Thousands of runners crossed the finish line Saturday at the 20th annual Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. Some ran for glory, others for brunch.

Thousands of people will run Novant Health Charlotte Marathon events this weekend, myself included. Why it matters: Charlotte is finding its footing as a big city and having a solid running scene and a signature race are a major part of that.

Organizers of the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon reported that the 20th running of the event has sold out of all distances for the first time ever.

In two days, more than 9,000 runners will hit the streets for the Charlotte Marathon. It’s the 20th year for the event, and people from all 50 states will be traveling to the Queen City to participate.

The Charlotte Marathon is sold out for only the second time in its 20 year history. The Charlotte Marathon is on Saturday, Nov. 16, this year. Stretching 26.2 miles from Uptown Charlotte through numerous neighborhoods before returning to Uptown.