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By now you’ve heard the big news: The Charlotte Sports Foundation has acquired the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. As I said when I teed-up this episode of The Running Around Charlotte Podcast, this truly is of the most exciting things to happen in the local running scene in many years. I really believe that. 

I also believe The Charlotte Sports Foundation has the bench strength and the kind of front office that will take this marathon to the next level. Runners, the City, and the event itself deserve this type of leadership, access to resources, and committed personnel required to create a world-class experience.  

When asked to reflect on my time with the event – and look ahead to this new era – I realize this is one of the most daunting assignments I’ve received in a minute. How do I package a 21-year experience with the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon in just a couple hundred words? 

I’ll start by letting you in on a little inside scoop. Over my years with the marathon, a lot of plotting, planning and decision-making took place over breakfast. In a post-pandemic-work-from-home world, these semi-frequent get-togethers took on more importance. They were efficient and more focused than our weekly zoom calls. And for me, it was always an excuse to splurge on a plate of pigs in a blanket. Always. 

It seemed more than fitting that my last unofficial get-together with Tim Rhodes, the former owner and race director, would be over breakfast. And with the formal announcement, interviews, and news conferences behind us, we did just that. 

But this go round, I went off script. Rather than the usual pigs in a blanket, I ordered the Dutch Baby; sausage links on the side. At its core, it’s everything I wanted: my favorite breakfast stuff at the usual spot, but repositioned and reconfigured into something new but equally as approachable. It was different, but familiar. And as always, I loved it. 

As breakfast disappeared from our plates, we talked about the transition and the marathon’s possibilities. I couldn’t help but think of all the events, all the miles, all the people I’ve seen laugh and cry the finish line. All those names, faces, and sweaty hugs and high fives are like little movies in my brain. It’s a vantage point most folks will never know; standing at the finish line, microphone in hand, watching thousands of individual dramas play out right in front of you. It’s theatre in 26.2 acts, where I’m the only one privy to the final scene. I see how it ends for each and every runner, and am left to imagine the rest of their stories. I’ve run more than my share of marathons, so I know how it goes, too. I also know they’re all different, and familiar, and I love them all. 

In some way or form, I’ve been a part of this marathon from the start. I was in the room where it happened, if you’ll allow the borrow from Mr. Miranda, when Tim fielded what must have been one of a thousand calls wondering if he would be the one to bring the marathon back to Charlotte. He would, of course, and here we are.

For folks who don’t know or remember, here’s the Cliff’s Notes version: The Novant Health Charlotte Marathon is actually the most recent iteration of Charlotte’s long history with 26.2 miles. The Charlotte Observer – yes, the newspaper – was in the marathon business from 1977 to 1999. The city even hosted the Olympic marathon trials in 1996 before the Observer ended its 23-year run with the event. 

The Charlotte Marathon Run for Peace occupied a short but intriguing space on that timeline from 1999 to 2004. Back then it was a January race with a route that took runners from Davidson College to Queens University, in what I fondly(?) remember as the worst possible weather weekends for running.. That one went under when the race director plead guilty to embezzling from the nonprofit event. 

It’s at this point, Tim made the call the add “marathon” to his list of local race offerings, and where the story of the marathon most of you know begins. Hoping to capitalize on the popularity of themed events, newcomers’ interest in the marathon – thanks to you, Ms. Winfrey – and the Charlotte area’s stock car racing history; the event spent its formative years under the brand, “Charlotte’s Thunder Road Marathon.” It was different, but familiar, and people came to love it.

Participation crept up along with interest in running throughout the early 2000’s. Let’s just call it more of a slow burn. Things motored on until 2016, when a new title sponsor, Novant Health, fueled a rebrand and yet another chapter of Charlotte’s 26.2-mile spectacle in (road) racing. At that point, the stock car themes were garaged – as I will now do with this ridiculous word association. Once again, it was different yet familiar, and people quickly grew to love it. 

Since then, the marathon has thrived; surviving a hurricane, a pandemic and a virtual event, reaching historic registration marks, and raising more than $750,000 for Novant Health Hemby Children’s hospital. It’s also been the stage for World Records, personal bests, wedding proposals, and thousands more beautiful stories of triumph, perseverance, and pure joy. 

Was it a good run? Absolutely. Going forward, I believe it will continue to be a great run, just different. It will feel familiar in many ways, too. And yes, people will love it. 

