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City of Oaks Marathon & Half Marathon

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Sunday, November 5, 2023 • Raleigh, NC • Course Map

Named in honor of this North Carolina city’s distinctive and abundant oak trees as well as the natural beauty that surround’s the state’s capital city, Raleigh’s City of Oaks Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K saw just over 4,000 runners cross the finish line in all three races combined in 2016. The 2023 event marks its 17th annual running since its revival in 2007 after a five-year absence.

The race takes runners on an out-and-back loop course through the city, starting near the northern edge of the North Carolina State University campus, along Hillsborough Street.

From there, runners in both the full and the half marathons share the same route for the first nine miles of the race, until they reach the split near the Meredith College of Art campus on Hillsborough. There, those running the full continue north along the trail that parallels I-440, while those running the 13.1-mile race make a turn toward the south.

All four races — the 26.2-mile, 13.1-mile, 10K & 5K races — start on Hillsborough, and from there the course takes runners first into downtown Raleigh, and features a stretch that takes them past the state capitol building and the state government buildings along Wilmington and Salisbury Streets downtown. From there, the course heads next into the Cameron Park, Brooklyn Hill and Fairmont neighborhoods, along mostly tree-lined residential streets.

The course has plenty of gently rolling hills and a few steeper hills, particularly in the stretch around the mid-way point of the race, between mile markers 5 and 7 along Peace Street, as the route is leaving downtown and heading into the residential neighborhoods to the west.

The last couple of miles of the race are overall downhill and have gently rolling hills throughout, finishing on Hillsborough back where the race started, at the historic N.C. State University Bell Tower.

Runners are encouraged to sign up early, as previous races have sold out. The number of entrants will be limited to the first 1,500 for the full marathon; the first 3,000 for the half marathon; the first 1,000 for the 10K; and the first 1,000 for the 5K. The race also hosts a full marathon relay that’s open to 150 4-person teams, and a kids’ marathon mile that’s open to 250 children.

City Of Oaks Marathon finisher

Race Weather & Climate

Located in the Research Triangle region of central North Carolina, about 150 miles northeast of Charlotte and roughly 155 miles southwest of Richmond, Va., Raleigh typically sees cool to mild weather in November, which has brought record temperatures here as low as 13°F (in 1970) and as high as 87°F (in 1974).

On race day (Nov. 5), the average low is 45ºF and the average high is 65ºF.

City of Oaks Marathon Past Results

City of Oaks Marathon Course Map

See the race route map for the Raleigh City of Oaks Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

7:00 AM

Fees

  • $69 and up for the half marathon
  • $79 and up for the full marathon
  • $39 and up for the 10K
  • $29 and up for the 5K
  • $50 and up for the virtual race

City of Oaks Marathon Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2023 running of the City of Oaks Marathon & Half Marathon, register online at the event website here.

City of Oaks Marathon Official Race Website

capstoneraces.com/city-of-oaks-marathon

See more races in: November, North Carolina

Overview

Sunday, November 5, 2023 • Raleigh, NC • Course Map

Named in honor of this North Carolina city’s distinctive and abundant oak trees as well as the natural beauty that surround’s the state’s capital city, Raleigh’s City of Oaks Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K saw just over 4,000 runners cross the finish line in all three races combined in 2016. The 2023 event marks its 17th annual running since its revival in 2007 after a five-year absence. The race takes runners on an out-and-back loop course through the city, starting near the northern edge of the North Carolina State University campus, along Hillsborough Street. From there, runners in both the full and the half marathons share the same route for the first nine miles of the race, until they reach the split near the Meredith College of Art campus on Hillsborough. There, those running the full continue north along the trail that parallels I-440, while those running the 13.1-mile race make a turn toward the south. All four races — the 26.2-mile, 13.1-mile, 10K & 5K races — start on Hillsborough, and from there the course takes runners first into downtown Raleigh, and features a stretch that takes them past the state capitol building and the state government buildings along Wilmington and Salisbury Streets downtown. From there, the course heads next into the Cameron Park, Brooklyn Hill and Fairmont neighborhoods, along mostly tree-lined residential streets. The course has plenty of gently rolling hills and a few steeper hills, particularly in the stretch around the mid-way point of the race, between mile markers 5 and 7 along Peace Street, as the route is leaving downtown and heading into the residential neighborhoods to the west. The last couple of miles of the race are overall downhill and have gently rolling hills throughout, finishing on Hillsborough back where the race started, at the historic N.C. State University Bell Tower. Runners are encouraged to sign up early, as previous races have sold out. The number of entrants will be limited to the first 1,500 for the full marathon; the first 3,000 for the half marathon; the first 1,000 for the 10K; and the first 1,000 for the 5K. The race also hosts a full marathon relay that’s open to 150 4-person teams, and a kids’ marathon mile that’s open to 250 children. City Of Oaks Marathon finisher

Race Weather & Climate

Located in the Research Triangle region of central North Carolina, about 150 miles northeast of Charlotte and roughly 155 miles southwest of Richmond, Va., Raleigh typically sees cool to mild weather in November, which has brought record temperatures here as low as 13°F (in 1970) and as high as 87°F (in 1974). On race day (Nov. 5), the average low is 45ºF and the average high is 65ºF.

City of Oaks Marathon Past Results

City of Oaks Marathon Course Map

See the race route map for the Raleigh City of Oaks Half Marathon here.

Starting Time

7:00 AM

Fees

  • $69 and up for the half marathon
  • $79 and up for the full marathon
  • $39 and up for the 10K
  • $29 and up for the 5K
  • $50 and up for the virtual race

City of Oaks Marathon Registration

To reserve your spot in the 2023 running of the City of Oaks Marathon & Half Marathon, register online at the event website here.

City of Oaks Marathon Official Race Website

capstoneraces.com/city-of-oaks-marathon

See more races in: November, North Carolina

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City of Oaks Marathon & Half Marathon Course Map

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