Tobacco Road Marathon & Half Marathon: Why This NC Race Is a Must-Run Ep 132

Looking for a fast, flat marathon in North Carolina? In this episode of Find Your Edge, Coach Chris Newport talks with race leaders from the Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon about what makes this Triangle race special.

We cover:

• Course details and Boston qualifier stats
• What runners can expect on race day
• Charity impact and community involvement
• Race size and pacing support
• Insider tips for runners

Whether you're chasing a PR, a BQ, or your first finish line, this episode will help you decide if Tobacco Road is right for you.

Get more info here.

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Transcript

Origins And Mission

Coach Carlie 1:31

All right, welcome back to the Find Your Edge podcast. I am your host, Coach Chris Newport. And today I am here with Dave Gross and Mark Dill from the Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon, which we are proud sponsors of this year. And I love highlighting both race directors and local races and just awesome things that we have in the mix. So I'm excited to hear from you guys. Thanks for coming on the show.

SPEAKER_01 1:58

Thanks for having me.

Coach Carlie 1:59

Yeah. All right, Mark, I'm going to start with you because you have been with this race from the get-go. So when did it start? Tell us about why it got started and all that good kind of stuff.

Beneficiaries And Community Impact

SPEAKER_00 2:15

Well, technically, you could say it got started in 2009 because it takes that so long to uh prepare. But the first race was 2010. The inspiration, the force of nature is Kazem Yayapur. It wouldn't happen without Kazem. And he really founded it, and that's just his nature. He wanted to do something to help others in a meaningful way. So that's where it got. Plus, he was he was a big time runner himself.

Coach Carlie 2:42

Okay, cool. So helping others, you guys have a ton of beneficiaries. I mean, like, let me list the numbers, right?

SPEAKER_00 2:52

Well, I think the major beneficiaries, but you're right, they're we've got a lot. Uh but the big boys that get the most money uh are the breakthrough TD1, formerly JDRF, the American Red Cross, Hope for the Warriors. Not to be confused with with uh I forget the other one that's national, but this one's based in Oregon.

Coach Carlie 3:16

Oh yeah, that's great. So some large beneficiaries and some smaller, more local ones.

SPEAKER_00 3:23

Yeah, I mean, those are the ones that get the bulk of the money, but then we try to help out a lot of people, and then Kazam Institute something like uh three or four years ago that everybody on the board could give a thousand dollars to whatever charity they liked. What? They wanted to help.

Coach Carlie 3:39

That's so cool.

SPEAKER_00 3:40

Yeah, so my wife and I uh uh she convinced me Dorcas, who she's done a lot of work with, yeah, is would be a good beneficiary.

Coach Carlie 3:50

They're great. And Dave, what who's your beneficiary being on the board?

SPEAKER_01 3:53

Well, I just learned this fact, so I'm gonna have to think quickly here. Um Alzheimer's.

Coach Carlie 3:58

You don't have to commit to it. Maybe if you no, I'll commit.

Course Design And Boston Stats

SPEAKER_01 4:00

I'll commit. Yeah. Uh both my parents were afflicted by Alzheimer's, so uh yeah, I'll I'll throw it behind that. Oh, that's a good thing. Wow. Yeah. I I like the fact that the some of the local charities too are beneficiaries included, like the Triangle Rails to Trails and the Wake Um Park and Recreation. So it kind of gives back to the very course we're running on.

SPEAKER_00 4:21

Yeah. Yeah. Thank you, Dave. I I omitted to mention them, but yeah, they've been with us a long time. And of course, it's like giving back to the people that tend to the trail, which is essential.

Coach Carlie 4:33

Yeah. Okay, so let's talk about the course. Speaking of the trail, um, because it is tobacco road, and a good majority of the course is literally on the tobacco trail. Tell us why that makes such a great race. Hint hint, it's kind of fast.

SPEAKER_00 4:56

Well, I mean, when you talk about doing interviews, I mean, one of our key talking points is this is the flattest, fastest course in North Carolina, and it is. That's why we qualify 18% of our runners for for Boston. So about 21 miles, I think it is, uh uh is of the marathon is on the trail. People like it because it is, it's it's flat, and there's a lot of undulating terrain around here that can kind of really wear you out. And this one is is relatively easy.

unknown 5:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:30

Flat, but yet the uh I've been running on it for over a decade now, and I'm still trying to discern when I'm going uphill and when I'm going downhill, but they're there, they're very subtle, and they're kind of key points in the race uh that it can wear you out and you don't even know it because it looks flat and it's it's got a little bit of a grade to it.

