HalfRuns
Charity Chase Half Marathon

Charity Chase Half Marathon

Race Date

Apr 18, 2026

Location

Hickory, NC

Standout66

Quick facts

Date
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Location
Hickory, North Carolina
Distance
Half marathon (13.1 mi) + 5K
Course
Loop Course
Terrain
Road
USATF certified
Yes
Finishers on record
5,232

The Experience

We are celebrating our 20th year of the Charity Chase Half Marathon!!!! The Charity Chase Half Marathon is a rewarding run for those up for the challenge.  Hickory is in the foothills of North Carolina and the race course winds around the city with elevation changes that will require some effort.  You will have run up and down the equivalent of a sixty-story building before you finish but don't be scared off!  We have participants that run/walk and runners as young as seven and as old as seventy.   The Charity Chase 5k will take participants through the downtown area of Hickory.  Charity Chase Half Marathon will start at 7:30 AM.  Charity Chase 5K will start at 7:00 AM.   Our Charity volunteer groups help make Charity Chase Half Marathon run smoothly.  There will be over 300 volunteers at the start/finish and along the race course to cheer you on, provide water, Gatorade & GU.  They may even entertain you along the way!  Hickory's Police Department will be at every controlled intersection and our EMS will be on standby along the course for your safety. Packet Pick Up will be Friday, April 17th from 12pm-6pm at the Hickory Metro Convention Center.          Race Day Packet Pick Up is available at race venue between 5:30 am - 6:45 am. Everything we do at Charity Chase Half Marathon is geared to giving our RUNNERS a rewarding race where, hopefully, new PERSONAL BESTS and GREAT EXPERIENCES will be found.  We look forward to seeing you there!   Awards: Half Marathon Top 3 Male/Female Overall Top 3 Age Group Male/Female Awards: 1-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65+ 5K Top 3 Male/Female Overall 1st place in each age group awards: 1-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65+

Course Info

USATF Certified

Course Type

Loop Course

Terrain

road

Difficulty

Ultra-Flat

Net Drop/km

0 m (Flat)

Separation

0.6%

Also Offers

5K

USATF Certified Course

NC16037DF

Relatively flat with minimal net elevation change. Loop course — start and finish are close together.

Quality Score

Standout66
Methodology
Heritage20/20

20 years running

Size11/15

~145 finishers a year

Momentum1/5

shrinking

Loyalty20/20

48% returning runners

Course & details10/15

USATF certified · 6 timing sources

National draw0/10

no finisher data yet

Front-pack speed3/5

winner 1:22:35

Weather2/10

typical high 74°F

Race Day Weather

5-year historical avg

Start (Low)

50°

Afternoon (High)

74°

Warm — hydration strategy is key, start conservatively

0.1"

Precipitation

11 mph

Wind

54%

Humidity

Historical Finish Times

How 5,232 finishers actually crossed the line across 20 years.

Most recent

2026

Total finishers

5,232

Median time

2:02:49

Latest turnout

94

States

28

10%
25%
75%
90%
1:10p50 median ≈ 2:054:25

Turnout by year

20182026

'18'19'21'22'23'24'25'26
See full results

Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.

Race Photos

Frequently asked

When is the Charity Chase Half Marathon?

The Charity Chase Half Marathon is held on Saturday, April 18, 2026, starting at 7:30 AM.

Where does the Charity Chase Half Marathon take place?

It takes place in Hickory, North Carolina.

What distances does the Charity Chase Half Marathon offer?

The half marathon (13.1 miles), plus 5K.

Is the Charity Chase Half Marathon course flat and good for a PR?

The Charity Chase Half Marathon is a ultra-flat, loop course course. The course is USATF-certified, so finish times can be used for qualifying.

How many people run the Charity Chase Half Marathon?

HalfRuns has finish records for 5,232 runners who have completed the Charity Chase Half Marathon.

HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.

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