A version of the following article appeared in the Monday, October 5, 2026, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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Charlotte Marathon runners can say goodbye to 2 dreaded hills 🏃
The Charlotte Marathon and Half Marathon course maps for the Nov. 14, 2026, races. (Map photos from Charlotte Sports Foundation)
by Lindsey Banks
Course changes to this year’s Novant Health Charlotte Marathon will give runners a break from some notorious climbs — but don’t expect a flat race.
Here’s specifically what’s changing:
Goodbye, Morehead Street climb: Both marathon and half marathon runners will take a new route between miles 7 and 8, turning onto East Boulevard and cutting through Dilworth to Morehead Street.
So long, mile 24 hill: Full marathon runners will no longer have to tackle a particularly unwelcome hilly loop around mile 24. Organizers found the necessary mileage elsewhere along the course. Half marathon runners won’t be affected by this change.
Miller Yoho, director of communications and marketing for the Charlotte Sports Foundation, which acquired the race earlier this year, said the changes are part of an ongoing effort to improve the runner experience while accommodating the race’s growth. Event organizers are expecting record participation this year, with more than 13,000 runners across the full marathon, half marathon and 5K races.
Both races will continue to share the same course for nearly 13 miles before splitting off. Click here to view the maps.
But don’t get too comfortable — Charlotte’s rolling terrain won’t let you.
“There’s no such thing as an easy 26.2 miles,” Yoho said. He doesn’t expect the changes to elicit a wave of PRs.
Charlotte’s courses take runners through some of the city’s most recognizable neighborhoods, from Eastover and Myers Park to South End, NoDa and Plaza Midwood. Plus, runners will face one final challenge: the uphill trek into uptown toward the finish line. (Fun fact: that’s one of the reasons why downtown Charlotte is called uptown — because it sits on a hill!)
Cheer stations are also a new addition to the Charlotte Marathon this year. It’s a grant program for local businesses, running clubs and community groups to apply for funding to create memorable experiences to encourage runners along the route.
One piece of advice from Yoho to all runners in training mode: Practice running hills toward the end of your long runs. Charlotte hills have a way of catching up to you.