Novant Health Wilmington NC Marathon

The Novant Health Wilmington NC Marathon guides runners from Wrightsville Beach to downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, with its beach-to-riverfront route as the primary attraction. The race weekend takes place in late February, featuring a full marathon, half marathon, 5K, and a free Friday evening 1-mile run for children 14 and under. The shorter races welcome participants beyond marathon specialists: the 5K is open to all ages, the half marathon requires participants to be at least 13, and the marathon has a minimum age of 16. The course is a straightforward one-way marathon, beginning at the coast and concluding in Wilmington’s downtown area near the historic waterfront. The event also provides virtual marathon, half marathon, and 5K options for those unable to attend in person, along with a DUO TEAM rider-only entry. As a Novant Health-sponsored race series, the schedule emphasizes family involvement with the free kids’ mile preceding the main Saturday races.