Open as of 2026-10-13 on RunSignUp. Current prices: marathon $160, half $140, half rucking division $140, 5K $55 (early 2026 pricing was $120/$100/$35 before December 30, 2025). Proceeds benefit Novant Health Hemby Children's Hospital. Register ↗
- First held in 2005 as the NASCAR-themed Thunder Road Marathon; renamed the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon in February 2016. ↗
- The course is USATF certified and the organizer confirms it is a Boston Marathon qualifying race. ↗
- The marathon and half start at 7:20 a.m. with corrals closing at 7:10 a.m.; the 5K starts at 7:10 a.m. ↗
- Proceeds support Novant Health's Hemby Children's Hospital. ↗
- In 2010 organizers announced a 3,500-entrant cap, which the marathon field has never reached. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.