1000s of runners will descend on Charlotte streets Saturday. Here’s what to know.
Weekend alert to Charlotte drivers:
Expect temporary street closures and detours across the Queen City on Saturday, when thousands of runners of all ages are expected for the annual Novant Health Charlotte Marathon.
The weather should be ideal, with sunny skies and a high near 57 predicted, according to the National Weather Service forecast at noon Tuesday.
Last year’s marathon events were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, runners can participate virtually again or in-person.
Events will also include a half-marathon, 5K, marathon relay, Chick-fil-A Kids Dash and a health and wellness expo.
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Alert to drivers
Here’s what drivers not involved in the marathon need to know:
▪ Avoid the South Graham Street area of uptown early Saturday morning.
The 26.2-mile marathon begins on South Graham at 7:30 a.m., and runners will congregate well before the start.
▪ Expect closures and detours along the marathon route through the neighborhoods of Eastover, Myers Park, Dilworth, South End, Wilmore, Greenway, NoDa and Plaza-Midwood.
Streets on route
▪ The route includes parts of South Mint Street; South and North Tryon streets; Stonewall Street; Kingston Avenue; Queens Road; South Kings Drive; Randolph Road; The Plaza; North Davidson Street; East 35th and 36th streets; South Caldwell Street; McDowell Street; Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard; West 4th Street; and Central Avenue.
▪ The route finishes near where it started, so detours and closures will be in place for many hours.
▪ While elite runners can finish a marathon in a little over two hours, it takes many others four or five hours, according to Healthline.com. Others take their time, walking part of the route and finishing in six or seven hours, according to the site.
▪ View the route at CharlotteMarathonCourseMap.
This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 6:00 AM.