Coach Carlie 5:52

So and you're mostly surrounded by trees. Right. You know, it's nice that you're not uh I know so many races have to like, okay, well, we're gonna take you through this random little neighborhood or down this you know street, and you're like, why am I running down this random street? It's it's just so nice that you're like, here I am on the trail, like pretty much the whole time.

SPEAKER_01 6:11

Yeah, it's shaded, it's shaded most of the way and and soft.

SPEAKER_00 6:15

That's what I was gonna say.

SPEAKER_01 6:16

Yeah, yeah. So that matters to me. I, you know, run enough around a neighborhood to know that concrete's hard and some.

Coach Carlie 6:24

Well, Dave, when you're 35 like you are, then it doesn't really matter, does it?

SPEAKER_01 6:29

Right, right. Yeah. I wish I were 35. Wish I were half that.

Coach Carlie 6:33

So flat, fast, great, like surface to run on, uh body friendly.

SPEAKER_01 6:41

And it's mixed. So I know some folks sometimes are wary of well, if it's soft, then you know I'm gonna lose some traction and so forth. But you know, there's asphalt in there too. You gotta run to the trail. So um, and I've never really I'd really rather have a soft surface that's equips well. I think it's a great variety.

SPEAKER_00 7:01

One thing that makes it different, and you mentioned this, that you're not going through neighborhoods. So in other races, you know, now you see houses, but people come out and you know, look at all the fools killing themselves. You can get out on the trail and rially uh kind of zone out. And whatever you want to think about, or you want to pray, or you know, whatever, it's it's uh it's more private than uh, you know, most other distance races.

Trail Feel, Surface, And Vibe

Coach Carlie 7:32

Yeah, peaceful, I would say, perhaps. Yeah, and well supported too. Just because you know, you're on the tobacco road, you guys have great support and uh aid stations, medals, t-shirts. What what else is in the swag? Is there anything that else that I missed?

SPEAKER_01 7:52

Uh one that's near and dear to many. You already Mark already mentioned that a lot of BQers in the uh in the group. And one thing that I like is that if you BQ, you get a special technical tobacco road shirt that you know it over and above the race shirt that go you get, you get a BQ shirt if you if you qualify.

SPEAKER_00 8:14

That's really cool. Yeah, and very don't forget, don't forget uh the free beer from Bond Brothers and the free pizza from Papa John's. I mean, that's a form of sponsorship and that's good stuff.

Coach Carlie 8:26

It is, absolutely, for sure. One thing that I love about Y'all's race is that there is a bell at the end, ding, ding, ding. Right? Yes. So if you uh it's like basically like the PR bell, but honestly, like if you if even if it's not a PR, can you still ring the bell? Maybe, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:47

You know who's to stop you?

Coach Carlie 8:48

That's right. Yeah. I do love that bell. It's so cool. Yeah. And it's not like it's I mean, it's it's like a gong version of a bell.

SPEAKER_00 8:57

It's big, it's a big bell. It's cast iron, it's old school.

Coach Carlie 9:02

Yeah, definitely. And you guys have great music. So this the I will have to say, this was my one and only marathon. I checked the box. Um, and if you're watching on YouTube, and you can hear it if you're just listening. Look at that thing. That thing is it's got like a little train, and apparently, this year's race is even better. The this year's race metal is even better. Yeah, they do, yeah, yeah, they do. You guys have great metals. You guys have great music too. Like a good music at the end.

SPEAKER_01 9:30

There's a really good festive experience in the at the start-finish with the the beer garden, the tent, the music, the the band, people hanging out, you know, usually uh nice weather. Uh last year we get did get a little douse of rain at the end. But uh, you know, another thing I that just occurred to me that I I like about the race too is photos are at least the last couple of years, I think have been free. So you go give it your all and look back and download some pictures.

SPEAKER_00 10:03

We got a what is it, stand and repeat, you know, behind you with the logos and stuff. Uh makes makes it look very professional.

