Your Countdown:  5 days

Dear 2026 Veradigm Tobacco Road Marathon and VHB Half Marathon Runners,

On behalf of the all‑volunteer TRM Board of Directors, it is my honor to welcome you—and your families and friends—to the 16th Annual Tobacco Road Marathon in Cary, North Carolina.

By now, you’ve put in the miles, the discipline, and the dedication. Race day is almost here, and I hope you’re feeling both prepared and excited. Whatever your personal goal may be, I truly hope you achieve it. Please listen to your body, trust your training plan, and reach out to any of our EMS staff if you feel unwell at any point. Most importantly, enjoy the experience. When you cross that finish line on Sunday, you’ll join the small percentage of people in the world who have completed a full or half marathon so enjoy the feeling of accomplishment!

Don’t forget to ring the bell at the finish line if you have a personal best time, a Boston Qualifying time or just feel really great about what you just did--go ahead and ring the bell!  Also, if you have a Boston Qualifying time, bring your timing slip to the BQ shirt table under the big tent to pick up your Boston Qualifier T-Shirt, you earned it.

We also will have several TRM race banners in the finish area available for photos with your family and friends, so be sure to capture the moment and share your accomplishment.

I look forward to seeing you at the Pre‑Race Expo at the USA Baseball Training Center, part of the complex where our Race Village is located. I’ll be at the Expo on both Friday and Saturday to answer any questions you may have, and on Sunday I’ll be at the Start/Finish offering my congratulations to all.

Important Information: NetApp has generously opened their parking lot for race-day use, helping ease the TRM’s limited on-site parking. If you choose to park there and take the shuttle to the starting line, please be respectful of their property. Use the porta‑potties and trash receptacles provided, and avoid leaving any trash or discarded items in the lot.  When you park at NetApp, take note of the section—A, B, or C—where your vehicle is located. This simple step will make it much easier to find your car after the race, especially when your legs may be feeling the miles.

Lastly, I want to extend heartfelt thanks to our many sponsors, dedicated volunteers, law enforcement officers, medical team, and the TRM Board of Directors.  Without their hard work and commitment, this race would not happen.

Thank you, runners, for supporting this race, which is so near and dear to my heart. Wishing each of you a safe, strong, and memorable race experience.

Sincerely,
Kazem Yahyapour
TRM President and Race Director
 

Runner's Guide

For all of your remaining questions, please start with our Runner's Guide or our website.  In particular, please check our FAQs.  For any questions that remain, please visit us at the Pre-Race Expo on Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14.  You may also ask via email info@tobaccoroadmarathon.com , but at this point, we may not be able to answer all questions.  We will prioritize answering emailed questions that are not answered in those other resources, so please check them first.

About Your Registration

• Your Name:  {FirstName} {LastName}
• Your Email:  {Email}
• Event Distance:  {EventCategory}
• Date of Birth:  {dob}
• Phone:  {phone}
• Address:  {address}, {city}, {state}  {zipcode}
• T-shirt:  {eventshirt}
  (If no shirt is listed, please see us at the Information/Bag Check Tent after your race to select from the shirts we have left over.)
• Parking pass:  {ParkingPass_8}
  (If there is nothing after the words "Parking pass:" then you do NOT have a Parking Pass.  Parking Passes are currently sold out, but we may be able to offer a limited number at the March 13-14 Expo.)

Also:  Watch out for our t-shirt and medal reveal this week on social media!

In case you have missed any of our recent emails, check https://tobaccoroadmarathon.com/emailarchive for our runner email archive.

Your best training plan for this week:  Mental Preparation and Relaxation!

The Tobacco Road Marathon Race Committee
 

Dear {FirstName}, future successful Tobacco Road finisher,

Your Countdown:  7 days

At this point just a week away, you will be celebrating your Tobacco Road accomplishment!

