Neuse River Bridge Run 2026

Neuse River Bridge Run Overview

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.

Mission and Community Benefit

• Objective: Our mission is to serve the community by promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.
• Collaboration: All five organizations are committed to working together to manage this event.
• Revenue Sharing: The five organizations equally share 100% of the net revenue generated by the events.
• Beneficiaries: 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!

Event Details

• Important Note: Please note that only the in-person ½ Marathon and 10K events can offer the full bridges experience.
• Virtual Runners: Virtual runners will need to plot their own course that does not include runs over the Neuse River Bridge.
• In-Person Date: The Neuse River Bridge is only safe for runners on our designated in-person date of Saturday, May 2, 2026.
• Course Highlights: In-person 1/2 Marathon and the 10K courses feature a run over the large span of the Neuse River Bridge.

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.

Check-in & Registration: 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. 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 at 5:30 p.m.

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

Half Marathon, 10K and 5K

Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026

All three of these events will be timed. A chip-enabled bib is required and will be 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 Information:

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.

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 Gold, Silver or Bronze medals.

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.

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

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).