Course Description
The Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon and Rex Healthcare Half-Marathon event, the city’s premier distance road race, sets off on Sunday, Nov. 6. The marathon and half-marathon are USATF-sanctioned events and USATF-certified courses. The marathon is a Boston-qualifier.
The event now includes:
- Four-person marathon relay
- News & Observer Old Reliable 10k Run
- YMCA Kids’ Marathon Mile
All races start at 7 a.m., except the YMCA Kids’ Marathon Mile, which starts at 7:20 a.m. (Nov. 6marks the end of daylight savings time. Don’t forget to set your clocks back.)
With a new start/finish at the N.C. State University Bell Tower, the race courses were designed to showcase many of the focal points of the city, including downtown Raleigh, the state capitol, Glenwood South, Hillsborough Street, N.C. State University, Meredith College and the Raleigh Greenway.
The courses also highlight the diversity of Raleigh’s landscape, from modern city to forest trails and open farmland. Marathon runners will be treated to a run through Umstead Park. This jewel of the Triangle, featuring hard-packed gravel trails and a lush forest landscape, has long been a favorite destination for local runners.
The marathon, half-marathon, four-person relay and 10k will run together for the first 6.2 miles, where the 10k finishes at Cameron Village. The other races continue on to the N.C. State Fairgrounds, which is the turnaround point for the half-marathon. The marathon and relay then continue on to Umstead Park, where the runners will experience 3.5 miles of wide gravel trails and rolling hills.
Packet Pickup and Expo:
The Raleigh Running Outfitters Health and Fitness Expo is free and open to the public. More than 40 exhibitors will participate in this fun-filled event offering a wide variety of apparel, shoes, equipment and accessories for the entire family.
Location:
McKimmon Center, N.C. State University, 1101 Gorman St., Raleigh, NC 27606
Hours:
Friday, Nov. 4, 4-7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Directions to the Expo:
From Interstate 40, traveling east from the airport, take Gorman Street, Exit 295. Turn left onto Gorman Street. Go approximately 1 mile. McKimmon Center is on the right past Avent Ferry Road, before Western Boulevard.
From I-40 traveling west, take Gorman Street, Exit 295. Turn right onto Gorman Street. Go approximately 1 mile. McKimmon Center is on the right past Avent Ferry Road, before Western Boulevard.
Expo parking is designated by distinctive green striping. Parking in the front lots of the McKimmon Center is free and usually plentiful. There are three smaller parking lots on each side of the center with white stripes that are reserved for university employees.
Visitors are asked to park in the green-lined designated visitor parking spaces in order to avoid ticketing.
Spectator Information:
Note for spectators: It may not be possible to see your runner at each location. Know your runner’s pace and plan your route prior to race day. Park only in designated areas, not on the side of the road. Watch for traffic and be safe!
Parking and Directions:
There is plenty of easily accessible free parking within a five-minute walk of the N.C. State Bell Tower start/finish. Park at Cameron Village (Oberlin Road and Clark Avenue) and the N.C. State University Coliseum parking deck, located at Cates Avenue and Pullen Road.
If you are coming from downtown and other points east and south, use Western Boulevard to Pullen Road for the N.C. State University Coliseum parking deck.
If you are coming from points north and west, use Wade Avenue to Oberlin Road and park at Cameron Village.
Great places to encourage the runners:
Start/finish – The N.C. State Bell Tower at Hillsborough Street and Pullen Road
Mile marker 3.0 – Nash Square at Dawson Street and Martin Street
Mile marker 3.3 – state capitol at Fayetteville Street and Morgan Street
Mile marker 5.0 – Glenwood South at Hillsborough Street
Mile marker 6.2 – 10k finish line at Cameron Village, at Clark Street and Daniels Street
Mile markers 10.0 and 23.5 – N.C. State Fairgrounds at Blue Ridge Road and Hillsborough Street
Mile markers 10.5 and 22.7 – North Carolina Museum of Art on Blue Ridge Road
Mile markers 11.0 and 22 – Corner of Edwards Mill Road and Reedy Creek Road
On-Course Nutrition
Water Stations and Electrolytes
Diamond Springs water and Accelerade sport drink at all 13 water stations.
Energy Stations
2nd Surge Ultra Energy gels at miles 11.5 and 22
Nutritional treats: bananas, yogurt-covered raisins, sesame sticks, roasted sunflower seeds and candy bars at mile 15
Bonus: Wet washcloths provided at mile 21.
Other Distances
Rex Healthcare Half-Marathon (13.1 miles)
Four-person marathon relay (legs of 6.2, 5.0, 5.6 & 9.4 miles)
News & Observer Old Reliable 10k Run (6.2 miles)
YMCA Kids’ Marathon Mile (1 mile)
New for 2011
This year’s marathon medal is 5 inches tall, 3 inches wide and comes with its own stand – a fitting reward for completing a marathon. It also includes the elevation chart for the race.