History

The history of the Tobacco Road Marathon dates back to planning for the first running on March 21, 2010, with over 3400 runners.  Local runners and sports fans (especially of college basketball) will know that that term "Tobacco Road" dates back many years to the rivalry between UNC, Duke, NC State, and Wake Forest (when Wake Forest was in the town of Wake Forest). ...and, especially in recent years, to the intense rivalry between UNC and Duke.  (Did "your" team win last night?)  Hear more about the history of the term "Tobacco Road" from our ABC11 partner here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCcXJQL15i0 .

Most of the race is on the American Tobacco Trail (ATT), originally part of the Norfolk Southern Railway system serving the region’s tobacco industry centered in Durham.  When the railroad was abandoned in the 1980s, the corridor was converted into a rails-to-trails greenway beginning in the late 1990s, providing a tremendous local resource for runners, walkers, cyclists, and even some equestrians.  The Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (TRTC) is a beneficiary of the Tobacco Road Marathon, so proceeds from your registration help maintain and improve this resource.

Race Morning Arrival Time

A question we are frequently asked is "The race starts at 7:00am; do I really need to target to arrive at 5:30am on race morning?"  The short answer is...YES.  And if you are parking at our remote lot and taking the shuttle, we recommend planning a 5:00am arrival there.  Please target those times.  Would an extra 15 to 30 minutes of sleep (which you probably won't be getting anyway because you will wake up many times during the night) be worth the additional stress?!?  ...when you hit traffic, when there is a line for the shuttle or the drop-off, when you forget something you wanted to bring, when you see the long-line at the porta-potties, or when you are (in the dark) trying to connect with your running friends for a pre-race photo?  The lower stress is certainly worth the earlier arrival time.

Post-Race Party

Back this year:  Downpour

No...not the rain we had last year.  We are hoping NOT to repeat that.  But our band last year AND this year is "Downpour."  Downpour is a 3 piece power trio from Johnston County, NC. Rocking the Triangle for 15 years with high energy entertainment, Downpour pours forth a relentless deluge of your favorite hits from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Rock, Southern Rock, Metal, Grunge, and more.  So come to the party tent and dance like...umm, well, try to dance after your 13.1 or 26.2 miles.  We won't pass judgment.

If you aren't into or able to dance, enjoy the fellowship of your running buddies, competitors, and supporting friends and family.  Runners can enjoy fresh sweet oranges provided by Sunkisk, chocolate milk provided by Sysco, and Pizza from Papa John's...and, our Bond Brothers Beer Garden.  Bond Brothers Beer Company, located right here in Cary (near downtown), will have their beer truck on-site to "pour" our runners with some of their most popular brews. Be sure to bring your ID if you want to enjoy the beer garden!

Target Training

Most of race training has to do with running, but an important part of preparing for a race is sleep.  You are already tapering (running fewer miles this week than most of the weeks since the start of the year), so turn in those extra hours for an earlier bedtime.  This need is compounded further with this morning's change to Daylight Saving Time.

And for the night prior to the race, expect go get mostly interrupted sleep.  Even experienced marathoners wake up frequently during the night prior checking the time--repeatedly.  You might wake up at 2:00am, 2:10am, again 2:25am, etc.  The way to minimize the impact of this on your race is Friday night.  Seriously consider an 9:00pm bedtime on Friday night, and get a full 8+ hours sleep.

About Your Registration

• Your Name:  {FirstName} {LastName}
• Your Rae Shirt:  {eventshirt}
  (If no shirt is listed, please see us at the Information/Bag Check Tent after your race to select from the shirts we have left over.)

Also:  Watch out for our t-shirt and medal reveal this week on social media!

In case you have missed any of our recent emails, check https://tobaccoroadmarathon.com/emailarchive for our runner email archive.

Your best training plan for this week:  Tapering and Sleep 
The Tobacco Road Marathon Race Committee
 

Dear {FirstName} {LastName},

Countdown:  11 days  ..from the 2026 Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

You have probably heard the controversy from Atlanta about the 2026 USATF Women's Half Marathon Championship.  The lead vehicle led the top three runners off-course near the end of the race due to an emergency.  Apparently, a police officer who was assigned to the race was struck by a car, and that disruption caused the lead vehicle to alter its path.

