Course Map
About this Race
The Tobacco Road Marathon is a fast, mostly flat course near Cary, North Carolina, run largely on the smooth American Tobacco Trail greenway through quiet wooded surroundings. The gentle, traffic-free profile makes it a popular Boston-qualifying and personal-best target. Held in March, it offers cool spring conditions ideal for hard racing. The peaceful trail setting means scenery and calm rather than dense crowds. It suits the PB-focused runner who wants a flat, fast course and a qualifier in a serene, low-key setting.
Course Insight
Tobacco Road is a flat, fast March marathon run largely on a crushed-stone rail trail, smooth and shaded and friendly to Boston qualifiers. The level surface and quiet greenway make it about even pacing rather than terrain. The trail underfoot is gentle but worth getting used to. Spring conditions are usually mild. Pace it evenly and the flat trail rewards a measured, rhythmic effort.
Difficulty Breakdown
Mostly due to tough late hills.
Course Details
- Course type
- Out-And-Back
- Elevation gain
- 215m
- Elevation loss
- 215m
- Highest point
- 116m
- Lowest point
- 78m
- Net elevation
- 0m
- Start
- USA Baseball National Training Complex, Cary NC
- Cutoff time
- 7h 0m
Race History
The Tobacco Road Marathon was first held in 2010 near Cary, North Carolina, run largely on the smooth, traffic-free American Tobacco Trail greenway. Its flat, peaceful course quickly made it a popular Boston-qualifying and personal-best target. From its founding it drew time-focused runners to its serene wooded route. Held each March, it remains a fast, low-key qualifier destination.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Raleigh–Durham (RDU)
- Best area to stay
- Downtown Cary for proximity to the trail course, downtown Durham for trendy, characterful stays, and Raleigh for fuller hotel options.
- Getting to the start
- The start is at Thomas Brooks Park / the USA Baseball complex in Cary; drive or rideshare to the start, as it's suburban with limited transit.