The Novant Health Wilmington NC Marathon brings you world class shopping, beautiful beaches, famous restaurants and a historic downtown waterfront. Runners will begin their journey from Wrightsville Beach and end in downtown Wilmington. Full MarathonThe Full Marathon is the perfect Boston Marathon qualifying event because it’s fast, flat, and notorious …
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The Novant Health Wilmington NC Marathon brings you world class shopping, beautiful beaches, famous restaurants and a historic downtown waterfront. Runners will begin their journey from Wrightsville Beach and end in downtown Wilmington.
Full Marathon
The Full Marathon is the perfect Boston Marathon qualifying event because it’s fast, flat, and notorious for being the backdrop for setting personal bests. The course starts in Wrightsville Beach and makes a straight shot to downtown Wilmington. The back half of the marathon is in beautiful Greenfield Lake and will finish at Riverfront Park. Runners will explore the best Wilmington, NC has to offer. Come span the Cape Fear Coast and run from destination to destination.
Half Marathon
Who wants to run from Wrightsville Beach to Downtown Wilmington? Designed to test your limits, the Half-Marathon guides runners on a fast-paced trip around Wrightsville Beach’s waterfront straight to the Cape Fear River. This run is a popular one with veterans, first-time half marathoners, and experienced runners alike. Known for the flat terrain and running 1 straight line from the Beach to Downtown Wilmington, this is a fun, fast destination to destination race.
Marathon Relay
Grab a friend (or three) and get ready to cover some ground! The Marathon Relay is the perfect opportunity to perfect your skills as a team, with flat course expanses and a route that takes each of you through an iconic part of Wilmington or the Wrightsville Beach area. The exchanges happen quickly, so make sure each runner is ready to go, right from the starting line.
The Downtown 5K
If you’re not into the long distance, the 5K is a great place to participate and enjoy the weekend experience. The 5K provides a manageable course that makes it easy to mark your progress along the way and finishes Saturday morning in the same location as the half and full marathon route. Show off all your hard work and use this mostly flat, maintained course to improve your skills as a runner.
1 Mile Glow Run
Calling all Kids! The NOVANT HEALTH Wilmington Marathon features a free kids 1 mile Glow race. Thank you Truist bank for coming on board and helping support our healthy kids initiative. We want to inspire kids to run without the cost and get kids from all backgrounds to participate. Kids will get a race t-shirt, bib, and free Waffles from Waffle House at the finish!
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Fantastic marathon
Hats off to the folks who put on this marathon - they did a fantastic job. I was especially impressed with the level of communication about the race. One of … MORE
Hats off to the folks who put on this marathon – they did a fantastic job. I was especially impressed with the level of communication about the race. One of the most helpful parts was the pre-race video that included not just helpful information but they included drone footage of the previous race to give a sense of what the course will look like. I loved the gravel portion of the race – it was definitely a highlight. There were a lot of people out on the course (less so around the lake in the second half of the race, but they said to expect that) and they really helped. Highly recommend to future runners.
First marathon since 2013
Expo wasn't anything big. I didn't care for the tee-shirt. I dont think I've worn it. Hopefully they picked a non cotton tee this time for 2026. I liked the … MORE
Expo wasn’t anything big. I didn’t care for the tee-shirt. I dont think I’ve worn it. Hopefully they picked a non cotton tee this time for 2026.
I liked the starting area and plenty of portal potty’s. The one stretch along the highway is kinda of boring but then you get off and run by an elementary school etc then eventually you get the park. The park running was ok. I like that this was a point to point race. I did get a PR I was hoping to BQ but didn’t happen. I’m not even sure why . This was a decent course but no plans to run it again.
Fast and flat, great for first timers
** Stay near the start line the night prior so that you do not have to worry about the bottle neck of cars going to the island before the race. … MORE
** Stay near the start line the night prior so that you do not have to worry about the bottle neck of cars going to the island before the race.
Pre race: Plenty of bathroom options at the start, I showed up at the last minute (island traffic) and was still able to get into a porta potty very quickly.
Race: The benefits of it being a smaller race is that you do not have to fight your way to the front of the start if you are nervous you will get caught behind slower runners. The first 10-11 miles allow you to run very consistent paces due to the minimal elevation changes. The cons of a smaller race is that you may be running alone for large sections, especially when the half marathoners split off. There is a quarter mile section at about mile 12 that is dirt and gravel that I was nervous about, maybe more mental than anything.. but I am not sure what would happen if it were wet/ rocks get stuck in the crevice of super shoe. Once you hit 13, it is a straight shot to the park section. At this point, me and another runner were working together and I am glad I was not alone.. because we almost took a wrong turn before going into the park. The park section is confusing because it is an out and back that is not clearly divided or marked. There are tight turns in this park section that do not help your momentum… at a point in the race where it is starting to hurt. once you leave the park, it is a straight shot back to downtown Wilmington. The race directors cannot control what spectators do but with .2 miles to go, a group walked right in front of me and I had to yell to get their attention so that i did not run them over. Maybe there are more secured barriers or volunteers to ensure people are controlled?
