The 22nd annual Novant Health Charlotte Marathon is set to take place on Saturday, Nov. 14, drawing a record number of participants to the city.
According to Yahoo Sports, more than 13,250 runners are registered for the event, making it the largest version of the race in the history of Charlotte.
The influx of athletes will cause significant logistical challenges for local commuters.
As noted by WSOC-TV, the marathon will impact dozens of roads throughout the Uptown area.
The race day schedule begins early, with the Chick-fil-A 5K starting at 7:10 a.m.
The Marathon and Half Marathon events are scheduled to follow at 7:20 a.m., as reported by the outlets.
Participants have traveled from 47 states, as well as Canada, Mexico, Germany, and Bermuda to compete.
Local outlets noted that approximately 70% of the registered runners are residents of North Carolina.
To celebrate the occasion, Carolina Panthers legend and NFL Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly will serve as the official race starter and Grand Marshal.
The event also features entertainment collaborations to engage the community.
Grammy-nominated artist Waka Flocka Flame has teamed up with the event organizers to host Waka’s Flock Run and a post-race wellness party on Saturday.
Spectators can monitor the festivities through live aerial coverage provided by Chopper 9’s SkyZoom, which is sharing live video updates of the course.
City officials and race organizers are encouraging residents to plan their travel accordingly to avoid the road closures surrounding the downtown district.
The event continues to serve as a major athletic landmark for the Queen City, drawing international attention and record-breaking local participation for the 22nd consecutive year.