The City of Oaks Marathon and Rex Healthcare Half Marathon are USATF Sanctioned events. The certified course was designed to showcase many of the focal points of the city, including the new Fayetteville Street, the State Capital Building, Glenwood South, N.C. State University and the Bell Tower, the State Fairgrounds, and Umstead State Park, which has long been a favorite destination for local runners. The course showcases the diversity of Raleigh's landscape, from modern city to forest trails and open farmland. 

The Rex Healthcare City of Oaks Half Marathon showcases Meredith College, N.C. State University via Hillsborough Street, and the downtown hotspots of Fayetteville Street, Glenwood South and Clark Avenue.

The first eight miles of the City of Oaks Marathon course will be the same as the half marathon course and then pick up the final 5 miles of the marathon course. Just past the 15 mile mark of the marathon the course will traverse 3.5 miles of wide, fine & firm-packed gravel trails through Umstead State Park.

The entire race course will be well marked. Large clear signs will direct participants along the race routes. Easy-to-read, and see, mile markers will catch your attention and spur you on along with the great spectator support through the residential sections of the course.

City of Oaks Marathon