Post race: Everything that is expected was provided, including thermal blankets which were great since it was a cold day. I waited for my friends to finish and left not long after so I can’t comment a ton on this part.
Race shirt: I am laughing because I have seen the race director defending the decision to give out cotton shirts to finishers on several posts saying the technical shirts get “stinky”. Is the race director running in cotton shirts everyday? My technical shirts are not stinky.. so it must be the quality tested/used prior.. or the runner! My response is… give the people what they want! I will not wear this cotton tee… but the technical tees I have gotten from other races are in my training gear rotation and probably serve as some minimal form of advertising for the race.
I would recommend this race to people who could drive to Wilmington, NC easily and who are either beginners or maybe looking for a flat race.
One of my all time favorites!
This race is one of the best organized races I've ever ran. Not to mention the course is gorgeous and the swag that you receive is top notch. Additionally there … MORE
This race is one of the best organized races I’ve ever ran. Not to mention the course is gorgeous and the swag that you receive is top notch. Additionally there were spectators on every part of this race. Many groups from the local college and high schools came out to cheer on all the runners. Made it a very fun race!
Awesome event and location, will be back
I've done roughly 75 organized runs/triathalons and this was the most well run of them all. From registration, through communication beforehand, the athlete guide/podcast, all the way through the race … MORE
I’ve done roughly 75 organized runs/triathalons and this was the most well run of them all. From registration, through communication beforehand, the athlete guide/podcast, all the way through the race itself and the finish line area, it was perfect. The warming tents at the start was especially appreciated, with temps in the high 20’s.
Sunrise at the beach was gorgeous, running around the lake was a nice change from the roads and the crowd support was very good, especially near downtown.
Shuttling from downtown to the start was easy. It was nice being able to walk from the finish to the hotel, shower and then have plenty of restaurants and things to do nearby.
I always enjoy the energy at the start line, especially seeing/hearing the excitement of runners doing their first half or full. That was made even better by a beautiful national anthem and prayer. I hope to be able to run this again in the future.
Great race
I really enjoyed this race (and got a new PR!). Weather was perfect for running, and the course was mostly flat. There were a few inclines, but nothing too hilly. … MORE
I really enjoyed this race (and got a new PR!). Weather was perfect for running, and the course was mostly flat. There were a few inclines, but nothing too hilly. I also really liked the long stretch along the highway, and a fun start at sunrise by the pier. There were not a lot of refreshments that I saw after the finish, but that is okay as I’m not too hungry after (and I always bring what I need in my drop bag). I thought this run was really well organized. Only thing I thought could be improved was signage for bag check and shuttle after the finish.
Ok race
Good points: - Relatively flat course with a few slight inclines. - Second half of the marathon course was more scenic (running through the downtown and park/nature trail). - Race … MORE
Good points:
– Relatively flat course with a few slight inclines.
– Second half of the marathon course was more scenic (running through the downtown and park/nature trail).
– Race participants and staff were friendly.
Bad points:
– By the time I finished the marathon (3:46) half marathoners took all the Gatorade and soda. Not cool. For future marathons please have race staff hold back refreshments for marathon finishers.
– Clearly indicate where the bus pickup location is (for runners wanting to return to their car after the race). Several runners (including myself) had a difficult time finding this location.
Epic event. Well organized!
It was well organized. You can tell they thought about every detail and produced by runners. The sunrise was beautiful at the beach and the course was mostly flat. The … MORE
It was well organized. You can tell they thought about every detail and produced by runners. The sunrise was beautiful at the beach and the course was mostly flat. The finish line included beer, food and a band. Highly recommend this race if you are looking for a PR and Wilmington nc is a great destination and beach town
A race for runners by runners
The Wilmington Marathon started its journey in 2010. As the race director, I may be biased, but over the years, we've actively listened to athletes' feedback, continuously making adjustments based … MORE
The Wilmington Marathon started its journey in 2010. As the race director, I may be biased, but over the years, we’ve actively listened to athletes’ feedback, continuously making adjustments based on their input. We’ve invested in enhancing the race experience by improving swag offerings and ramping up the excitement along the course. Our ultimate aim? To create an unforgettable experience for every runner.
What sets our marathon apart is our unique point-to-point course, which begins at the ocean and culminates in downtown Wilmington. While there are stretches of the course that may seem plain or less scenic, I’ve personally participated in many marathons featuring monotonous segments. In Wilmington, however, the scenery changes frequently, keeping runners engaged and motivated.
We start at the beach, traverse city streets, cover a stretch on the highway, delve into North Wilmington Downtown, follow a historic railroad line, pass through the heart of downtown, and wind around Greenfield Lake, where iconic southern moss trees line the greenway. All this before reaching the finish line at Riverfront Park on the Cape Fear River.