There are several messages in this for all of us.

First, there are typically three different races wrapped up into one event for each runner in a race...

1. There is the race you trained for.  Your hard work and preparation got you to race day.  Congratulations!  This in itself is worth celebrating.  Also know that few runners will ever say they are fully prepared for their race or that their training went as planned.  Don't feel bad if your training wasn't 100%.
2. There is the actual race day and race.  Even if you follow the runner's adage "Nothing new on race day," something unexpected or surprising will certainly happen.  We hope that any surprise is a delightful one, but "things happen."  This could be anything from traffic on the way to the race site...to bad weather (hopefully not a repeat of our 2025 weather)...to forgetting to bring an important item for your race.  Additionally, unexpected challenges happen on the race organizer's side, as obviously happened at the USATF Championship.  We at Tobacco Road spend a year planning all the details of our race, but we still have to react to race-day situations.  You can reduce your surprises by planning and, especially, giving yourself some extra time on race morning to be able to respond to surprises.  And please understand we are working hard to put on the best race possible for you, but it might not be perfect.
3. Then, there is the race you wished you had run.  After you finish, please celebrate your results with us at our post-race party--whatever your results are.  You will have achieved so much more than nearly everyone else--many who will still be in bed.  You can and should reflect on what went well and, perhaps, a few things you wish had gone differently.  But rather than to feel any disappointment about that, use it for learning for your next race.  In fact, if you aren't signed up for a race after Tobacco Road, now is the time to sign up for your Fall race.  If your race doesn't go well, you will already know your "redemption race."  And if your race at Tobacco Road goes well, you'll want to try to repeat and better it.  Top-notch North Carolina fall events include RDC (Oct 25, also on the American Tobacco Trail), City of Oaks (Nov 1, in Raleigh), Outer Banks (Nov 8), and Charlotte (Nov 14).  In fact, those events don't overlap--you could run all four!

And be sure to plan to run the Sunday March 14, 2027, Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon--registration opening soon!

But, back to what we can learn from Atlanta...

Course

Know the course.  Please review https://tobaccoroadmarathon.com/maps.  For the Half Marathon, there are just six turns and one turn-around.  For the Full Marathon, there are also just six turns but two turn-arounds.  These are well-marked and will be staffed with volunteers directing you.  There are, however, two points to pay particular attention to:

1. At mile 2.5 where we move off the road and onto the American Tobacco Trail, the Full Marathon turns right and the Half Marathon turns left.  There will be clear signs and volunteers, so simply be aware of this split.
2. The southern turn-arounds (mile 6.55 of the Half and mile 18.7 of the Full) are NOT at the same location.  The Half Marathon turn-around is earlier.  Full Marathoners:  Make sure you run past the Half-Marathon turn-around.  Note:  The Half Marathon turn-around is shortly after you go through a tunnel under US 64.

 

Spectators

The course maps also show the locations of aid stations and good locations for spectators to see you running.  Plesae let your spectators know that there will be traffic backups at points where roads cross the American Tobacco Trail (ATT).  The best roads to cross over the ATT (east-to-west) during the race are Scott King Road (at the north end), US 64 (at the south end), and Morrisville Parkway (in the middle).  Recommended:  Have your spectators join you at the Expo where we can suggest to them specific spectating plans for your race distance and expected finish time.

Note that we don't have a runner tracking mobile app, but results will be updated live on https://www.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=16247&RId=10130 with just one mid-course timing mat (at the 6.55 miles turn-around) on the Half, and five mid-course timing mats on the Full (at 3.4, 8.3, 13.1, 18.2, 19.7 miles).  If your spectators want to track you with greater precision, we recommend you use an app like Life360 on your cell phone.

Photos

Back this year:  Free photos!  For your lasting memories, we will be providing free photos of your finish.  Be sure to smile!  Note, however, we are asking for an optional $5 donation (via Venmo) for our supported charities for anyone who downloads photos.  That's a small fraction of what many races charge for photos, and your $5 donation will go 100% to charities.  If half of you donate, that's $10,000 more for charities.  (Donations will be taken when photos are available.)

