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Shopping for runners – or yourself this season – just got a lot easier. Skip the generic gadgets and stuff their stockings with gear from the local shops that keep Charlotte running strong all year long. From cozy layers to max-cushioned shoes and recovery essentials, these gifts are made for all the miles and finish-line feels ahead.

 

Charlotte Running Company

Charlotte Running Company has you covered from head to toe, whether you or your runner are chasing a PR, or getting those miles day or night. 

• Running apparel & layers
  Think technical tops, tights, and outerwear built to handle sweat, wind, and back-to-back run days, all while looking sharp for group runs and post-run coffee.
  Find it at: Charlotte Running Company (all locations and online).
• “See & Be Seen” lights and reflective gear
  High-visibility vests, lights, and reflective accessories help runners stay visible on dark winter mornings and evenings, making night miles safer and more confident.
  Find it at: Charlotte Running Company – “See & Be Seen” collection.
• CRC x Goodr sunglasses
  These no-slip, no-bounce sunglasses bring fun colors and polarized lenses to every run, from sunny long runs to race day, without breaking the bank.
  Find it at: Charlotte Running Company – CRC x Goodr collection.

Fleet Feet Charlotte

Fleet Feet Charlotte brings a mix of everyday essentials and big-ticket upgrades that runners will use long after the tree comes down. 

• Jogology Low Cushion No Show Socks
  These ultra-light, no-show socks fit like a second skin, with seamless toes, snug arch support, and heel tabs to prevent rubbing and slipping—perfect for runners who want less bulk but maximum comfort.
  Find it at: Fleet Feet Charlotte (Jogology section).
• Brooks Ghost Max 3
  This max-cushioned daily trainer delivers a plush ride with a high stack of cushioning, rocker geometry for smooth transitions, and a breathable mesh upper, ideal for easy runs, recovery days, and long walks.
  Find it at: Fleet Feet Charlotte in store or online
• New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v14
  A mild-stability shoe that blends soft Fresh Foam X cushioning with a stability plate and supportive geometry, making it a great option for runners who want comfort plus guidance for overpronation.
  Find it at: Fleet Feet Charlotte – in store or online 
• lululemon Scuba Oversized Funnel-Neck Half-Zip (Long)
  This cozy, oversized half-zip is perfect for pre-run warmups, post-run coffee, or work-from-home days, with a soft interior and a funnel neck that keeps winter chill away. 
  Find it at: Fleet Feet Charlotte – lululemon apparel in store or online

Run For Your Life

Run For Your Life leans into recovery, winter comfort, and safety—perfect for the runner who “has everything” but could always use a little something extra this season. 

• OOFOS Recovery Sandals
  These recovery sandals use soft, shock-absorbing foam to reduce stress on feet and joints, making them a go-to choice for slipping on after long runs, races, or a day on your feet.
  Find it at: Run For Your Life – search “OOFOS” in-store or online.
• Winter running gloves
  Lightweight, run-specific gloves keep hands warm without overheating, offering just-right insulation and grip so runners can handle phones, hydration, and zippers on the move.
  Find it at: Run For Your Life – winter accessories available in store and online
• Shokz headphones
  These open-ear headphones use bone conduction so runners can listen to music or podcasts while still hearing traffic, bikes, and other runners, boosting both safety and enjoyment on every route.
  Find it at: Run For Your Life – search “Shokz” in store or online.
• Run For Your Life branded gear
  Store-branded apparel and accessories show off that local Charlotte pride at races, group runs, and out-of-town events. That’s a warm and comfy way to keep it local, for sure.
  Find it at: Run For Your Life – branded gear collection.
  

Running truly is a gift. (Ask any runner who’s been forced to take some time off, right?) For those of us running around Charlotte, there are any number of ways to pay that gift forward. Here’s our updated list, including programs for local youth. Each year, the list of opportunities to pay it forward grows – and that’s a good thing, too. 

We’ve included links to find out more or contribute to these local nonprofits. For the more-than-curious, we’ve added links to related episodes of The Running Around Charlotte Podcast. 

Your Local Public School’s Athletic Program

The high schools or middle schools in your area likely have cross country and track programs that are woefully underfunded, and need your dollars to share the sport with marginalized kids. Simply contact the school of choice and ask about a booster club or foundation for the athletic department!

