Marathon races near Morrisville

The Martin Marietta City of Oaks Marathon is Raleigh’s hometown running event, held in North Carolina’s capital city in November. The start and finish are in the city center, offering runners four options: the full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K. It is the city’s largest race, with over 7,600 participants and thousands of spectators along the streets. The longer courses go by downtown Raleigh landmarks, including the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. Martin Marietta’s title sponsorship is visible on the shirts, finisher medals, and mile markers, with the race incorporating mining and rock puns. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences benefits from the fundraising, with donations supporting local quarry specimens and geology education; dinosaur mascots have even appeared on race day.