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About RaceIndexOur methodologyData coverageCyclingTriathlon
  • Marathon
  • 42.2 km
  • Wilmington
  • Event weekend starts
  • Open entry

Novant Health Wilmington Marathon

This race edition

Race date
Date not confirmed for this distance
Race timezone
Timezone not confirmed
Edition status
Status not confirmed

Entry options

2027 edition

Entry options are not yet confirmed for this edition. Check the organiser before making plans.

Modelled energy-cost change 0.1% versus flat · net elevation -0 m

View verified GPS mapOfficial event website & entry ↗
Plan my trainingPlan my paceData current as of Source last verified

Decision summary

Novant Health Wilmington Marathon at a glance

Route ascent
109 m

Lower than 93% of comparable mapped races

Cut-off average pace
9:15/km

6:30:00 total limit divided by distance. Check gun/chip timing and intermediate limits; allow time for stops.

Typical conditions
83/100

Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast

Evidence depth
42 verified facts

Stored GPS route

Quick answers

What runners ask first

Novant Health Wilmington Marathon route map

raceindex.org has a GPS course file for Novant Health Wilmington Marathon, so runners can inspect the route line on the map. Elevation charts and ascent figures appear only when that file includes usable elevation data.

How hilly is the Novant Health Wilmington Marathon?

The Novant Health Wilmington Marathon route has 109 m of ascent, 110 m of descent and an estimated 0.1% grade-adjusted pace penalty versus a flat route.

Where does the Novant Health Wilmington Marathon route go?

The Novant Health Wilmington Marathon route starts at Wrightsville Beach (Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier), with a sunrise start and finishes at Live Oak Bank Pavilion on the Cape Fear riverfront in downtown Wilmington. Underfoot, expect road. It passes Wrightsville Beach, Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, US Route 74 / Causeway, Greenfield Lake and Historic downtown Wilmington. flat fast course through Greenfield Lake loop in the back half.

What should runners know on race day for the Novant Health Wilmington Marathon?

One lane of traffic is dedicated to runners from Wrightsville Beach to downtown (roads otherwise remain open with detours); participants are advised to arrive by 6:00am. DJ and music entertainment zone on the marathon course around mile 6.5, plus live entertainment and food at the finish festival. 25.

Race character

Scenery

  • Coastal
  • Lakeside
  • Countryside
  • Riverside
  • Waterfront
  • City
  • Historic

Atmosphere

  • Community
  • Competitive
  • Scenic Tour

Terrain

  • Road
  • Beach
Elevation character
Pancake Flat
Technicality
Non Technical

Entry, logistics and records

Records and field

Field size
Approximately 5,500 athletes across all events; the 16th annual (2026) edition sold out in early January with a 1,000+ waitlist.

Entry requirements

Entry status
Open entry: The held registration model is open entry and this edition is not marked sold out.
Cut-off
6:30:00 overall limit (15:00/mile pace) with intermediate cutoffs at mile 3 (7:45am), mile 10 (9:30am) and mile 19.5 (12:00pm).
Qualification status
Boston Marathon qualifier; USATF Certified and sanctioned course, marketed as one of the fastest BQ courses on the East Coast with roughly 11 21% of finishers qualifying for Boston.

Race day logistics

Aid stations
25
Closed roads
One lane of traffic is dedicated to runners from Wrightsville Beach to downtown (roads otherwise remain open with detours); participants are advised to arrive by 6:00am.
Expo / packet pickup
Packet pickup at the Wilmington Convention Center on Thursday 5:00-7:00pm and Friday 12:00-7:00pm; race-morning pickup available for a $20 fee as a last resort.
Medal
Marathon, half marathon and relay finishers receive a finisher medal; 5K and Glow Run participants also receive a medal.
Finisher tee
All marathon, half marathon and relay runners receive a soft athletic-fit t-shirt manufactured by Without Limits; 5K and Glow Run participants also receive a shirt.
On-course music
DJ and music entertainment zone on the marathon course around mile 6.5, plus live entertainment and food at the finish festival.

Access and course status

Start
Wrightsville Beach (Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier), with a sunrise start.
Finish
Live Oak Bank Pavilion on the Cape Fear riverfront in downtown Wilmington.

Course facts

Course type
Point To Point
Surface
Road
Landmarks
Wrightsville Beach, Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, US Route 74 / Causeway, Greenfield Lake, Historic downtown Wilmington, Cape Fear riverfront, Live Oak Bank Pavilion
Notable features
  • 10-12 aid stations stocked with water, Gatorade and HUMA Gels
  • flat fast course through Greenfield Lake loop in the back half
  • elite athlete program and RaceJoy/RaceMob live tracking

How hilly is the Novant Health Wilmington Marathon?

95%
  • Steep descent 0%
  • Descent 2%
  • Flat 95%
  • Climb 3%
Total ascent
109 m
Net elevation
−0 m
GAP factor
0.1%
Longest climb
410 m at 2.1%
Gradient mix and ascent are derived from the course geometry under our published normalisation, not taken from organiser marketing.

What are typical race-day conditions?

  • 12°CTypical temperature
  • 21 kphTypical wind
  • 2 mmTypical rainfall
  • 83Favourability /100
Typical conditions for the race date and locality, warmer than the endurance-optimal window. These are climatological norms, not a forecast, and are shared across every distance at this event.

More race details

Is the Novant Health Wilmington Marathon flat?

Its normalised GAP factor is 0.1% slower than a flat course, with about 109 m of total ascent.

How we calculated this

Published facts and derived model outputs on this page are tied to stored sources or a published, version-locked methodology. We show the provenance so runners, coaches and organisers can check it. Data on this page is current as of .

Derived numbers use scoring-methodology-v1.0.

Sources used on this page (3)

Read the full methodology →

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