CMS Athletics site (with schools): CMS Athletics – Charlotte 

Project Outpour 

You probably know this, but it takes plenty of volunteers to make your event day happen. Project Outpour is one of the local nonprofits that events all over town can rely on to bring enthusiastic support for all sorts of event day tasks. Much appreciated, for sure! What you might not know is that this Charlotte-founded nonprofit provides thousands of clean showers for homeless neighbors throughout the city. 

To Support: https://projectoutpour.org/donate/ 

Listen and Learn More: https://runningaroundclt.blubrry.net/2025/09/05/mashonna-hughes-project-outpour/ 

Girls on the Run

The earlier we can teach girls to be active and healthy, the more likely they are to make good habits that last a lifetime. Girls on the Run, founded in Charlotte, became a national phenomenon based on this premise. The popular afterschool program offers the opportunity and encouragement girls need to learn about inner strength, confidence, and their own health and fitness at a crucial age. GOTR teaches skills of character, care, and self-reliance through running.

To Support: https://www.gotrgreaterclt.org/Support-Us

Let Me Run

If you’ve heard of Girls on the Run, you may know there is a similar group for boys called Let Me Run. A new, reformulated-for-the-times curriculum addresses boys’ emotional needs brought on by the pandemic, in addition to its traditional format of challenging the “Boy Code.” The non-profit program, also founded in Charlotte and growing nationwide, encourages boys in 4th through 8th grade to be healthy, build relationships, and live active lifestyles with skills learned through running and positive communication. 

To Support: Let Me Run Donations | LetMeRun.org

Listen and learn more: https://runningaroundclt.blubrry.net/2025/09/12/nikki-prenoveau-and-david-brewer-let-me-run/ 

Cross Country for Youth

Cross Country for Youth introduces young people to cross-country and character-building concepts with twice-a-week training. The non-profit for 9- to 14- year-olds (4^th – 8^th grades) teaches endurance, flexibility, and character development through group runs, stretching, and focused talks about Integrity, Respect, Sportsmanship, Responsibility, Perseverance, Teamwork, Commitment, Courage, Discipline and Leadership.

To Support: Cross-Country For Youth

Latinos Run 

Latinos Run is an international organization that promotes running as way to improve physical and mental health of the Latino community. As a trailblazing running platform for Latinos, Latinos Run has a global audience servicing over 45,000 runners comprised of beginners to elite athletes who are passionate about running and focused on living a healthier life. The local Charlotte chapter meets on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Join their FB, IG or Heylo groups for more. 

To Support: https://www.latinosrun.com/leaders 

Mad Miles
Founded by our friends at Mad Miles, this nonprofit 501(c)(3) aims to build and strengthen community. Their three pillars of focus are to provide resources to the community, promote educational advancement, and encourage acts of service. Naturally, we’re fans. 

Their “More Than Miles” scholarship was created to provide collegiate students the opportunity to develop professionally and socially while highlighting the importance of community in building successful networks. 

To Support: https://www.madmilesrunclub.com/morethanmiles
Listen and learn more: https://runningaroundclt.blubrry.net/2023/08/01/cornell-jones-mad-miles/


Josh Neuman Foundation
Chris and Kristin Neuman started this Charlotte-based nonprofit to honor their son, Josh – an extreme skateboard athlete and YouTube star who died in a plane crash in 2022. Josh leveraged his fame for good, and the Neuman’s continue to help others “Live a Good Story” through the foundation. Focused on feeding others and providing access to clean water, the Josh Neuman Foundation partnered with Nourish Up at this year’s Novant Health Charlotte Marathon and their “Miles for Meals” program.

To Support: https://joshneumanfoundation.org
Listen and learn more: https://runningaroundclt.blubrry.net/2024/10/10/kristin-neuman-courtney-oates/ 

Samaritan’s Feet 

Samaritan’s Feet believes that a new pair of shoes can provide a tangible foundation of hope, and decrease the possibility of getting a foot-borne disease. Since its founding in 2003, this Charlotte-based non-profit and partners have distributed over 8 million pairs of shoes in 108 countries and over 440 U.S. cities. 

To Support: Samaritans Feet  

Listen and learn more: https://runningaroundclt.blubrry.net/2020/11/17/tracie-ohonme/

Black Men Run 

Black Men Run is about more than just getting in the miles. This program aims to reverse negative health trends and increased health risks that plague Black males, by offering support and camaraderie through running. The organization’s mission is to encourage African American males to get out and be active. The Charlotte chapter of this national organization is active and open to all! 

