Charlotte Sports Foundation Acquires Rights to Novant Health Marathon

The Charlotte Sports Foundation grabbed the rights to the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. They'll manage the event from now on. The race winds through several neighborhoods across town.

"The Novant Health Charlotte Marathon is more than a race, it's a celebration of our city, its neighborhoods and the people who show up for each other," said Will Pitts, CEO of CSF, according to a press release.

Each year, the race snakes through Uptown Charlotte, Myers Park, Dilworth, NoDa, and Plaza Midwood. CSF says runners, volunteers, and partners can count on a top-notch event with planned improvements that support growth and bring in more participants over time.

"This event has tremendous momentum, and our goal is to continue growing it in scale and impact," said Andrea Smith, Co-chair of the CSF Board of Directors. "We are eager to work alongside Novant Health to enhance the runner experience and expand the marathon's role as a signature event for our city."

The 2025 race was the biggest in 21 years. More than 11,000 runners showed up.

CSF plans to build on this success. They've promised to maintain what participants love while introducing new features for upcoming years.

Novant Health will stick around as a partner. Together, they aim to boost the race's status as a signature city event and make things better for those who run.

This acquisition puts CSF in charge of one of Charlotte's largest yearly athletic events, which has grown steadily since its start two decades ago, drawing thousands of participants from across the region.