Wilmington, NC: Travel industry partners in Wilmington and our island beaches will welcome more than 4,000 athletes and their families at the end of February for the 13th Annual Novant Health Wilmington Marathon.  

The 2023 Novant Health Wilmington Marathon presented by Wicked Weed Brewing will take place on Saturday, February 25, and includes a full marathon, half-marathon, marathon relay and the Fleet Feet 5K and 1 mile run.  

Approximately 4,000 athletes are expected this year who will be joined by family members, spectators and event volunteers that will more than double the number of attendees for the weekend. Athletes and attendees will stay at various hotels and spend time at local restaurants, businesses and attractions over the race weekend. Race schedules, course maps, sponsors, volunteer opportunities and other event information can be found online at https://www.wilmingtonncmarathon.com/  

“We are excited for the 13th Annual Novant Health Wilmington Marathon to take place February 25th, 2023. This race is now the biggest participatory athletic event in Southeastern North Carolina. We expect 4,000 runners this year which is a record number for this race,” states Tom Clifford, event organizer and founder of Without Limits, “We love Wilmington and races like this create a positive environment to set personal goals, be healthy, compete with each other, bring business to Wilmington, put heads in beds, boost the economy, build a sense of community by getting corporations and volunteers involved in the race, and raise money for charity. We want to welcome the runners from all over to our city!” 

The marathon course will start in Wrightsville Beach at Johnnie Mercer Pier at sunrise on Saturday. The full marathon, half-marathon and marathon relay courses will lead downtown, with the full marathon continuing through a loop at Greenfield Lake. All races will finish at Live Oak Bank Pavilion. The Fleet Feet 5K and 1-mile will start and finish downtown at Live Oak Bank Pavilion. Roads will be open to traffic throughout race events with detours to minimize any disruptions to morning commutes. 

Without Limits, an organization providing coaching services and products to runners and triathlon athletes, directs both the Novant Health Wilmington Marathon and the Parkway Subaru Battleship NC Half Marathon, which is one of the oldest half marathons in the South and brought more than 2,000 participants to our destination this past November.  

“Hosting races and tournaments in Wilmington and our Island Beaches provides a wonderful opportunity for athletes and their families to explore our destination,” states Kim Hufham, President/CEO of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority. “We hope that everyone enjoys the race and will return for future athletic events and family vacations.” 

The New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority (TDA), d/b/a Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau, markets and develops the county and its communities’ leisure and group travel experiences for economic growth and quality of place. 

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Note to Media: To arrange interviews and photo ops for the 2023 Novant Health Wilmington Marathon, please contact Tom Clifford at tclifford626@gmail.com/910-297-4973. 

Contact:
Hannah Almeter
Communications/PR Specialist
Wilmington CVB
910-341-4030 x126
866-266-9690
halmeter@wilmingtonandbeaches.com