2026 City of Oaks Marathon - Nov 1

2026 City of Oaks Marathon - Nov 1 Countdown

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Race Information

Race2026 City of Oaks Marathon - Nov 1
CityRaleigh
Date2026-11-01 at 07:00
Field Size~979 runners
Time Limit6 hours
Cutoff pace8:32/km
Course speed
Extreme course Speed index 1.17 — median of the last 5 winners' times against the global same-year median. Winner times track elite fields and prize money, so this reads the course as a proxy, not a pure measurement.
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
Official SiteCapstone Races (City of Oaks Marathon)

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature12.7°C / 55°F
Humidity77%
Wind10.5 km/h
Rain Chance24%
Typical ConditionsCool, often-crisp early-November Raleigh morning — temperatures around the low 50s degrees F (about 11 degrees C) at the 7:00 a.m. start, warming through the morning under typically dry fall skies

What to Prepare: Early November in Raleigh usually gives you near-ideal racing weather: a chilly start in the low 50s degrees F (around 11 degrees C) that warms into the 60s by midday, with low humidity and a decent chance of clear skies. The morning can feel cold standing in the corral, so wear throwaway gloves and a long-sleeve you can shed. The race falls on the day clocks fall back, so plan for the extra hour of sleep and a still-dark, brisk start.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 10.5 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

Cooler Typical Warmer
Temperature 6.7°C 12.8°C 18.6°C
Dew point 0.2°C 8.2°C 15.7°C
Wet-day chance: 24% Runnability: 78/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course TypeDowntown-to-greenway loop
Elevation Gain372m
TerrainRoad and paved greenway (downtown streets, then tree-lined trail, rolling and hilly)
ProfileA genuinely hilly course that splits into two distinct halves. The race starts in the heart of downtown Raleigh near the North Carolina State Capitol and runs out along Hillsborough Street past the NC State University Memorial Belltower, with an early loop through Pullen Park. From roughly the midpoint it drops onto the Capital Area Greenway system — paved, tree-lined paths along the Reedy Creek, House Creek and Mine Creek trails that turn at Shelley Lake Park before working back toward the city. The fall foliage and shaded greenway make it scenic, but this is not a flat PR course: it carries roughly +1,123 to +1,223 ft (about +342 to +372 m) of climbing with a near-equal descent, and its hardest stretch is a series of grinding hills around miles 21 to 24, exactly where tired legs feel them most. The course is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier, finishing in Raleigh's Glenwood South district. Run the first half with discipline and leave something for those late hills.
Boston QualifierYes — Check your BQ time

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2026 City of Oaks Marathon and what time does it start?

The 2026 City of Oaks Marathon is on Sunday, November 1, 2026, in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. The full marathon starts at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The race traditionally falls on the first Sunday of November, which in 2026 is also the morning clocks fall back, so you gain an extra hour of sleep before a dark, brisk start.

Is the City of Oaks Marathon course flat or hilly?

It is genuinely hilly, not a flat course. The route carries roughly +1,123 to +1,223 ft (about +342 to +372 m) of climbing with a near-equal descent, so the net change is small but the rolling terrain is constant. The toughest section is a cluster of hills around miles 21 to 24, right when fatigue peaks. Run the early downtown miles conservatively and save energy for the late climbs.

Where does the City of Oaks Marathon course go?

It is a downtown-to-greenway loop. The start is near the North Carolina State Capitol and heads out Hillsborough Street past the NC State University Memorial Belltower, with an early loop through Pullen Park. From about the midpoint the course joins the Capital Area Greenway — paved, tree-lined trail along the Reedy Creek, House Creek and Mine Creek paths that turns near Shelley Lake Park before heading back to a finish in the Glenwood South district.

Is the City of Oaks Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The full marathon course is USATF-certified and a Boston qualifier, so a qualifying time here counts toward Boston Marathon entry. Because it is hilly rather than fast, it is a realistic BQ attempt for runners who pace the climbs well, but it is not a net-downhill PR machine. Check your target with the Boston qualifying calculator.

What is the time limit for the City of Oaks Marathon?

The full marathon has a 6-hour course time limit. With the 7:00 a.m. start, all roads and course support close at 1:00 p.m., which works out to about a 14:00 per mile (8:42 per km) pace. Runners who finish after the cutoff do not receive an official time, so build a realistic plan with a pace calculator before race day.

How big is the City of Oaks Marathon and how do I register?

It is a mid-sized regional marathon: the full drew about 979 finishers in 2025 and 828 in 2024, with the field capped around 1,500. The marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K all run the same weekend. Registration is online through the official City of Oaks site — there is no lottery, entry is first-come, first-served, and prices rise as race day nears, so signing up early saves money.

Who organizes the City of Oaks Marathon and what does it support?

The race is produced by Capstone Races and has run in Raleigh since 2007. It operates as a charity event; in recent years the headline beneficiary has been the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and the event has long supported local Raleigh causes. It is the city's signature fall marathon, distinct from North Carolina's other races in Charlotte and the Cary area.

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