Target Training

Earlier, we mentioned "Nothing new on race day."  That means now is the time if you need to try anything new.  For some things, it might even be too late, but better now than on race day.  Check now that you have all the equipment and supplies needed.  Shoes?  Hydration plans?  Nutrition?  Some sort of anti-chafing/blister prevention product?  Clothing ready for different weather conditions?  Spectators?  Plans to get to/from the race?   And how you are going to celebrate after!

About Your Registration

• Your Name:  {FirstName} {LastName}
• Your Emergency Contact:  {e_contact} {e_contact_phone}

And, in case you have missed any of our recent emails, check https://tobaccoroadmarathon.com/emailarchive for our runner email archive.

Nothing new on race day...except for a PR!
The Tobacco Road Marathon Race Committee
 

Dear {FirstName} {LastName},

We are just two weeks away from the 2026 Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday, March 15, 2026.  At this time in 2 weeks, you will be celebrating!

For those of you alert and wondering why you haven't receive more email updates, we have been a bit behind on our communications focusing on finalizing logistics.  We will be sending you several emails over the next two weeks with important, need-to-know information.

This week's topics:  Expo, Nutrition, and Last Minute Registrations
...and "Why this NC Race Is a Must-Run" ( https://www.theenduranceedge.com/tobacco-road-marathon-half-marathon-raleigh-nc )

Expo:  (See https://tobaccoroadmarathon.com/expo for more details.)

• The 2026 Tobacco Road Marathon Expo will be at the USA Baseball Training Center in Cary, NC.  Note:  This is the SAME location as the Expo last year but different than the Expo location in 2024 and earlier.  The Expo address is 7445 Green Hope School Road Cary, NC 27519 and will be in the indoor baseball field building diagonally from the entrance to the parking lot.
• The Expo is where you pickup your bib, t-shirt, and other merchandise.  Additionally, various vendors, sponsors, and charities will have booths, and Inside Out Sports will have a full range of running supplies so that you are fully equiped.
• Expo hours are:
  • Friday, March 13, 2026: 3:00pm - 8:00pm
  • Saturday, March 14, 2026:  10:00am - 5:00pm. (No bib pickups after 5:00pm)
• You can have a friend pick up your bib and t-shirt if they have a copy of your id or a copy of the email we send a few days before the Expo.
• If you cannot make the Expo, there is no general race-day bib pickup.  However, for runners who live more than 90 minutes away, we offer race-day packet pickup that you can request on https://tobaccoroadmarathon.com/lateppu , subject to the following limitations:  (a) Limited to the first 50 people who request it, and (b) you must be at the race site information tent by 6:00am on race day.  If you arrive at 6:15am looking to pick up your bib, it will be too late.  (Also note:  If you are doing race-morning bib pickup, you won't have a parking pass, even if you purchased one.)
• Note:  Bib numbers will be provided in an email the week before the race.

Nutrition:

• We have aid stations approximately every 2 miles on both courses.  The nutrition at the aid stations will be:
  • Water and (regular) Orange Gatorade
  • Vanilla Bean and Strawberry-Banana Gu Gel
  • Salted Chocolate and Campfire Smores Stroopwafels
• The aid stations will also have a few porta-potties.
• The post-race nutrition will include water, pizza, beer, oranges, bananas, and chocolate milk.

Last Minute Registrations:

• Because of a greater-than-normal number of deferrals (maybe it was due to a cold, icy, and snowy January), we still have space for your friends to register for either the Half or Full distance.  To encourage these registrations, we are offering a limited-time $99 price for your friends.  (That's one of the many benefits of being your friend!)  Have them register using the discount code "TRMBuddy" at https://tobaccoroadmarathon.com/register?dsx=trmbuddy  And remind them they have 7 hours to complete either distance.
• And...here's some extra encouragement for them.  One of our sponsors, Chris Newport at Endurance Edge, talked to Tobacco Road recently to learn "The Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon:  Why This NC Race Is a Must-Run."  Listen to the Endurance Edge podcast at https://www.theenduranceedge.com/tobacco-road-marathon-half-marathon-raleigh-nc .

