Running or not: What you need to know about this weekend’s Charlotte Marathon

The rebranded Novant Health Charlotte Marathon starts promptly at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 in Romare Bearden Park uptown. Running or not, here’s what you need to know:

(1) Where the starting line is

On S. Graham Street next to BB&T Ballpark. Runners: Be there on time. Non-runners: Don’t make plans to be here. It gets a tad crowded.

(2) Where the finish line is

What starts must end. The finish line is uptown between BB&T Ballpark and Romare Bearden Park on S. Mint Street. Runners: Your goal is to get here. Non-runners: This is a fun cheering spot, so be here to cheer. And if you were planning for a romantic mid-morning picnic or engagement proposal at the park, this is not the day for it.

(3) Where the traffic issues will be

Trying to drive through a race course is a pain for anyone involved. Certain intersections uptown will begin closing at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, while others will begin closing at 5 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12. Major affected roads include Providence Road, Randolph Road, Central Avenue and Morehead Street. Check out the color-coded list of road closures here if you plan to be out and about. Course maps can be found here.

(4) Where to find the tunes

That’s right, music will be blasting from the course itself, so runners and non-runners alike can enjoy.

Split Second Sound will be entertaining from 7:30 a.m.-1:35 p.m. at mile marker 0.1/26, at the corner of Stonewall and Mint streets.

Singer/songwriter Ashley Heath will be playing from 8:15 a.m.-9:35 a.m. at mile marker 8.35 at Morehead Street and Kings Drive.

Little Dreamer Productions will be deejaying from 8:35-10:15 a.m. at mile marker 11.65, at West Boulevard and Tryon Street.

The Jon Linker Band will be playing from 8:55-11:05 a.m. at mile marker 15.3 at Parkwood Avenue and 18th Street.

See the full entertainment lineup here.

(5) Where to find the spirit

If you’re running, the cheer stations scream out welcome bursts of encouragement (not that you need it, you’ve got this). And non-runners, these are the most interesting places to plop down your spectator chair. Know where to find the Villa Heights/26.Brew, Black Girls Run, Dilworth Neighborhood Association and other cheer stations — click here.

(6) When it all ends

Runners: You have three hours to complete the half marathon and six hours to complete the marathon. Non-runners: That means you have until 1:30 p.m. to cheer — or steer clear of the course.

Godspeed.

Photos: John D. Simmons/Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Marathon

This story was originally published November 7, 2016 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Running or not: What you need to know about this weekend’s Charlotte Marathon."