City of Oaks Marathon
Raleigh, United States · November · Independent
Why people love it
- Passes the Capitol, NC State bell tower and Pullen Park in the first 10 km (6 mi).
- Free after party with beer, plus a long-sleeve shirt and medal that reviewers praised.
- Roads are closed on course, and parking moved to school lots with a short walk.
- Open entry with about 979 marathon finishers, so no ballot.
Watch out for
- Hilly: 342 m (1,123 ft) of gain, steepest from 30 to 36 km (miles 18.5 to 22.5).
- A 2023 runner found no water for about 11 km (7 mi), miles 17.5 to 21.
- The greenway turnaround at Shelley Lake is narrow and lonely.
- Early November weather ranges from 11 °C (51 °F) highs to 26 °C (79 °F).
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
RaceRaves 4.2 from 41 ratings, plus a newsroom runner who enjoyed the finish party. BibRave reviewers split between beauty and a brutal late hill. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
RaceRaves production 4.4. A crowded start, parking trouble and too few course monitors in 2022 and 2023; parking moved to school lots afterward. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.7
Hilly, with 342 m (1,123 ft) of gain, a 6-hour cutoff and a long dry stretch. One first-timer hit the wall near 29 km (18 mi). · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.5
Only 3.4 percent of about 970 finishers qualified for Boston in 2025. Hills at miles 5 to 7 and 18.5 to 22.5 cost time. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.6
RaceRaves scenery 4.1: Capitol, NC State bell tower, Pullen Park, then greenway to Shelley Lake. A 2024 reviewer found the greenway narrow. · Low confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.0
The half shares the route to about 16 km (10 mi), then a narrow greenway turnaround at Shelley Lake brings some congestion. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
Paved streets plus a narrow shared greenway, which one 2024 reviewer disliked for running. No pothole complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.9
Wikipedia says course roads are temporarily closed, though a 2023 reviewer reported too few monitors near Faircloth Street. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessHilly2.4
342 m (1,123 ft) of gain, above the rolling band. Steepest at miles 18.5 to 22.5 (30 to 36 km). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Net loss of only 9 m (28 ft) over 42.2 km (26.2 mi). Boston qualifying carries no downhill penalty. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.1
Crowded start and finish and a parking scramble in 2022; school lots and a short walk by 2023. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.2
No evidence either way in the sources reached. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.4
Energetic downtown and on Hillsborough Street; a 2019 reviewer called it fine for a small hometown race, and the greenway is lonely. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
Water, sports drink and some gels, but a 2023 runner found no water between 28 and 34 km (21.1 mi). Food ran low in 2022. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.5
No wind complaints in reviews, and much of the greenway is tree-sheltered. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Starts mostly 4 to 11 °C (39 to 52 °F), highs of 11 to 26 °C (51 to 79 °F). The warm 2024 race hurt. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Swings from an 11 °C (51 °F) high in 2023 to 26 °C (79 °F) in 2024. Cold mornings are a known obstacle. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.2
The out-and-back passes the same downtown spots twice, but greenway sections have few spectators. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
About 100 m (330 ft) above sea level, general knowledge for Raleigh. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
State capital with many hotels near downtown and Glenwood South. Not confirmed by a runner. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
No price evidence; assumed mid-range for a regional city. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.6
Start and finish are both downtown, so downtown hotels are walkable. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
Raleigh-Durham International is a major regional hub close to downtown. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.4
Parking was the main complaint in 2022; later years shifted to school lots. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.2
Glenwood South and downtown dining, and a free after party with beer that reviewers praised. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inEasy4.2
Open entry, with about 979 marathon finishers, so it does not appear to sell out. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value4.0
Long-sleeve shirt, medal and free after party with beer praised; RaceRaves swag 4.3. Fee not confirmed. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Raleigh, Piedmont, United States
- Typical month
- November
- Latest or next date
- 1 November 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 980 athletes
- First held
- 2007
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- out-and-back
- Climbing
- 342 m (1,120 ft)
- Descent
- 351 m (1,150 ft)
- Cutoff
- 6 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Paved city streets and Capital Area Greenway
- How to get in
- open
- Air temperature
- 4–21 °C (39–70 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Altitude
- 100 m (330 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Raleigh-Durham International (RDU)
- Where to stay
- Downtown Raleigh, Glenwood South
- Booking
- Start and finish are in or near downtown Raleigh and Glenwood South, where hotels cluster. Not confirmed on pages reached.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2019 to 2025 · aggregator · mixed-positive
Rated 4.2 from 41 runners (difficulty 3.9, scenery 4.1, production 4.4, swag 4.3). Reviewers agree the marathon is hilly and well supported, and praise the shirt, medal and free after party. Main complaints were 2022 parking and a few missing course monitors.
“The Marathon course is hilly so definitely be prepared for that.”
- WRAL (Mark Bergin)Raced 2023 · article · mixed-positive
A newsroom producer ran it in 4:14:49. He found mile 18.5 to 22.5 (30 to 36 km) the hardest, an early climb near Pullen Park, and no water between miles 17.5 and 21 (28 to 34 km). Spectators and the beer garden were highlights.
“There were no water stops between miles 17.5 and 21.”
- BibRave reviews (several runners)Raced 2014 to 2024 · aggregator · Mixed
Several runners over the years. One gave difficulty 4 out of 5 for a steep climb at miles 20 to 22 (32 to 35 km). A first-timer hit the wall near 29 km (mile 18). Others praised the greenway's beauty but found it lonely.
“great beauty and challenge, alike”
Raced City of Oaks Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for City of Oaks Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.