To Support: Black Men Run: Home

Listen and learn more: https://runningaroundclt.blubrry.net/2021/11/09/gregory-washington/ 

Achilles International 

Achilles International is a global organization operating in 18 countries including the US, transforms the lives of people with disabilities through athletic programs and social connection. Since their founding in 1983, Achilles International has empowered over 150,000 athletes of all ages and ability levels to participate in endurance events around the globe. You’ve probably seen some of them at the finish of the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon! 

To Support: https://give.achillesinternational.org/give/321270/#!/donation/checkout 

NC Special Olympics 

Special Olympics North Carolina held its first Games in 1970 with 400 participants and has since grown to be recognized globally as one of the largest Special Olympics programs in the world. Nearly 40,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities participate in Special Olympics North Carolina. 

To Support: https://support.specialolympics.org/a/north-carolina?ms=IDMP_DB&utm_source=donatebtn&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=IDMP 

Listen and learn more: https://runningaroundclt.blubrry.net/2023/06/06/philip-blount/ 

Black Girls Run 

Black Girls Run was launched in 2009 to encourage and motivate Black women to practice a healthy lifestyle, and to battle what the nonprofit calls the “growing obesity epidemic” in the African American community. The group is a fitness resources to get ALL women moving — regardless of race — and lower the number of women with chronic diseases associated with an unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle.

To Support: BGR! Foundation

Listen and learn more: https://runningaroundclt.blubrry.net/2021/04/13/black-girls-run/ 

Para Guide

Running a marathon or taking part in other sports is a big enough challenge for most anyone. Now imagine you are training or competing with a visual impairment that doesn’t let you see the crowd or bumps in the road as clearly as the other athletes. Para Guides allows athletes with visual disabilities to train and compete in swimming, cycling, running, or group activities by pairing them with another athlete or coach who guides their way, even providing transportation if they have none. 

To Support: Blind Running | Para Guide | United States

Listen and learn more: https://runningaroundclt.blubrry.net/2019/09/03/shannon-houlihan/

Speed for Need

This nonprofit was created with inclusiveness in mind. Trained drivers (runners) share races with their special needs Track Commanders (riders) by pushing them in customized racing wheelchairs. Speed for Need has a mission to raise awareness and foster inclusion of those with a special need, supported by the men of F3 Nation.

To Support: Speed for Need | Who Pushes Who?

Listen and learn more: https://runningaroundclt.blubrry.net/2019/07/23/kevin-young/

Hemby Foundation

The Hemby Foundation is the charitable entity that supports the Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital, beneficiaries of the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. While not technically a running nonprofit, they work daily to protect and preserve the health of our children so they can grow strong and run someday.

To Support: Support Hemby Children’s Hospital

Listen and learn more: https://runningaroundclt.blubrry.net/2025/10/10/team-hemby/ 

Know of a running-related nonprofit that needs to be on this list? Let us know! Email ed@runcharlotte.com 

# # # 

Like a lot of you, we’re still riding a bit of a high since last weekend’s Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. If you ran, supported, cheered, or volunteered… congrats again! It was a record-setting day in lots of ways, and every one of you had a role in making it so.

The Team is digging out from piles of emails, DM’s, post-event data, invoices, and other bits of behind-the-scenes business that come with putting on events. It’s all super-sexy stuff. And as always, there a tons of lessons learned, success stories, and opportunities to make next year even better.

I’ll shift gears into first-person here, since this one’s my personal takeaway and request to each and every one of you: please, don’t say “just.”

Over the course of the last few weeks, during the Expo, and even on event day itself; I couldn’t possibly count the number of folks told me they were just running the half marathon, or just running the 5k, or even just going out along the course to cheer or see some friends while they ran.

To me, that just feels wrong.

Truth is, if you’re running a half marathon (or a marathon) you’re among the 1-percent of the population who’s done so. Running a 5K or 10k? Only a single-digit percentage of folks have checked that box. That’s pretty special. And if you’ve ever volunteered or cheered at an event, you know you’re good and spent once the athletes have all crossed the finish line. Maybe just as tired as the runners themselves? See what I did there.

I spend a lot of time at start lines and finish lines. I know what happens in between those lines, and what goes on behind the scenes. No one is just running. Every single one of you has a reason you’re out there. I’ve written thousands of words and spent hours and hours recording The Running Around Charlotte Podcast, asking your “why.” And no one is just volunteering or cheering, or just setting alarms for 2am to make sure everyone else out there has the safest, most rewarding experience possible.

It is, and you all are, the real deal. And that’s just facts.

