Craft Beer Half Marathon - Relay & 5 Miler

🏃‍♀️ Race Overview

North Carolina's BEST SPRING HALF MARATHON celebrating running and Craft Beer!

Running is your Craft! Join us for Charlotte's Premier Spring Race...the 8th Annual Craft Beer Half Marathon & 5 Miler presented by Ivy Rehab is on March 28, 2026. Celebrate running and the HUGE Charlotte Craft Beer scene with fantastic course through miles of the greenway in North Charlotte. The Half Marathon will run on HALF Greenway and HALF roads. This event has SOLD OUT all 7 years, so register early. The Half Marathon & 5 Miler will only accept 2,000 runners.

📝 Registration

REGISTER NOW to guarantee your spot! Check Out our TRAINING PLANS

🍺 Post-Race Beer

Run the race and stay for the FREE beer. Local breweries will have beer.

⏰ Race Start Times

The Craft Beer Half Marathon starts and finishes at Brixham Park in the Ballantyne area of Charlotte, NC - 15810 Ballantyne Medical Pl, Charlotte, NC 28277

• Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
• Time: 8:00 AM – HALF MARATHON & 5 MILER

🎁 Participant Benefits

The Most Swag for any Half Marathon in the area!

• Long Sleeve Shirt
• Custom Bibs with your name on it
• Medal Coaster Finisher Medals (do this race 4 times and you’ll have a set of coasters)
• Pint Glasses for the first 1,000 registered - Half Marathon participants only
• Can/bottle Koozies for all Half Marathon participants only while supplies last
• Drink ticket to local brews

📦 Packet Pick Up

You can pick up for friends and family. NO RACE DAY PACKET PICK UP...unless you purchased Will Call.

• Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026: 11PM – 3:00PM
• Location: Charlotte Running Company - Promenade, 5355 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28277
• Date: Friday, March 27, 2026: 2PM - 8PM ---- PACKET PICK UP PARTY at OMB Ballantyne, 15025 Bowl St, Charlotte, NC 28277
• For more information on Packet Pick Up and the PARTY, click HERE

🏁 Course Information

This Half Marathon is HALF on the roads and HALF on the beautiful greenway paved trails.

*START - We will stage the start at Brixham Park. Your official time will be based off of your chip time (from when you cross the start mat until you cross the finish mat), so no need to panic at the start...we promise there will be beer left for you at the finish. HA!

Course Maps: HERE

📏 Pacers

We are excited to have the Charlotte Running Club Pace Team. Pace groups will be 1:35, 1:45, 2:00, 2:15, 2:30, 2:45, and 3:00. You do not need to sign up for a group, just show up to the start line and look for the pacer signs.

📅 Training Plans

We are excited to partner with Charlotte Running Company to provide training plans for our athletes....AND some FREE SWAG!

Coached Group Run Opportunities on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays each week. More Info HERE

⏱️ Timing

We have partnered with Start 2 Finish. All Half Marathon and 5 Miler participants will be timed and will receive their disposable timing tag during packet pick up.

📦 Bag Check

There will NOT be a bag check at this year's event.

👕 T-Shirts

Every participant will be guaranteed a race shirt that signed up before March 15th. You will have a choice between long sleeve or short sleeve. Shirts are ordered based on the sizes indicated during online registration. NO SWITCHING SIZES – NO EXCEPTIONS!

🏃‍♂️ Virtual Runner

Couldn’t get into the race this year or you couldn’t make it to the race? Maybe the time limit for the course closure is an issue for you. We have you covered…VIRTUAL RUNNER! See Details HERE

🏆 Divisions & Awards

Overall, Masters, 12 and under, 13-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75+.

Top 3 Males and Females overall and Top 1 in all divisions will receive awards.

📬 Claiming Awards

As results become available, runners will be able to claim their awards at the awards ceremony prior to the last participant finishing. We do NOT ship unclaimed awards. Awards will be gift certificates from the local Run For Your Life Stores.

💵 Refunds and Transfers

Registration fees are non-refundable. Event registrations are non-transferable between individuals, events, or years.

⌛ Time Limit

There is a 3:00 hour time limit (13:45 mile pace) in the Half Marathon and a 1:15min time limit in the 5 Miler (15min mile pace).

🐶 Dogs and Strollers

Dogs and Strollers will NOT be allowed.

🚑 Medic/First Aid

Should you need medical attention at the finish line, let a volunteer know and you’ll be escorted to the medical tent located very close to the finish line.

💧 Water Stops & Potties

There will be 6 water stops for the Half Marathon and 2 water stops for the 5 Miler. There will be Potties located on the course for the Half Marathoners: Mile 2.5, Mile 4.5, Mile 6.5, Mile 8.5, Mile 10, and Mile 12.

🌦️ Weather Policy

Races are held,