How do I enter City of Oaks Marathon?

Registration is open and available to all runners. You can sign up now for the 2026 race, and registration stays open until one hour before the end of packet pick-up. Elite athletes with qualifying times can also apply for elite entry.

Is City of Oaks Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the course is USATF certified and qualifies for Boston. The BQ rate is low, which reflects the rolling terrain, but runners who hit their standard will have it count.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course gains over 1,100 feet across its out-and-back layout, with rolling hills throughout. The net elevation is nearly flat, but the cumulative gain and loss means your legs feel it, especially on the return leg.

What is the typical race-day weather?

Early November in Raleigh typically brings cool mornings in the low-to-mid 40s and afternoon highs in the upper 60s. Expect a chilly start that warms into comfortable running conditions by mid-race.

How big is the field?

City of Oaks is a mid-size race with roughly 1,000 finishers. It's small enough to feel like a community event without feeling sparse.

Is the course USATF certified?

Yes, the City of Oaks Marathon course is USATF certified.

Sun, Nov 1 · 2026Raleigh, NCSince 2007

City of Oaks Marathon

City of Oaks runs through Raleigh on a rolling out-and-back course that asks something of you every mile. It's a genuine effort, with a small-race feel and a course that rewards patience over bravado.

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CITY OF OAKS · US

City of Oaks

SUN, NOV 1

2026

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Race Overview

EST. 2007

City of Oaks is a smaller race that doesn't try to be anything it isn't, and that's part of what makes it worth doing. It starts and finishes near NC State's campus and runs an out-and-back through Raleigh. The course rolls the whole way. There's no flat reprieve where you can zone out and bank time. You'll feel the first hills early, and by the time you're heading back on tired legs, you'll feel them again. Be patient in the first half. It sounds obvious, but the course will tempt you to push when you feel fresh, and you'll pay for it around mile 18.

For goal racing, this one requires honest preparation. The BQ rate here is low, which tells you the course doesn't hand anything out. That said, it is a certified Boston qualifier, so a good day is absolutely possible if you've done the work and respect the terrain. Entry is open registration, which makes it refreshingly straightforward to get into. The field is small enough that it feels personal without feeling lonely. If you're looking for a fall tune-up that'll give you a real read on your fitness, this is a good one to put on the calendar.

Field size

~979

979 finishers

BQ rate

3%

Below national average

Time limit

6:00

Tight cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:18:33

John Crews

2019

Women

2:39:36

Michelle Renee Langan

2014

The Course

1,123 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑1,123 ft

Total descent

↓1,151 ft

Net elevation

↓28 ft

Highest point

466 ft

Lowest point

214 ft

Course shape

Out and back

Same route, both directions

With over 1,100 feet of gain spread across an out-and-back layout, this course is not flat. Expect rolling terrain throughout, with no single crushing climb but no real recovery stretches either. The net elevation is nearly neutral, so what goes up does come back down, but the cumulative fatigue adds up. The return leg mirrors the outbound hills, meaning tired legs face the same grades they ran earlier. Pacing conservatively in the first half pays off. Surface and exposure details are not in the record, but the Raleigh terrain suggests road running with moderate shade. Boston qualifiers are earned here, not gifted.

DIFFICULTYHILLYPR-FRIENDLYNO

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

43°F

High

67°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

Early November in Raleigh means a cool start and a mild midday. You'll likely be in layers at the gun, but you'll warm up fast once you're moving on those hills. By the back half, temperatures are usually comfortable for racing. It's not a heat-management day in the way a spring race can be, but don't overdress. A throwaway layer for the corral and a single layer underneath is the right call most years.

Entry

OPEN

Open registration available. Race organized as a nonprofit with charity beneficiary (NC Museum of Natural Sciences). Elite athlete entries available with qualifying times.

Register on race site