New Year, New Raleigh Half Marathon

Yes, it’s back. And we’re excited. The inaugural 2019 event was a big undertaking, and for the most part, things went well. A few things could be improved and we have done everything in our power to get those things right for year two. What are those things? Parking – 750 spots, courtesy of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. While we still encourage carpooling, public transportation and rideshare, we won’t have to rely on shuttles this year. Course – While we love the Neuse River Greenway and Buffaloe Road Athletic Park, there are some unpredictable things […] Read More

2019 Elites to Watch

There will be a group of elite runners from 8 states, ranging from local-to-national class, chasing after the 2020 Olympic Trials Marathon Standard, the North Carolina State Championship (USATF and RRCA), or maybe a North Carolina State Record. See who is running below! Elite Women Adriana Piekarewicz – Winston-Salem, NC Alyssa Vassallo – Boulder, CO – Run Boulder Athletic Club Amanda LoPiccolo – Boone, NC Ann Marie Pierce – Wilmington, NC – Without Limits-Wilmington Erin Taylor – Raleigh, NC Nicole Esplin – Boulder, CO – Boulder Track Club Peyton Thomas – Wilmington, NC – Without Limits-Wilmington Sarah Rapp – Raleigh, […] Read More

PSA: Inaugural Raleigh Half Marathon hits the Neuse River Greenway on Sunday, April 14th

Public Service Announcement: Inaugural Raleigh Half Marathon hits the Neuse River Greenway on Sunday, April 14th March 15, 2019 – Raleigh, North Carolina – On Sunday, April 14th, the inaugural Raleigh Half Marathon will kick off it’s first year with a sold out event, starting and finishing at Buffaloe Road Athletic Park (with the finish on the track), with the majority of the race taking place on the Neuse River Greenway Trail. There will be heavy traffic on the Neuse between mile markers 11.5 to 5.5, from 8:00am (start) to 11:30am (race time limit). The USATF sanctioned event feautures a […] Read More

Pine State Coffee presents the Raleigh Half Test Run

Want to see what the Raleigh Half Marathon course is like in advance of race day? Want some Pine State Coffee before? Want to test an aid station? We have you covered. And if you’re doing the Official Training plan, you have 10, 13, or 15 miles anyways! On Saturday, March 2nd, we’ll head out to Buffaloe Road Athletic Park with a big ole jug of the Sir Walter Blend from Pine State Coffee and will set some water and sports drink cups up around the 5k mark. What’s the Sir Walter Blend you ask? Pine State Coffee’s resident roaster and […] Read More

Thoughts from the Course

Yesterday, I had the privelege of running the Raleigh Half Marathon course from start to finish. I ran with my watch tucked away, completely by feel (using the Strava app on my phone). Hopefully these notes will help you on race day! – Pat Price, Co-Race Director The Raleigh Half Marathon course was carefully crafted to offer the “flattest and fastest” course in Raleigh. There’s a few bumps out there, but nothing that’s going to take you off your game. The course is USATF certified and the race is fully sanctioned, in case you’re going for a record! And if […] Read More

Run Fast on Race Day – The Official 2019 Raleigh Half Marathon Training Plan

Want to run your fastest on race day? We can help. 2016 Olympic Trial Marathon competitor and Raleigh Distance Project Coach, Stephen Furst, has devised a 12 week training plan that will get you to the starting line on Sunday, April 14th, ready to run your best (or your first) half marathon yet. Training starts Monday, January 21st, so get your shoes and your gear ready, and find the plan that is best for you. Coach Furst has designed 3 options from the beginner looking to run their first half, to the seasoned veteran looking to squeak out a sub 1:30 […] Read More

Records were made to be broken: North Carolina Soil Half Marathon Records

Part of the strategy of setting up the Raleigh Half Marathon course the way that it is, was to go after fast times. Whether you’re aiming to qualify for the Olympic Trials, or to break 2:00 for the first time, this section of the Neuse River Greenway Trail is as flat and fast as it gets. The fastest known half marathons run on Raleigh Soil are by Raleigh resident, and 2012 USA Cross Country Champion, Bobby Mack (1:04:21 in 2012), and by 2012 Olympian, Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (1:14:30 in 2008). Sir Walter Running intern, Cole Barnhill, has compiled the top ten Mens and […] Read More

If it’s not on Strava, did it happen? A primer to Sir Walter Running Strava Challenges

If you’re familiar with Sir Walter Running, you know we love Strava Challenges. Are you on Strava? If not, go ahead and make an account and join the Sir Walter Running Club! We love to create challenges from time to time, and give away some Sir Walter swag in the process. Our latest challenge is entitled the “Raleigh Half Marathon Sampler.” This will allow you to preview the first half mile of the Raleigh Half Marathon course, as well as the hardest quarter mile, aka “Sir Walter’s Revenge,” that falls around mile 12.5 of the actual course. You’ll have until dusk on […] Read More

From the Mountains to the Sea

While starting (and finishing) at Buffaloe Road Athletic Park, most of the Raleigh Half Marathon runs along on the Neuse River Greenway Trail, which is part of the Capital Area Greenway Trail System. The Neuse River Greenway Trail is also part of the East Coast Greenway and the Mountains-to Sea Trail. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail stretches almost 1,200 miles across North Carolina, from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains, to Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks, while the East Coast Greenway connects 15 states, 450 cities and towns, and 3,000 miles of trails from Maine to Florida, making it the country’s longest biking and […] Read More

Announcing the Raleigh Half Marathon

On Sunday, April 14, 2019, the inaugural Raleigh Half Marathon will be run, filling the void of the departed Rock ‘n’ Roll series. The Raleigh Half Marathon was created for people to run fast. This course was strategically selected to offer the flatest and fastest half marathon course in the Raleigh area. The start will be on the roads inside Buffaloe Road Athletic Park. Runners will head down towards the Neuse River Greenway Trail, where they will head North for approximately 6 miles before turning around, heading back towards Buffaloe Road Athletic Park, where they will take the path back […] Read More