Raleigh gets new marathon

Committee of runners planning Nov. 4 City of Oaks event

Staff Report

The fall running season promises a new challenge for Triangle runners with the addition of the City of Oaks Marathon and Half Marathon.

The Nov. 4 races will start and finish near the State Fairgrounds, and the marathon will cover a route that includes Hillsborough Street, parts of downtown Raleigh and Umstead Park.

The races, which will start at 7 a.m., are being organized by the City of Oaks Race Committee. That committee consists of runners who represent Raleigh Running Outfitters, which also is the sponsor.

The race has been in the planning stages "since the end of last year," committee spokeswoman Carolyn Micheels said Monday night.

"They started tossing around the idea, we've been throwing it together very quickly, but we're trying to be very thorough because it is a very big undertaking," she said.

The course has been approved by the city of Raleigh, Micheels said, and Lin-Mark Computer Sports Inc. of Mantua, N.J., will handle the timing.

Proceeds from the 26.2-mile marathon and 13.1-mile half marathon will benefit the American Cancer Society and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The inaugural race is expected to draw about 5,000 runners, and a total cash purse of $13,400 will be awarded in the two races. More details will be posted at www.cityofoaksmarathon.com, Micheels said. Or, runners can contact Jim Micheels of Raleigh Running Outfitters on 7459 Six Forks Road at (919) 870-8998.

Raleigh has been without a full marathon since December runs were held downtown in 2000, 2001 and 2002. A March 2004 event was canceled because the title sponsor closed its Raleigh office.