I drove into Charlotte and the traffic wasn't as bad as I thought!
The expo was pretty large because it was on the 2nd floor of a hotel and we had multiple rooms for all the vendors
There were several tables to go and pick up the shirt and race bag since there were multiple running distances people were able to pick (marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, relay)
There were several other tables advertising future races, which seemed cool! One race advertised was in Kentucky!
There was one section with PTs giving out free tape and doing a quick exam to determine where tape would be needed on your body. I decided to get some tape for my right knee, but I wish I had tape for both knees.
The weather was cold in the beginning of the race (30s), but slowly warmed up as time went on. Since the run started at 6:30, it was still very dark at the beginning of the race
We started at and ended at Truist Field
We ran all over the city! The first half was through the suburbs and the second half felt like an out-and-back through the Greenway.
There were tons of spectators! This wasn't as big as other large city marathons, but I felt very uplifted that tons of people came out to see us!
The course was very hilly! I somehow was able to run up the hills without pain or problems. I think it was because of the cold air, the excitement of my 10th marathon, and the spectators.
Highlights
There was a Batman a little past mile 18 and he had a lot of beer for us in the cup! As I took the beer, the people on the street cheered me on!
Other spectators had other alcohols such as mimosas and whiskey
I met a few other Marathon Maniacs! I really felt like I was part ofa strong community!
No challenge options, so all the runs were on the same day, and no one could do anything crazy
Finishers received beer, BBQ sandwiches, bananas, donuts, Yerba Mate, granola bars, and cookies
This was my 10th marathon and 10th state! I can officially join the 50-state marathon club!
I recommend this marathon if you want to run a marathon that's cold in the beginning and you want a good view of the city. This course is definitely challenging, but I feel like it's worth it!
Race Website: Charlotte Marathon