Target Training (if you are following a training plan, use that, not this):

• This weekend (or maybe last weekend) should have been your last "long run."  You will still likely want to do short, mid-week runs, and maybe a medium-length run next weekend, but this is a time to relax a bit in your training and take some well-deserved easy runs.

About Your Registration:

• Your Name:  {FirstName} {LastName}
• Your Email:  {Email}
• Event Distance:  {EventCategory}

Best wishes in your training and tapering,
The Tobacco Road Marathon Race Committee
 

Dear 2026 Tobacco Road Runner,

We are just under six weeks away from the 2026 Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon!  This is the first email of roughly weekly emails to help you prepare for the best possible experience at your Sunday, March 15, 2026, race.  (...plus a few additional emails the week before the race.)  Our hope is that you at least skim these to learn what is important at these weekly checkpoints before the race.  Please don't treat them as spam, because they will contain important information!

This week's topics:  Deadlines and Host Hotel
Every week's topics:  Your Target Training
Some upcoming topics (in future weeks): Expo/Packet Pickup, Parking, Almost Sold-Out, Pacers, Race Nutrition, What Ifs, Nos, Arrival Time, Spectator/Runner Tracking, Post-Race Party, Charities and Sponsors, etc.

Deadlines:

• Tonight, Feburary 3, 2026:  Last chance to defer https://tobaccoroadmarathon.com/defer .  After tonight, your options will be limited to change distance or to transfer your registration to someone else.
• Tonight, February 3, 2026;  Last chance to change t-shirt size (using https://tobaccoroadmarathon.com/myregistrations.)  After tonight, you will need to pick up your originally-selected size and swap AFTER the race for whatever sizes we might have leftover.
• Tonight, February 3, 2026:  Last change to register and be guaranteed a t-shirt.  (Of course, if you are getting this email, you are already registered, but your friends might not be.)
• February ??, 2026:  Typical Half Marathon sell-out.  Currently 81% sold-out. . (It was higher before recent deferrals.)
• February ??, 2026:  Last day to change from the Full to the Half (i.e. whenever the Half sells out).  Use https://tobaccoroadmarathon.com/change to change distances.
• Noon, Thursday, March 12, 2026:  Last chance to complete a registration transfer on-line.  After that, BOTH old and new runners will have to come to the Expo for us to process the transfer.
• Friday the 13th, March 2026:  Expo open 3:00pm - 8:00pm
• Saturday, March 14, 2026:  Expo open 10:00am - 5:00pm. Last Bib Pickup at 4:59pm!
• Sunday, March 15, 2026, 5:00am:  Recommended last arrival time to remote parking to get shuttle bus.
• Sunday, March 15, 2026, 5:30am:  Recommended last arrival time to race site.
• Sunday, March 15, 2026, 7:00am:  Race Starts.  Last Start Time allowed:  7:15am.
• Sunday, March 15, 2027, 8:00am:  Parking Passes no longer checked at race site. (There might not be any parking spaces available, however.)
• Sunday, March 15, 2027, 2:00pm:  Firm course cut-off time.  (A 16:00/mile pace for the Full.)
• Months ago:  Parking Passes sold out (in October).

Host Hotel:

New this year (2026):  The Tobacco Road Marathon host hotel is the COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT RALEIGH CARY/PARKSIDE TOWN COMMONS at 1008 Parkside Matin Street, Cary, NC  27519.  Their direct number is 919-659-1250.  It is located just minutes from Research Triangle Park (RTP, NC) and 10 minutes from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Guests booking online
The host hotel reservation link is below. This link may be used to make reservations until February 23, 2026. After this cutoff date passes, any requests for additional reservations at the discounted rate will be honored based on hotel availability. 
 
Book your group rate for Tobacco Road Marathon.  The pricing starts at $169/night.
 