See you at the finish line.

Novant Health Charlotte Marathon organizers, fundraisers, runners and friends celebrated another major milestone for the event: a $138,641 check presented to Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital. The donation represents dollars raised from the 2025 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. This year’s check brings the event’s cumulative support for Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital to well over $750,000 since the partnership began.

Through Team Hemby, individual donations, corporate partners, and other fundraising efforts tied to race weekend, runners and supporters helped turn their miles into tangible support. Funds from the marathon benefit a variety of programs and services at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital, from advanced technology to family-centered support.

“While the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon is a powerful experience for the runners who take on the challenge, its greatest impact is felt far beyond the finish line,” said Dr. Catherine Ohmstede, physician leader for the Novant Health Children’s Institute in the Greater Charlotte region. “For the children and families who rely on Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital, this event represents hope and healing. Support from the runners directly strengthens our ability to deliver remarkable care to every child and family who walks through our doors.”

The 21st running of the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon drew a record-setting 11,500 athletes to the marathon, half marathon, and Chick-fil-A 5K events. For the second consecutive year, all events reached capacity. Runners from all 50 states and 19 countries participated, highlighting the growing appeal of Charlotte’s premiere road running weekend.  

If you’re new around here, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re one of about 60,000 folks who moved to the Charlotte area last year. Welcome! And if you’re reading this, someone’s already tipped you to at least one of the great resources for runners around here. Good on them, and you. 

If you’re a long-time reader, Charlotte native, running scene regular, etc., keep an eye out for new faces as they navigate their new hometown. For us, we know we’ll practice particular patience when explaining the whole Queens-Providence thing and other road name oddities. You can rabbit hole the heck out of that on the CLT subreddits, but we’re happiest just answering questions about where to run around Charlotte.  

Here’s a short list, with loads of possibilities… 

Mecklenburg County Greenways: This is fuzzy even for some Charlotte folks, but the local greenway system is actually under the County’s Parks and Recreation system. There are currently 84 miles of area greenways to enjoy, with more in various stages of production. Axios Charlotte’s Ashley Mahoney follows these developments closely. Charlotte Running Club and Little Sugar Creek Greenway parkrun host regular events on some of the most popular stretches of greenway. 

Lots of local running events: The local Charlotte running calendar never really “stops,” but when it gets going… it really, really gets going. And it’s pretty much full gas through mid-November and the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. There are plenty of must-do runs, like Around the Crown 10k, Charlotte RaceFest, or the SouthPark Turkey Trot, and there are so many other great local events, too – many of those benefitting Charlotte area nonprofits. Check out these area race calendars from Start2Finish and Charlotte Running Company. 

Run club, anyone? More like, run club anywhere and everywhere. In just a couple of years, Charlotte’s local run club scene has turned into… well, an actual scene. There are now more than 80 run clubs, covering every day of the week – morning and night. There’s really something somewhere for just about every kind of runner; from big, event-style happenings like Mad Miles and Barn Burners, to more intimate, low-key joints like Bart’s Mart. The Charlotte Running Club does a helluva job keeping track of them all here. 

Try some trails: The yin to that whole 60,000 newcomers’ yang is, of course, more traffic. The good news is, your running doesn’t have to be relegated to the streets and surrounding sidewalks. Living here means you’re close to some pretty accessible trail systems. There are local parks with more beginner-friendly loops, miles and miles of off-road opportunities at the Whitewater Center or Crowder’s Mountain State Park; just to name a few. There are regular meet-ups at Col. Francis Beatty Park and the Whitewater Center, if you’re looking for company. 

Back to the track: The only way to run faster is to run faster. If that’s more your speed, that’s great, too. Arguably, Charlotte could use more public tracks; but that doesn’t mean you can’t find fast friends around here. Charlotte Running Company hosts Tempo Tuesday from their Riverwalk location, and The Track Project on Tuesday mornings at their Ballantyne location. 

What are we missing here? And where would you suggest a new – or new to Charlotte – runner go first? Let us know, and we’ll share that, too! 

Winter running in Charlotte can be less than the best: it’s dark, it’s damp, and sometimes it’s downright cold (at least by some folks’ standards). But those gray mornings don’t have to derail your running goals. Here are 5 ways to stay (or get) motivated before springtime running season eventually blooms around here.

1. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Few things light a fire like having a date circled on the calendar and an entry fee invested. Sign up for something early in the season just to give you some purpose. Local goal events like Charlotte Craft Beer Half, The Around the Crown 10K, or the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon will be here before you know it. Running now will make starting those training plans that much easier.

2. Check Out a New Crew

There’s a good chance there’s at least one or ten weekly organized runs near you. There are literally multiple run club get-togethers every day of the week around here – morning and night. Check out this list here on the Charlotte Running Club website. Bonus: many end with breakfast or beers. Accountability plus community equals consistency. 

3. Mix It Up 

It doesn’t always have to be about running. Winter is a great time to try new activities. Whether it’s swimming or pickleball or anything to get you up and moving; it’s a good thing. Adding a cross-training day (or two) can make your spring races stronger and keep overuse injuries in check.

4. Get Professional Help 

Having trouble creating your own motivation? Coaches and personal trainers literally get paid to keep you on task. Whether you’re looking for a virtual training partner, a group training program, or an actual-factual, in-person coach… you’ve got options. Our friends at Cross Conditioning Training or Forward Motion would be happy to make some recommendations.  

5. Treat Yo’ Self

It’s not just for October 13^th anymore. When you hit a milestone— like a perfect week of workouts, a mileage goal, or whatever – find a way to treat yourself and celebrate these off-season wins. Grab brunch or a coffee with friends, go to bed early one night, have zero guilt about checking out that new series everyone’s been binging. Little rewards can keep your routine sustainable and fun.

And Remember Your “Why”

Whether you run for your health, community, or peace of mind, your “why” still matters. Even in January and February. Take a minute to reconnect with that concept before each run. Every cold mile in January builds the foundation for a better, healthier, happier you come spring.

A brand-new year and a brand new page in the training log.  It’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it? Full of possibility… but also a little intimidating. For runners of every pace and experience level, the keys to setting goals you can actually stick to and achieve are kinda simple. It’s all about keeping them personal, manageable, and grounded in real life – and not based on someone else’s highlight reel. 

Anne Fechtel is lead run coach at Cross Conditioning Training, here in Charlotte. She sees lots of runners come in hot with big ambitions—things like PRs at every distance or jumping to a marathon, ultra, or even a backyard ultra. She loves those big dreams, but she reminds runners that “it’s important to start small and be realistic with goals,” breaking them into short-term and long-term benchmarks so they feel less overwhelming. If breaking four hours in the marathon is the dream, she suggests stepping stones like a 52-minute 10K or a 1:55 half to build confidence and fitness along the way.  

Make Goals Manageable

One of the core ideas Anne emphasizes is what she calls “manageable goal setting.” That means looking at your actual calendar and scheduling runs and strength training “just like [you] would an important meeting,” so those sessions are protected instead of optional. When schedules are packed around the holidays, vacations, your busy season, etc., that routine can feel grounding and create some consistency. Those regular, scheduled efforts, she says, are what really moves the needle over time. 

Give Yourself Some Grace

For Danielle Heath, Community Manager for Fleet Feet, the tone you set with yourself in January matters as much as the miles. “As we head into the new year, my biggest piece of advice is to GO EASY on yourself, your training and your expectations,” she says. This doesn’t mean giving half effort or being half committed. Instead, she cautions against rushing your goals or beating yourself up “when your training has to be adjusted to meet life’s demands,” because “slow is often smooth, and smooth turns into fast.” And when life gets in the way of your running goals, give yourself some grace and be willing to adjust your goals along the way. 

Find Your Lane

It’s easy to compare your goals to the next person’s, especially when your social media feed is full of PRs and race medals. Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassador Rebecca Greene’s first piece of advice is simple: “focus on your goals and not get distracted looking at someone else’s achievements.” Your season of life, your history with running, and your capacity right now are yours alone—your goals should match that reality, not someone else’s.  

Get an Accountability Buddy

Rebecca also knows goals are easier to chase with company. “Find someone with similar goals so you can be encouraged [as] others’ accountability partner.” Having a teammate or partner in the process makes it fun and challenging, she says. The motivation you share can go a long way, whether that’s a friend meeting you for early miles, a local training group, or a race buddy texting you the night before a tough workout.  

As the new year and the new training season begin, let your running goals be realistic but bold enough to get you excited about logging the miles to get there. Start small, keep showing up, and give yourself the grace to grow into those goals one manageable step at a time.