Our entire staff and team are locals, deeply proud of both our race and our region. So, I urge you to give Wilmington a chance—you won’t be disappointed!
Flat Course, great production
Logistics: Easy. The town is a few miles from the regional airport if you are flying in. There are a few hotels very close to the expo, shuttles and finish … MORE
Logistics: Easy. The town is a few miles from the regional airport if you are flying in. There are a few hotels very close to the expo, shuttles and finish line.
Production: Communication was top notch. The buses to the start area, # of porto-potties, aid stations, finish area were all fantastic. This year they started at 6:30am which I am fan of, and they really stressed that everyone should get to the buses and start area early. I was up at 2:30 and at the race start by 5am. So it was a early start and a bit of a wait.
Expo & Swag: Expo was well organized simple, with standard booths. I like the cotton t-shirt blend for participation. ( edit: There is branded merch but I missed it! See link in the reply below)
Course Difficulty: Mostly flat. You might notice an incline for mile 25 if you are trying for a time, but overall no major hills. Weather was perfect for running on this day.
Course Scenery: It is was (surprisingly) not very scenic nor interesting. The start area of the race next to the beach was nice but it was too dark to appreciate.
Post Race party was fun with food and music.
Beautiful pre-race sunrise!
I selected this race for my 50 states half for NC. The expo was conveniently located downtown near hotels, finish line, and shuttle for those coming from out of town. … MORE
I selected this race for my 50 states half for NC. The expo was conveniently located downtown near hotels, finish line, and shuttle for those coming from out of town. Small expo allowing for a quick bib pick up.
Race day transportation from downtown to the beach was simple and easy. Caught a beautiful sunrise waiting for the race to start. Ample bathrooms (waited ~5 mins right before race start).
Course was easy/flat and fun at the beginning and end, but a very boring stretch from ~6-11. Would have liked another aid station in the second half of the course.
The medal had the state of NC in it, which is great for my 50 states collection. The shirt was a cotton blend, so will be thrown straight into the donate pile.
The post race party had live music and decent food/beverage options. Was nice to cheer on the marathoners on the walk back to my hotel!
Flat course, but lacks scenery
This is an easy course, and the weather was great but what a bore of a race. You start off at the beach and thats the last you see it. … MORE
This is an easy course, and the weather was great but what a bore of a race. You start off at the beach and thats the last you see it. The first 10 miles are on some highway 74. Then you run about 3-4 miles through downtown. This section is nice. Then out to a lake for about another 8 miles. Very boring, then back downtown.
Not much for scenery, and very little crowd support.
Great Race Highlighting Wilmington Area
**I ran this a few years ago, but was looking over reviews after running another event in the area and saw one I disagreed with. So I leaving this here.** … MORE
**I ran this a few years ago, but was looking over reviews after running another event in the area and saw one I disagreed with. So I leaving this here.**
I really love this race. It started watching sunrise over the beach and then you head up the highway toward Wilmington. The highway is not the most scenic stretch, but I love that the course connects WB to Wilmington (which is really unique bc it is basically impossible to run safely without road closures). The highway is also the first half of the course, so you get more to look at right when the grind starts getting to you. And for the rest of your life you get to annoy your kids/spouse with lectures about how you ran the whole way down that road whenever you go to the beach 🙂
Then you get a tour of downtown on the way to Greenfield Lake, which has the stereotypical southern swamp trees and adds a nice dose of greenery/nature after the highway and urban running. Then you head back to downtown/the river to finish.
The course is really very flat and fast overall. I trained in a hillier area and outperformed my goal time by 5 minutes and PR’d largely due to the course.
The expo and production were really well organized. The t-shirt was cotton, but the graphics were well designed. I might be in the minority, but I like a shirt I can wear casually rather than just for running. The medal also highlighted local landmarks/character, which was cool.
I do think you will enjoy this race more if you really like Wilmington and can appreciate how it highlights the area. But it’s a great race and in a great location. If you have a family, there’s a ton to do to reward them for helping you get through training over the weekend.
Flat course
Generally a flat course with some scenery running near the water and cute neighborhoods, although areas near the end of the race were kinda bare. There was also a good … MORE
Generally a flat course with some scenery running near the water and cute neighborhoods, although areas near the end of the race were kinda bare. There was also a good amount of support along the race and the finish area was well organized.
Beautiful marathon!
The scenery was beautiful from the beach to the lake and the historic houses in between. The volunteers were amazing! The course just had a few little hills but wasn't … MORE
The scenery was beautiful from the beach to the lake and the historic houses in between. The volunteers were amazing! The course just had a few little hills but wasn’t anything too difficult. Finish line was good, especially the Nothing Bundt Cake samples!!! The t-shirt is nice but not the long sleeve tech shirt I was expecting.