Wilmington, N.C., February 11, 2025: Travel industry partners in Wilmington and our island beaches will welcome athletes and their families on Saturday, Feb. 22 for the 15th Annual Novant Health Wilmington Marathon presented by Wicked Weed, Toyota Hendrick Half Marathon, Fleet Feet Downtown 5K, and Lidl Glow Mile presented by Truist. 2025 is on track to be a record year for the Novant Health Wilmington Marathon as 5,000 athletes are expected to attend—nearly 1,000 more athletes than participated last year.
The marathon course will start in Wrightsville Beach at Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier on Saturday morning. 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 kid’s Lidl 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.
“We are excited to celebrate our 15th year bringing the Novant Health Wilmington Marathon to the area,” states Tom Clifford, event organizer and founder of Without Limits. “This is a record year and that speaks volumes about our community involvement in the race, and the experience runners are having by coming to Wilmington. Thank you to our elected officials, City, State, and local leaders for helping us and supporting the race”
Athletes 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/
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 2,500 participants to our destination this past November. The Novant Health Wilmington Marathon has partnered with Nourish NC and numerous teams, churches, groups, high school organizations, non-profits that will be on the course taking part and receive donations for being involved in the event. Event organizers are seeking additional groups that can provide volunteers to help with the event. Interested organizations can reach out via email [https://wilmingtonncmarathon.com/contact-us] for more information about volunteering, cheering, working at an aid station, or stationing along the course.
“Races and sports events are incredibly important for Wilmington and our island beaches and the tourism industry,” states Kim Hufham, President/CEO of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority. “Hosting races provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase the destination to families who are traveling from strong visitor feeder markets, and we hope the participants and their families enjoy their visit and return for future races 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 2025 Novant Health Wilmington Marathon, please contact Tom Clifford at tclifford626@gmail.com / 910-297-4973.
Contact:
Hannah Almeter
Communications/PR Manager
Wilmington and Beaches CVB
910-341-4030 x126
866-266-9690
halmeter@wilmingtonandbeaches.com
