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Running Races in North Carolina

North Carolina has 651 upcoming running races scheduled for 2026. The calendar runs year-round — busiest in August through October, quietest in January, June, and July. No single city dominates the calendar. Charlotte leads with 46 races, followed by Raleigh (28), Wilmington (24), and Concord (23). The remaining 81% of the calendar is spread across smaller cities.

Running races by month in North Carolina

Oct (137) · Sep (132) · Aug (112) · Nov (108) · Dec (47) · Apr (31) · Mar (27) · May (21) · Feb (11) · Jan (10) · Jun (10) · Jul (5)

Showing 24 of 651

Running

Lighthouse 5k Series July 29, 2026

Corolla, NC

Running

Lighthouse 5k Series July 29, 2026

July 31, 2026
Corolla, NC
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Run Hatteras 5k Road Race Series July 31, 2026
Running

Run Hatteras 5k Road Race Series July 31, 2026

July 31, 2026
Avon, NC
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The NC Watermelon Festival 5K
Running

The NC Watermelon Festival 5K

August 1, 2026
Murfreesboro, NC
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Bark & Bolt 5k, 1 mile & 100 meter
Running

Bark & Bolt 5k, 1 mile & 100 meter

August 1, 2026
Hendersonville, NC
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Fleet Feet XC Experience
Running

Fleet Feet XC Experience

August 1, 2026
Greenville, NC
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Living the Dream 5K Race
Running

Living the Dream 5K Race

August 1, 2026
Mooresville, NC
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Ninja 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Rocky Mount, NC (31)
Running

Ninja 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Rocky Mount, NC (31)

August 1, 2026
Rocky Mount, NC
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Ninja 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Charlotte, NC (31)
Running

Ninja 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Charlotte, NC (31)

August 1, 2026
Charlotte, NC
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Dragon Dash 5k & Little Lizard 1K
Running

Dragon Dash 5k & Little Lizard 1K

August 1, 2026
Lexington, NC
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NCCU Charlotte Alumni Annual 5k Run/Walk
Running

NCCU Charlotte Alumni Annual 5k Run/Walk

August 1, 2026
Charlotte, NC
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Running

Ninja 5K, & Half Marathon at Hickory, NC (31)

Hickory, NC

Running

Ninja 5K, & Half Marathon at Hickory, NC (31)

August 1, 2026
Hickory, NC
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Running

Run Hatteras 5k Road Race Series July 31, 2026

Avon, NC

Running

Run Hatteras 5k Road Race Series July 31, 2026

August 1, 2026
Avon, NC
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Running

Ninja 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Rocky Mount, NC (31)

Rocky Mount, NC

Running

Ninja 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Rocky Mount, NC (31)

August 1, 2026
Rocky Mount, NC
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GIVE HOPE 5K - STRIDES TO END HOMELESSNESS
Running

GIVE HOPE 5K - STRIDES TO END HOMELESSNESS

August 1, 2026
Concord, NC
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Running

Ninja 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Charlotte, NC (31)

Charlotte, NC

Running

Ninja 5K, 10K, & 13.1M at Charlotte, NC (31)

August 1, 2026
Charlotte, NC
Details →
Ninja 5K, & 13.1M at Hickory, NC (31)
Running

Ninja 5K, & 13.1M at Hickory, NC (31)

August 1, 2026
Hickory, NC
Details →
Wild Bill 5k
Running

Wild Bill 5k

August 1, 2026
Raleigh, NC
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80s Flashback 5K
Running

80s Flashback 5K

August 1, 2026
Franklin, NC
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Fall 2026 Adult Full & Half Marathon Training Evening - Apex
Running

Fall 2026 Adult Full & Half Marathon Training Evening - Apex

August 2, 2026
Apex, NC
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Running

Ben’s 1.9km birthday fun run

Fayetteville, NC

Running

Ben’s 1.9km birthday fun run

August 2, 2026
Fayetteville, NC
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Hunter Dean Temple Foundation 2nd Annual 5k
Running

Hunter Dean Temple Foundation 2nd Annual 5k

August 2, 2026
Mooresville, NC
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Fall 2026 Adult Full & Half Marathon Training Morning - Cary
Running

Fall 2026 Adult Full & Half Marathon Training Morning - Cary

August 2, 2026
Apex, NC
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Fall 2026 Adult Full & Half Marathon Training Morning - Holly Springs
Running

Fall 2026 Adult Full & Half Marathon Training Morning - Holly Springs

August 2, 2026
Holly Springs, NC
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Running

Humans of Steel: Harris Lake Sprint

New Hill, NC

Running

Humans of Steel: Harris Lake Sprint

August 4, 2026
New Hill, NC
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Top Cities for Running Races in North Carolina

Charlotte (50)

Running Races in Nearby States

GeorgiaSouth CarolinaTennesseeVirginia

Frequently asked questions

How do I find running races near me?▾
Enter your zip code on RACE or use the location-based pages at /marathons-near-me, /half-marathons-near-me, /10k-near-me, or /5k-near-me. We show every upcoming running event within your selected radius, sorted by distance from you.
What's the most popular running distance in the US?▾
By a wide margin, the 5K. The half marathon is the most popular distance over 10 miles. Each distance has its own hub on RACE — /5k-races, /10k-races, /half-marathons, /marathons — with live event counts and state-by-state breakdowns.
When is running race season in the US?▾
June is the single busiest month for running events. The June–October stretch carries roughly 70% of the year’s running calendar. December through March is the quietest period — most regions don’t publish next year’s spring races until late winter, so the calendar grows back as race directors finalize dates.
Which states have the most running races?▾
Ohio, Florida, Texas, Michigan, and California lead the country in upcoming running event volume. Every state hosts dozens of upcoming races — including smaller states like Wyoming, Vermont, and North Dakota. The "Browse by state" grid on this page links to a dedicated running hub for every state.
How do I register for a running race?▾
For RACE-native events, you can register and pay on this site. For events hosted on external platforms (RunSignUp, RaceRoster, and similar), we link you directly to the official registration page. Either way, you find the race here.
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