Guests booking by phone
Guests may call the Front Desk at 919-659-1250 to book by requesting the Tobacco Road Marathon block. 

For more information
For more information about the hotel including nearby food and shopping, see https://tobaccoroadmarathon.com/travel .

Target Training (if you are following a training plan, use that, not this):

• Half Marathon:  Most runners like to run the half distance, 13.1 miles, in training before their race.  This helps to build confidence that you can do it on race day.  Of course, you will do it, but why have the extra worry?  You would probably run this longest training run on the weekend of February 28-March 1.  That means you should probably be doing a 10 mile run this week and a 12 mile run in mid-February.  (What if you never get up to the 13.1 miles?  Some training programs suggest you can stop the mileage around 10 miles, but in that case, we would recommend three 10-mile runs.)
• Full Marathon:  While many runners run the full distance, 26.2 miles, before their first marathon, there is debate in the running community how important that is because that can break you down rather then build you up.  You should probably be doing at least a 20 mile run three weeks before race day, so that's the weekend of February 21-22.  Backing up from that, you should be doing at least an 18 mile run this week.

About Your Registration:
Your Name:  {FirstName} {LastName}
Your Email:  {Email}
Event Distance:  {EventCategory}
Date of Birth:  {dob}
Phone:  {phone}
Address:  {address}, {city}, {state}  {zipcode}
T-shirt size:  {eventshirt}
Parking pass:  {ParkingPass_8}
(If there is nothing after the words "Parking pass:" then you do NOT have a Parking Pass.  Parking Passes are currently sold out, but we may be able to offer a limited number at the March 13-14 Expo.)

Best wishes in your training,
The Tobacco Road Marathon Race Committee
 

Dear Runner,

The excitement is growing!  It's Race Week for the 2025 Tobacco Road Veradigm Full Marathon and VHB Half Marathon.  Today's Topic:  Final steps to be ready.

Your Name:  {FirstName} {LastName}
Your Email:  {Email}
Event Distance:  {EventCategory}

Important Details:

• Our 2025 Runner's Guide is now available on https://tobaccoroadmarathon.com/runner-guide.  It includes much of the information that is on our website, consolidated into a PDF file.
• As this week is full of final prep for us, we may not be able to answer all individual emails.  Please, consult the Runner's Guide, our website, or our FAQs before sending us questions.  You will get a answer more quickly by finding it yourself.  (There are very few questions that aren't answered somewhere in these three locations.)  Or, if possible, just hold your question and ask us at the Expo.
• The Expo is at the Race Site on Friday, March 14, and Saturday, March 15 at 7445 Green Hope School Road Cary, NC 27519.  Hours are 3pm to 8pm on Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturday.
• New in 2025:  We are partnering with "hollarhype" for you to get real-time voice messages from your friends while you're running Tobacco Road.  Download the "hollarhype" app for iPhone and Android now and ask your friends to do so as well.  You can experiment with the app before the race, and we will provide instructions on how to use it at Tobacco Road later this week and at the Expo.
• Later this week, you will be receiving an email which shows your bib number.  You can use this email to pick up your bib or show an ID.  You can also forward this email to a friend or send them a copy of your ID for them to pick up your bib and t-shirt.  (Note:  If you have a Parking Pass, be sure to pick it up at the Expo...or remind a friend to pick it up.  The Parking Passes will be distributed at a separate table from the bib pickup.)
• Best Practice for Saturday evening/night:  In contrast to the traditional (inexperienced) runner's large pasta dinner the night before your race, keep your Saturday dinner light.  If desired, consider a larger mid-day Saturday meal instead.  And as for sleep on Saturday night, you probably won't get a lot because of your excitement and worry about missing your alarm.  Instead of stressing over not getting much sleep on Saturday night, strive get a full night's sleep on Friday night.
• Weather:  Sunday's forecast currently includes some rain and potentially thunderstorms.  It is too early to evaluate what that means, but we are monitoring the forecast and will be communicating more about any changes to due weather as conditions develop.  (We will mention the weather in all future emails.)