Next time I see you on the road, at the Expo, at a start or finish line, or even at the grocery store… I hope you’ll let me know you just completed your first marathon, half marathon, 5k, etc.; just reached a personal best; or just got your voice back after cheering all day along the course.

That would be just great!

November 15, 2025

Charlotte —  Breaking records was the theme for the day at the 21^st running of the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. A record-setting 11,500 athletes entered the marathon, half marathon, and Chick-fil-A 5k events. And for the second year in a row, all events reached capacity. 

“This event has turned into a big deal,” said Tim Rhodes, managing partner and Race Director for the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. “This is a celebration of everything these runners have worked for – whether they’re setting a PR, qualifying for Boston, or finishing for the very first time – they’re choosing to do it in Charlotte.” 

Runners representing all 50 states and 19 countries made up the record-setting field. Knoxville’s Carter Coughlin was the overall winner of the marathon. Jessica Sarnicola of Matthews won the women’s title. And in another first, Elisabeth Laseter of Charlotte defended her title in the Chick-fil-A 5k event, besting her 2024 finish time by nearly 18 seconds. 

Lancaster, SC runner Nathaneal Williams may have also set a new world record for fastest half marathon pushing a double stroller. According to the Guinness World Records site, the fastest men’s time currently stands at 1:14:20. Williams clocked a 1:12:57 today on the Charlotte half marathon course. 

“The last few miles, I was hurting pretty good,” Williams said of his fast finish. “The next steps are to send the results to Guinness to confirm that as the new record.” 

Results: 2025 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Events

Men’s Marathon Winner: Carter Coughlin, 2:31:44 (Knoxville, TN)

Women’s Marathon Winner: Jessica Sarnicola, 3:01:48 (Matthews, NC) 

Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Half Marathon 

Men’s Winner: Alexis Collumb, 1:04:31 (Yvrech, FR) 

Women’s Winner: Abigail Herring, 1:16:41(Parkersburg, WV)

Chick-fil-A 5k: 

Men’s Winner: Silas Floyd Fair, 15:50 (Charlotte, NC) 

Women’s Winner: Elizabeth Laseter, 16:38 (Charlotte, NC) 

Complete results for all events can be found here: 

https://results.raceroster.com/v3/events/3vgp2qeac5c9rhab

Registration for the November 14, 2026 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon is open now at https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Charlotte/CharlotteMarathon 

Whether you’ll run, walk, or volunteer at Saturday’s 21^st running of the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon, half marathon, or Chick-fil-A 5k, you’ll probably have someone waiting and watching for you who’d appreciate some hot tips on where to find you along the course. We got you. Or maybe you’re looking for some easy-to-get-to vantage points to cheer on runners, that’s out of the uptown parking footprint. That’s cool, too! 

We believe this event route is not only a great way to see Charlotte on foot, it’s also pretty accommodating for spectators, as well. Here are six more great places to watch for runners along the course – that aren’t the start or finish line. 

Mile 2: At Fourth Street and Hawthorne Lane, near Novant Health Hospital. You’ll be just south of uptown here, and you’ll find plenty of parking, too. You’ll have 30 solid minutes of athletes passing here, with the lead runner coming through about 7:30am. 

Miles 6.25 – 7.34: This more than a mile-long stretch of stately trees and historic homes along Queens Road West makes for fantastic viewing. There’s a wide median here, which will give you plenty of room to spread out as runners pass for the better part of an hour, starting at about 8am. 

Miles 10 – 10.6: If you’re following a half marathon runner, you should have plenty of time to decamp and catch your runner(s) as they head north along East Morehead Street between S. McDowell Street and S. Tryon St., before heading toward the finish. 

Mile 12.7: Here’s where the marathoners and half marathoners split. The Sole will host a cheer section here, so there’s sure to be plenty of action. And, no matter what distance they’re covering, runners will be ready for a little extra energy at this point! 

Miles 15-17 and 21-23: Pull up along North Davidson Street or on 35^th or 36^th Streets, and you’ll be able to see your runners twice within just a few blocks walk. 

Miles 18 and 20: Here’s another great spot to see the marathon runners twice from the same location. Runners will pass this intersection at The Plaza and Mecklenburg Ave. at miles 18 and 20. If you’re headed back to the finish, you should have plenty of time. 

You can find more info on how to make the most of your day along the course here in our Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Spectator Guide. The footprint of the event start and finish line areas can be found here, and turn-by-turn directions for the course are here. 

And even if you won’t be running this year’s events, the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Expo presented by Fleet Feet is free and open to the running public on Friday, November 14 from 10am – 7pm.