Neuse River Bridge Run 2026

Neuse River Bridge Run helps bridge gaps in our community!

Adults and children, lace up your running shoes for fun, exercise and a worthy cause! For over 20 years, the Neuse River Bridge Run (NRBR) has been uniting runners, walkers, volunteers and sponsors - all to support five important non-profit organizations in our community. The NRBR follows routes over bridges, through historic neighborhoods, and through downtown New Bern. We offer four events, a 1/2 Marathon, at 10K, a 5K, and the SuperKids Fun Run. In addition to the 4 in-person races the NRBR will continue to offer all four options as virtual events for 2026.

 

Our mission is to serve the community by promoting a healthy, active lifestyle. All five organizations are committed to working together to manage this event resulting in great benefits to our communities. The five organizations equally share 100% of the net revenue generated by the events. The Craven Community College Foundation, The Filling Station, Duffyfield Phoenix Project, Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina, and Twin River YMCA all benefit from your participation. Please visit this link to learn more about us!

 

Please note that only the in-person ½ Marathon and 10K events can offer the full bridges experience. Virtual runners will need to plot their own course that does not include runs over the Neuse River Bridge. The Neuse River Bridge is only safe for runners on our designated in-person date of Saturday,  May 2, 2026.

In-person 1/2 Marathon and the 10K courses feature a run over the large span of the Neuse River Bridge. All three courses, 5K-10K-1/2 marathon, include a run over the George Cunningham Bridge which spans the Trent River.  Then the courses wind through a circuit around and though historic New Bern. The races all finish on East Front Street in front of the Riverfront Convention Center of Craven County in New Bern.

IN PERSON EVENTS

Race Dates: Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2, 2026

SuperKids Fun Run

Race day is Friday, May 1, 2026. The fee for the SuperKids Fun Run is $20 per child. Start time: 5:30 p.m. 

4:00 to 5:30 p.m. - Check-in & Registration at Union Point Park
Registration and pick-up for t-shirts and goodie bags begins at 4:00 p.m. Then the young runners will join with our volunteer crew of Craven Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training students for games, warms up and a little coaching prior to the race events. The children will be grouped by age category and the races will start a 5:30 p.m.

Click Here for complete details about race day for the SuperKids Fun Run

1/2 MARATHON, 10K and 5K 

Saturday, May 2, 2026

All three of these events will be timed. A chip enabled bib is required and will distributed at Race-Kit Pick-up events at the Riverfront Convention Center on Friday, May 1 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, May 2 from 6:00 a.m. to 15 minutes before the start of your race. 

Start Times:

• 7:00 a.m.  Half Marathon
• 7:30 a.m.  10K
• 8:15 a.m.  5K

Timing

Official timing for the Neuse River Bridge Run in-person events will be provided by our partners Run the East. Run the East is North Carolina’s leading provider of professional race timing and management services. Their focus is on providing registration, timing, and management services to area events, with a goal to provide both race directors and runners an excellent race experience. 

Fees

Early registration is through February 28th. Prices will increase on March 1, 2026.

Current In-Person Fees:
Half Marathon: $70 ($80 after February 28, 2026)
10K: $55 ($65 after February 28, 2026)
5K: $45 ($50 after February 28, 2026)
Kids Run: $20 (no price change)

The top three finishers in the in-person races, 5K, 10K & Half Marathon, in both male and female categories, will receive a Gold, Silver or Bronze medals. The top three finishers in the in-person races, in both male and female categories, in 13 different age groups will receive Gold, Silver or Bronze medals. In addition, all 1/2 marathon runners who complete the race will receive a finisher medal at the finish line.

Age Group Categories:
Age 14 and Under
Age 15 to 19
Age 20 to 24
Age 25 to 29
Age 30 to 34
Age 35 to 39
Age 40 to 44
Age 45 to 49
Age 50 to 54
Age 55 to 59
Age 60 to 64
Age 65 to 69
Age 70 and over

VIRTUAL EVENTS

Virtual Fees

Half Marathon: $70 ($80 after February 28, 2026)
10K: $55 ($65 after February 28, 2026)
5K: $45 ($50 after February 28, 2026)
Kids Run: $20 (no price change)

Date Range for the virtual events: Friday, May 1 - Saturday, May 9, 2026.

Virtual Races will not be timed, but race results can be tracked and reported via the Smart phone app RaceJoy. Times can also be reported through the NRBR website. Place medals will not be awarded to virtual participants. 1/2 Marathon runners will receive the participation / finishers medal.

Virtual participants can choose to pick-up their race kit at Riverfront Convention Center on Friday, May 1st OR they may to choose to pay a shipping fee to have their T-shirt and race swag mailed to them at $7.95 per person. The first mail date for virtual race kits is April 20.

POST RACE CELEBRATION

A celebration for all participants, their families, and supporters, will be held in the Riverfront Convention Center of Craven County  (across the street from Union Point Park) in The View on the waterfront side of the center and on the Riverfront Veranda from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Food, soft drinks, and beer will be served. Awards distribution will begin at 8:30 a.m. in The View (the large room on the waterfront side of the convention center)