Change in Plans?  You can still change distance or transfer your registration to another runner.  Note:  We offer no options for deferral or refund at this time.  Not for any reason...injury, sickness, family illness or death, mandatory work, pregnancy, weddings, weather, travel delays, etc.  Please don't ask; we really don't like saying "No" (but we will).

Get excited, but also rest up!

The Tobacco Road Marathon Race Committee

Dear 2025 Veradigm Tobacco Road Marathon and VHB Half Marathon Runners,

On behalf of the all-volunteer TRM Board of Directors, I am honored to welcome you, your families, and your friends to the 15th annual Tobacco Road Marathon in Cary, North Carolina.

As race organizers, we work throughout the year to make this event enjoyable and safe for our runners, our volunteers, and our spectators. One aspect we cannot control is the weather, and this year there is the potential for inclement weather which may impact us on Sunday morning. Since safety for all connected to the race is of utmost concern, please know we are monitoring weather forecasts and we will adjust our Inclement Weather Plan as race day draws nearer. Please anticipate an important message from me via e-mail on Saturday morning at 10:00 AM giving you further details about race day.

After this year’s race, the Tobacco Road Marathon/Half Marathon will reach the $2 million dollar mark in cumulative charitable donations. We are extremely proud of this accomplishment, but we couldn’t have done it without the support of our sponsors and our runners. We want to thank YOU. We will have a new backdrop banner announcing this milestone, recognizing our sponsors and listing the names of all runners that registered for this year’s race before the beginning of March. The banner will be displayed at the Expo on Friday and Saturday and at the Finish line area on Sunday. This will be a great spot for photos with family and friends. Again, we truly appreciate you, our runners.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Pre-Race Expo in its new location at the USA Baseball Training Center, which is part of the Baseball Complex where the Race Village is situated. On Sunday, I’ll also be at the Start/Finish Line offering my congratulations to all. 

Important Info:  NetApp graciously offers their parking lot for our use which helps resolve the TRM’s limited on-site parking issue.  If you are parking at their facility and taking the bus to the starting line, PLEASE respect their property. Do not leave any trash or discard items in the parking lots. Please use the porta-potties and trash receptacles available in their parking lot. Also, when parking, please note the section of the parking lot where you are located. They will be marked A, B, and C. This will make it easier for you to find your vehicle after the race when your legs may be fatigued.

Lastly, I also want to acknowledge and thank our many dedicated volunteers, law enforcement personnel, medical staff, and the TRM Board of Directors for making this event possible. Without their help, this race would not happen.  

Please accept my best wishes to all of you.

Sincerely,
Kazem Yahyapour
TRM President and Race Director

Hello {FirstName} {LastName},


Bib: {bib} 

Event:  {EventCategory} ~ Age:  {dob} ~ Gender:  {gender} ~ Division: {AgeGroupentryno_1015}

Thank you for registering for the Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon!  Below is your information for timing and awards.  Please show this email to pick up your bib.  You may also pickup other runner's bibs and t-shirts, but please have a copy of their email like this...or a photo of their ID.  If you have questions about the race, please email info@tobaccoroadmarathon.com.

The Expo will be held at a new location this year--at the race site at USA Baseball near Cary, NC. The race site address is 7445 Green Hope School Road, Cary, NC  27519.  Hours are:

• Friday, March 14, 2025 from 3pm - 8pm
• Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 10am to 5pm

Please be sure to wear your bib number on the front and outside of your shirt preferably just above your waistline attached with safety pins.  Do not cut, fold, or alter your bib and refrain from wearing on your shorts wrapped around your leg.
Results link:  LINK

Please ensure that the information below is correct.  If any corrections are needed, please email both jason@fsseries.com and info@tobaccoroadmarathon.com .

Event:  {racecategory}
Bib:  {bib}
Age:  {dob}
Gender:  {gender}
Division: {AgeGroupentryno_1015}

Thank you, and best wishes for a great race!

