10K races near Pittsboro

The Carrboro 5K/10K offers runners a choice between a 6.2-mile 10K and a 3.1-mile 5K. Both races begin at 8 a.m. from McDougle Middle School in Carrboro, North Carolina. The 5K, a more recent addition, has a participant limit of 300 runners. The entry fee for either distance is $35. Both races traverse Carrboro neighborhoods before concluding on the McDougle track. This event is part of Le Tour de Carrboro, a three-race series benefiting Carrboro Area Charities. Participants in the series must select either the 5K or the 10K for this particular race, not both.

Rootrock lives up to its name: the trail run sends 5K, 10K, and half marathon runners onto single-track paths covered in roots and rocks at Briar Chapel, south of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It takes place on a mid-fall morning and utilizes the trail network within a 900-acre green community, featuring forested paths designed for hiking and mountain biking. Great Meadow Park is the start and finish area. Its lawn, stage, and pavilion provide a central gathering point for the race. This run is the first event of the Rootrock Trail Races and is paired with the Rootrock Mountain Bike Race; athletes registering for both receive a discount and a special award. Following the run, the event offers food, music, a kids' treasure race, and an awards ceremony with giveaways.

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.

The Holly Springs Half Marathon, 10K & 5K begins near the stadium at Ting Park, within the North Main Athletic Complex in Holly Springs, North Carolina. This annual road race offers half marathon, 10K, and 5K distances, along with ruck divisions for each. The course presents runners with a combination of rolling hills, flatter sections, neighborhood streets, greenway trails, and a run down Main Street, avoiding a monotonous out-and-back on empty pavement. All races start with a descent from Ting Park toward North Main Street, then encounter the rolling hills of Anchor Creek in the initial mile before reaching Middle Creek Greenway. The half marathon proceeds south through Bridgewater, Windcrest, Sunset Ridge, Veterans Park, Jones Park, the historic district, Main Street, and Womble Park. In Womble Park, participants navigate a figure-eight loop before rejoining the greenway around mile seven. The half marathon then follows Middle Creek Greenway for approximately five miles, with turnarounds at both extremities, before returning via Anchor Creek Way for the final mile to the finish. The 10K and 5K share the same initial section and enter Middle Creek Greenway, providing shorter-distance runners a sample of the varied terrain.

Birds of a Feather Trail Trot is a Thanksgiving Day trail run at Briar Chapel in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Runners can choose a 2-mile route with paved path, grass, and smooth trail, or go longer on rugged 5K and 10K options with roots, rocks, and rolling hills. The 2-mile distance also has an untimed fun run option, suitable for those who want a relaxed holiday outing as well as those who want to race. The event embraces a turkey-trot feel while not being solely a road race. Families and groups can run together, kids 11 and under participate for free, and everyone can stay afterward for pie. The post-race awards ceremony includes contests and giveaways, contributing to the morning's neighborhood holiday gathering atmosphere rather than a simple start-to-finish run.

The Turkey Chase is a Bethesda-Chevy Chase charity race held around Thanksgiving. It features an in-person 10K run and a 2-mile walk/run. Virtual options include a 10K, 5K, 2-mile walk, 10-mile bike ride, 400-yard swim, and a 1-mile swim, allowing participation for those not near Maryland.

Run At The Rock guides participants through the trails of Cedarock Park in Burlington, North Carolina. Runners can choose from 5K, 10K, and half marathon distances. This event has been held annually since 2005. The 10K and half marathon begin at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, with the 5K starting at 9:30. Cedarock Park is located a short distance from Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem. The courses feature winding single-track sections and more open equestrian trails. Course markers and aid stations are provided approximately every 1 to 2 miles. Registration provides a race hoodie, and finishers receive substantial medals that can also be used as drink coasters. The post-race gathering offers hot soup, music, a complimentary children's race, and an awards ceremony with numerous prizes.

Sole Mates is a Saturday-morning running and walking event at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, offering 6.5-mile, 5K, and 1-mile options. The format accommodates both pairs and solo participants; individuals can register alone or as a doubles team, with awards for teams based on their combined times. The Fun Mile begins at 8:45 AM, followed by the 5K and 6.5-mile races starting concurrently at 9:00 AM. The course concludes at 11:30 AM. The fastest recorded times indicate competitive racing at the front, with marks including 16:40 for the men's 5K, 19:59 for the women's 5K, 37:04 for the men's 6.5-mile race, and 47:49 for the women's 6.5-mile race. Doubles records also provide a method to pursue a time alongside a friend, spouse, child, neighbor, or training partner.

Viking Dash Raleigh is a February trail run held at Harris Lake County Park in New Hill, North Carolina, southwest of Raleigh. Participants can select a 5K or a 10K race. The 10K begins first, with the 5K starting a few minutes after. The event belongs to the Viking Dash series, which emphasizes a Viking theme and refers to the race as a "Viking Challenge." Organizers present it as a trail day suitable for groups, inviting participants to bring friends. The finisher medal is a significant attraction. The published details mention that race information is subject to change, so participants should verify the final schedule on the race website.

The Cary Greenways Half-Marathon is a spring trail race in Cary, North Carolina. It begins at 801 High House Road and utilizes the town’s greenway system instead of city streets. The primary distances offered are 13.1 miles, 10K, and 5K. Virtual options and a Kids in Strollers category are available, making the day suitable for runners, walkers, families, and individuals seeking a timed effort on familiar trails. The course is entirely unpaved. The current records for the half marathon are 1:16:08 for men and 1:25:17 for women. Fit & Able has managed the event since 2017 and integrates it into a broader race series. Completing this half marathon and the Cary Greenways Tour results in a combined 26.2-mile achievement. Finishing all five Fit & Able half marathons earns participants 65.5 miles and additional awards. The race includes a start window, an 11:00 AM finish cutoff, a half-marathon turnaround cutoff, finisher medals and gifts for the main in-person distances, and awards for overall placement, age groups, pace improvement, and new course records.