Fall in North Carolina does something to runners. The humidity finally lets go, the mornings turn crisp, and suddenly a long run feels like something you want to do instead of something you survive. There are 23 upcoming half marathons in North Carolina in this stretch of the calendar, spread from the Piedmont to the coast, and four of them are worth circling right now.
A quick word on how we talk about races: we score them out of 100 based on the stuff runners actually care about — the course, the organization, the atmosphere, and how often people finish and immediately tell a friend to sign up. Anything 80 or above earns our Runner Favorite label, and every race below cleared that bar.
Which means this is a very good place to start if you're hunting for a fall or early-winter 13.1. One practical nudge before you read on: register sooner rather than later. Fall races in popular cities fill up, and travel plans only get more expensive the longer they sit in an open tab.
Greensboro Half Marathon — Saturday, November 21, 2026
Greensboro, North Carolina · Score: 91 out of 100 — Runner Favorite
If you want one race that captures what a well-run Southern half marathon feels like, start here. Late November in this part of the state usually means cool, honest racing weather — the kind where you can push in mile eight without wondering why you signed up. It's the highest-scoring race on this list, and a 91 out of 100 doesn't happen by accident. Numbers like that come from runners finishing and immediately recruiting everyone they know. It also fits neatly into a training plan: build through summer and early fall, peak right as the leaves finish falling. Details here: Greensboro Half Marathon.
Long Life Meal Prep Cannonball Running Festival — Friday, October 16, 2026
Greensboro, North Carolina · Score: 88 out of 100 — Runner Favorite
Two Greensboro races on one list tells you something about this city's running scene. This one is the earliest on the calendar, and it lands on a Friday in mid-October — a great target if you've been training all summer and don't want to wait until November to find out what you've got. The Cannonball Running Festival also puts on a marathon, 10K, and 5K alongside the half, which makes it an easy one to bring people to. Everyone races their own distance and meets back up at the finish. At 88 out of 100 it's another Runner Favorite, and mid-October here is about as pleasant as running weather gets. Cannonball Running Festival details.
Parkway Subaru Battleship Half Marathon & GFL 10K|5K — Sunday, November 15, 2026
Wilmington, North Carolina · Score: 86 out of 100 — Runner Favorite
This is the coastal pick. Wilmington in mid-November makes for a different kind of race weekend in North Carolina, and a good excuse to turn 13.1 miles into a short trip. The Battleship Half also includes a 10K and 5K, so it works the same way the Cannonball does: one race for you, one for whoever you drag along. Scoring 86 out of 100 and landing in Runner Favorite territory, it's a strong choice if you've been wanting to pair a November race with a weekend away. Parkway Subaru Battleship Half Marathon.
Raleigh Holiday Half Marathon — Saturday, December 5, 2026
Raleigh, North Carolina · Score: 86 out of 100 — Runner Favorite
Here's your season closer. The Raleigh Holiday Half Marathon is the latest race on this list, and December racing has its own appeal — months of training behind you, a city in a good mood, and the feeling of banking a half marathon before the holidays instead of promising yourself you'll start in January. It's a Runner Favorite at 86 out of 100, and for a lot of runners it's the race that turns a scattered running year into an actual season. Raleigh Holiday Half Marathon.
How to Choose Between Them
Think about where your training actually is, not where you wish it was. If you've been consistent through the summer, the October race in Greensboro gets you to a start line soonest. If you'd rather have a few more weeks of runway, the November races — the Greensboro Half and the Battleship Half in Wilmington — give you a longer build. And if you want a finish line that doubles as a season finale, Raleigh in December is sitting there waiting.
Whichever you pick, you don't have to pick alone. Training for a half goes better with company, a plan, and someone to text when the long run looks ugly on paper.
See Every Race in the State
Four races is a starting point, not the whole picture. There are 23 upcoming half marathons in North Carolina in this window, from big-city weekends to smaller ones that might fit your schedule, your budget, or your sense of adventure a whole lot better. Browse the full list, filter down to what matters to you, and find the one that makes you want to lace up: Half marathons in North Carolina.
Whether this is your first 13.1 or one of many, there's a North Carolina start line with your name on it.