Your Name:  {FirstName} {LastName}
Your Email:  {Email}
Event Distance:  {EventCategory}

Best wishes for a hyped race,
hollarhype and The Tobacco Road Marathon Race Committee

Dear Tobacco Road Marathon Runners,

We enjoyed seeing many of you yesterday at the 2025 Tobacco Road Marathon Expo at the USA Baseball Training Facility in Thomas Brooks Park. Unfortunately, the weather forecast remains a concern for Sunday (Race Day). After closely reviewing weather forecasts, we have decided to revise the cut off-time for the for this race. THE RACE COURSE WILL OFFICIALLY CLOSE AT 11A.  This means aid stations will be broken down, there will be no medical support on the course, no police officers directing traffic, no course marshals directing runners on the course, and the finish line and race village will be shut down.  We are taking this course for the safety of you, the runners, as well as our volunteers, our spectators and our first responders.

For FULL MARATHONERS only, we recognize that some of you have later expected finish times, so we are allowing you to defer your entry to next year.  You will need to let us know by midnight tonight if you wish to defer to 2026.  We will send Full Marathoners a link to a deferral form by noon today.

And, as a reminder to all, the Expo continues today from 10:00am to 5:00pm at USA Baseball, 7445 Green Hope School Rd, Cary, NC 27519.

We too are unhappy about these changes, but we believe this should allow all of you to have a great but safe race experience, with some of you deferring to 2026.

Best wishes in your run tomorrow, or whenever your next run is.

Sincerely, on behalf of TRM BOD,
Kazem Yahyapour, Tobacco Road Marathon President and Race Director   

For Full Marathon runners who, because of weather, want to run the Half (or less than a Full) instead to avoid the risky weather...

As a reminder, support (police, aid stations, etc.) for our event on March 16, 2025, officially ENDS at 11:00am.  You can run the Half Course with your Full Marathon bib.  You do NOT have to let us know.  HOWEVER, at about mile 2.5, turn LEFT to follow the Half Course when you get to the American Tobacco Trail.  (The Full Course turns right.)

Alternatively, if you want a bit more than a Half Marathon, you can follow the Full Marathon course (by turning right), proceed to the northern turn-around at 8.3 miles, and return to Morrisville Parkway at 14.3 miles.  Then, skip the southern leg and run back on the course to Thomas Brooks Park for a total of about 16.8 miles.  Maps are available on https://tobaccoroadmarathon.com/maps.

Note:  When you cross the finish line, please pick up a Full Marathon medal, even if you haven't run 26.2 miles.  Note, however, you will NOT receive an official finish time or be eligible for any awards if you did not cross all Full Marathon timing mats.

For Full Marathon runners who expect a finish time slightly longer than 4 hours, while support on the course officially ends at 11:00am, we will have medals and leave the finish line timing turned on as long as safe and possible.  Additionally, bag check and shuttle buses will continue to be available until noon unless weather simply doesn't allow that.

For anyone evaluating the risk, please refer to this weather map from our meda partner, ABC 11.

 

Full Marathoners may also defer by midnight tonight using the form at https://app.racereach.com/form/58671.

Best wishes, and please be safe so you can return in a future year!



 

Dear Tobacco Road Marathon Runners,

We regret that we have run out of time to answer the literally 1000+ emails we have received, but hopefully the emails we have sent (with copies on https://tobaccoroadmarathon.com/emailarchive ) can fully explain options.

Here are a few additional notes:

• For those who asked about an early start, that would be unsafe due to darkness, the fact that the course goes through the parking lot while other runners would still be arriving, and the fact that the roads will not be closed until 7:00am.
• For those who asked about buying parking passes because runners have deferred, this wasn't practical since we require you to have a physical parking pass, and we didn't start getting many deferrals until the middle of the afternoon.
• For those who deferred and had a parking pass in 2025, it will defer with the registration to 2026.
• For those of you who forgot to pick up your physical, paper parking pass at the Expo, you will unfortunately not be able to park at the Race Site.
• For those using the "hollarhype" application to send voice messages to runners running, please be sure to enter this promo code: TRM2025.

- Ken @ TRM Athlete Communications