DC

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.  

Let’s face it. When some of us don’t get those miles, our holiday spirit might be a little less… well, spirited. Sticking to your running schedule during the holidays is less about perfection and more about having a loose plan, flexible expectations, and a sense of humor when things go sideways.  

Set expectations early

Clare Kubiak moved to Charlotte five years ago from California. She knows a thing or two about travel and hosting family for the holidays. And running; she’s a Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassador. She’s also learned that her family actually prefers her as a runner. “They know I’m always a nicer human when I run,” she told us. Communication, of course, is key to making it work, so she lets them know ahead of time that she’ll be slipping out for a quick run at some point in the day. Even when she’s hosting, she lets them know early: “We’re doing a walk after lunch today!” Then everyone can plan around it—or opt out if they want. 

Plan your routes 

Devin Martin is a Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Ambassador and founder of Percent Run Club. He believes the key to staying on track while traveling is planning ahead. Depending on where he’ll stay, he checks if there’s a fitness center, local gym with day passes, or a nearby park or greenway, because “knowing what resources you have around you will allow you to plan the types of workouts you can fit in without taking over the whole trip.” Once he has an address, he uses Strava or Garmin heat maps to find popular, safe running routes and confirm sidewalks or paths via satellite view. Sometimes technology does make things easier. 

Timing is everything 

Most holidays are full of natural “downtime pockets” that make perfect windows for a few miles. Clare looks for those least‑disruptive moments: when kids are deep into a craft, when a Christmas classic is playing and the popcorn is already served, or when the meal is in the oven and half the house has drifted off for a nap. Catching a quick loop while everyone else is occupied can keep your routine intact without feeling like you’ve missed the whole day. 

Let tech and locals guide you

Devin is also a big fan of the RunGo app, which offers pre‑built routes created by local runners and sometimes even from hotel parking lots, complete with turn‑by‑turn audio directions so you don’t have to stare at your phone or worry about getting lost. If your watch supports navigation, you can load those routes straight onto your wrist and head out the door with confidence. And if apps aren’t your thing, old‑school still works: ask friends who know the area, or look up local run clubs and drop in on a group run to get both a route and some instant running buddies. 

Pack like a pro

Holiday travel gets a lot easier when your gear situation is a no‑brainer. Clare recommends a “loose workout kit” you can always grab: a resistance band, running belt, light or vest, shoes (maybe an older pair that can handle anything), gloves, and a hat, so you’re ready to go whether you’re in full training mode or just trying to “sneak something in.” One of her favorite hacks is to travel in her first run outfit—black workout pants that double with a nice sweater for the plane, then pull duty again for that first workout or run the next day. 

Give yourself some grace

Devin admits that what once felt like “dream travel”—new cities, new food, all the time—eventually took a toll on his health and fitness. Now, he still enjoys the fun parts of holiday travel but balances them with enough movement to feel good, focusing on moderation and clarity about his goals: is this trip about maintaining fitness, or is he squeezing in peak marathon training? He looks at the day’s plans in advance and decides whether an early run, a nap‑time workout, or a later shakeout makes the most sense, remembering that one imperfect week won’t erase months of work. 

Make movement part of the memories

Running doesn’t have to be separate from your holiday experience. A neighborhood loop can double as a Christmas lights tour, a family walk after the big meal can become a tradition, and an sightseeing run in a new city might show you more than you’d ever see from the car. Whether you’re hosting or traveling, inviting others to join—on a walk, a jog, or even just a stroll to the end of the street—keeps you accountable and turns “getting your run in” into shared time instead of time away. 

How do you fit in your miles when you’re traveling, hosting, or shuttling between families during trips or holidays? Let us know some of your best holiday or travel running tips, hacks, or traditions. You never know. You might just help another runner get through the season with their sanity—and their training log—intact.