Course Description

USATF logo

The Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon, Rex Healthcare Half Marathon, and News & Observer Old Reliable 10K are USATF-sanctioned events and USATF-certified courses. The marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier. The race courses were designed to showcase many of the focal points of the city including Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, the State Capitol Building, the Glenwood South restaurant district, Meredith College, N.C. State University, and the Bell Tower. The courses expose the diversity of Raleigh's landscape, from modern city to wooded trails with a lakeside setting. Marathon runners will be treated to a run on the Capital Area Greenway system as well as around scenic Shelley Lake.

TThe Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon and Rex Healthcare Half Marathon run together for the first 11 miles. Marathoners then head onto the Capital Area Greenway at Meredith College, while half marathoners continue on Hillsborough Street  to I-440 and then turn around. and return to the Bell Tower via Hillsborough Street.

Marathoners continue on an out-and-back route which includes the  House Creek Greenway. They continue on past Crabtree Valley Mall towards Shelley Lake before heading back the same way.

Turn-by-turn Directions

Marathon

  1. Start on Hillsborough St near the Belltower
  2. Begin by running towards downtown (eastbound)
  3. Turn right onto Ashe Ave
  4. Turn left onto westbound Western Blvd (from west side of triangle in intersection)
  5. Continue eastbound on Western in the westbound lanes
  6. Turn left on Wilmington St
  7. Turn left on Salisbury St
  8. Turn right on MLK Blvd
  9. Turn right onto Boylan Ave
  10. Turn right onto Morgan St
  11. Turn right onto Dawson St
  12. Turn left onto Martin St
  13. Turn left onto Fayetteville St
  14. Turn right onto Morgan St
  15. Turn left onto Wilmington St
  16. Turn left onto Salisbury St
  17. Turn right onto Hillsborough St
  18. Turn right onto Glenwood Ave
  19. Turn left onto Peace St
  20. Continue onto Clark Ave
  21. Turn right onto Brooks Ave
  22. Turn left onto O’Berry
  23. Turn left onto Dixie Trail
  24. Turn right onto Clark Ave
  25. Turn slight left onto Faircloth St
  26. Enter greenway at Hillsborough St & Faircloth St
  27. Follow greenway – cross over Horton St
  28. Follow greenway – cross over Glen Eden Dr
  29. Follow greenway – cross over Blue Ridge Rd
  30. Continue towards Shelley Lake then turnaround as marked
  31. Exit greenway at Faircloth St & Hillsborough St
  32. Turn right on Hillsborough St
  33. U-turn between Beryl Rd & Beltline
  34. Proceed east on Hillsborough St to start/finish

Half Marathon

  1. Start on Hillsborough St near the Belltower
  2. Begin by running towards downtown (eastbound)
  3. Turn right onto Ashe Ave
  4. Turn left onto westbound Western Blvd (from west side of triangle in intersection)
  5. Continue eastbound on Western in the westbound lanes
  6. Turn left on Wilmington St
  7. Turn left on Salisbury St
  8. Turn right on MLK Blvd
  9. Turn right onto Boylan Ave
  10. Turn right onto Morgan St
  11. Turn right onto Dawson St
  12. Turn left onto Martin St
  13. Turn left onto Fayetteville St
  14. Turn right onto Morgan St
  15. Turn left onto Wilmington St
  16. Turn left onto Salisbury St
  17. Turn right onto Hillsborough St
  18. Turn right onto Glenwood Ave
  19. Turn left onto Peace St
  20. Continue onto Clark Ave
  21. Turn right onto Brooks Ave
  22. Turn left onto O’Berry
  23. Turn left onto Dixie Trail
  24. Turn right onto Clark Ave
  25. Turn slight left onto Faircloth St
  26. Turn right on Hillsborough St
  27. U-turn between Beryl Rd & Beltline
  28. Proceed east on Hillsborough St to start/finish

10K

  1. Start on Hillsborough St near the Belltower
  2. Begin by running towards downtown (eastbound)
  3. Turn right onto Ashe Ave
  4. Turn left onto westbound Western Blvd (from west side of triangle in intersection)
  5. Turn left onto Boylan Ave
  6. Turn right onto Morgan St
  7. Turn right onto Dawson St
  8. Turn left onto Martin St
  9. Turn left onto Fayetteville St
  10. Turn right onto Morgan St
  11. Turn left onto Wilmington St
  12. Turn left onto Salisbury St
  13. Turn right onto Hillsborough St
  14. Turn right onto Glenwood Ave
  15. Turn left onto Peace St
  16. Continue onto Clark Ave to the finish

Questions related to the course?

Please check the FAQ.