Charlotte Marathon Reviews

  Hilly but GREAT crowd support

By MP about 2024

Review

I knew it was rolling hills going into it so I trained for that. I was shocked by the record turnout and the amount of crowd support throughout the entire marathon.

  Well Organized-Amazing Fans-Hills

By DMG about 2024

Review

I live local, which is why I chose to run this race for the first time. It was very well organized and the fan support was incredible the entire marathon distance! The finish line was great, lots of entertainment for spectators and finishers. Great time of year for race weather.

Race Tips

Hills! I live local so I do train on hills, but I don't care to race them. I decided to not race the course but relax and enjoy it, and I absolutely did. Don't plan to PR and plan to be a little more sore than your average flat course.

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Check the race route before you decide to park to make sure you can get in/out before and after the race. Parking was not an issue even with thousands of runners.

  Fun Time at the Charlotte Marathon

By GWL about 2024

Review

Great well organized race. Everyone comments that the course is hilly but it really was not too bad. There were rolling hills the whole way but nothing super steep or too long. The course is well marked and there are a lot of volunteers at every turn. Good crowd support in the different neighborhoods. Awesome after part in a park downtown. Very cool!

Race Tips

I live in a very flat part of Ohio so I added a hill workout one day a week running back and forth over a tall bridge over a river. It was all I needed to get ready for Charlotte's hills. My time was 7 minutes under my BQ time!

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Tons of hotels downtown within walking distance of the start, finish and expo! We walked out the front door of our hotel and right into our starting coral. After the race, there were tons of restaurants within walking distance of our hotel to celebrate! Awesome city for a marathon!

  Too many turns

By EPH about 2017

Review

The marathon is extremely well run, and the first half takes you through beautiful neighborhoods with lots of crowd support. The back half SUCKS! The crowd support falls off; and the course is just a series of hills and quick turns - I felt like a rat in a maze. I live in CLT and I won't bother driving down town to run it again.

  

By Anonymous about 2016

Review

Beautiful course with rolling hills, awesome fan support, ample water/gatorade stations along the route and porte-potties, well organized, great finisher medal.

Race Tips

Train hills! No hill is super steep or long, but there aren't really many stretches of flat

Logistical Tips (Hotels, Restaurants, Parking, Discounts, etc.)

Lots of uptown parking, you can even take the light rail in.

  

By JMC about 2016

Review

The first half of the marathon is awesome - beautiful neighborhoods, great crowd support, etc. but the back half gets a little lonely. There are some rolling hills but nothing too hateful; although I would say the final mile being uphill on a busy street was not particularly fun. Lastly, the two times I've ran this there has been a pretty strong headwind from about mile 11 to 18 so be prepared.

Race Tips

I had a problem with my GPS getting lost during the 2 times in the city so I showed as running 26.83 instead of 26.2 which really altered my perceived pace - I missed my goal by of under 4 hours when I finished 4:00:50

  

By MC about 2016

Review

The Charlotte community was great. I loved the architecture and sculptures throughout the city. The marathon course was gently rolling, but the last mile was really tough, up a big hill, busy road, and (not the race's fault) very windy. It was a tough course as far as hills are concerned, but definitely easier than Atlanta hils.