Coach Carlie 10:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:11

And another point I want to mention on the weather is I mean, we were thoughtful, it's it's St. Patrick's Day weekend. And if you look at the average temperatures, it's in the low 50s, so it's good running weather. And we have been lucky, despite the late showers we had last year. We have never been rained out.

Coach Carlie 10:35

Not gonna be. Yeah, exactly. Well, in addition to St.

Swag, Bell, Music, And Photos

SPEAKER_01 10:39

Patty's Day, though, it is also March 16th is Dave's birthday.

SPEAKER_00 10:44

Oh, I mean, that's why we are all coming. That's why that's one big Dave Gross birthday party.

SPEAKER_01 10:51

I celebrated my 10th marathon on my birthday. I actually I've run this 10 times, so three times marathons and seven times half.

Coach Carlie 11:00

Oh, that's cool. Yeah. And this year for 2026, it's March 15th. So it's Sunday, March 15th, right? And we'll be at the expo. We're excited about that because we're gonna be doing some metabolic testing for cyclists. So if anybody's draplays or has like friends and family who are, you know, maybe you're doing the race and you've got a friend who's doing it, we're gonna be doing some metabolic, you know, taking people's blood. Uh, that makes me sound like a vampire. I promise I am not, but doing like lactate testing and uh metabolic testing. And there are a ton of amazing sponsors there too. Like it's a it's a fun little, it's a fun little expo.

SPEAKER_01 11:37

It's a worthy expo for sure.

Coach Carlie 11:39

Yeah. Um, let's talk about size of the race, because I very distinctly remember when I ran it with you, Dave, just incidentally. I think I found you at like mile two or something like that.

SPEAKER_01 11:52

That's right. And then you you you left me at mile 25. Yeah. Because someone was being a camel and not executing the fueling and the drinking.

Coach Carlie 12:01

Even though though you're running with a dietitian who's like, cough call, maybe it's time to drink.

SPEAKER_01 12:06

Yeah, mile 19. Are you being a camel, Dave? And I was so executing the left. I did accuse you of that.

Coach Carlie 12:12

There's just some of those races, the like New York's, the Boston's, which are obviously you know fantastic races, but you go there for that specific experience of being huddled with 30,000 of your friends. This is not that. I feel like not only is it on the tobacco trail, which is soft and in nature and well shaded, but it's also like you're not shoulder to shoulder. So, but it's also not a small race. So, like, talk about like size of race and how many runners you guys expect.

SPEAKER_00 12:43

If we're not the biggest marathon in North Carolina, we are real close. And we have like a thousand marathon runners. So it gives you a sense of you know, most of the runners are always in other distances, and especially like the half. So our total runners are about 4,000, and frankly, that's all we can fit on that course. I mean, that it is a constraint, and we've got about 3,000 or a little over 3,000 people in the half. So that that kind of gives you a sense of the size and so forth.

Coach Carlie 13:18

I am impressed that you guys got the permits for all this. Like, how hard was that when you started? Like, I I mean, being a race director myself, holy smokes.

SPEAKER_00 13:26

Kazem is like uh Wonder Man. He knows how to negotiate, he knows what buttons to press, and yeah, and he did a great job. And you got to put all that out there to him. And he and he found the right people to help him.

Weather, Timing, And Party Atmosphere

SPEAKER_01 13:38

Yeah. You know, if I can add that 4,000 runners on a I don't want to call it a type course, but it is, it used to be a railroad, right? So, you know, when you get to the turn where the full marathoners go right and the half marathoners go left, despite being limited space on on the trail, there it it gets dispersed enough that you you don't feel claustrophobic. You you have enough other runners around you to you know uh motivate you. And uh I enjoyed our conversation. Um actually we were talking about podcasts, Chris, if you were. We were. Yeah, I still remember this. Of course I remember. Yeah, so you never feel too crowded, but you have uh plenty of good company. Yeah, and and the spectators have uh some key spots where they can cheer you on, like at the split where the full and half diverge. While it's not New York City or Boston where you've got, you know, tens of thousands of spectators cheering you on, there's some key spots in the race, certainly at the finish, of course, and all throughout the park as you approach the finish line where people can cheer you on, but in the middle of the course, too.

Coach Carlie 14:49

Yeah, definitely. And I will have to say that it's fairly like parking friendly. You know how some races can be sort of uh nightmare. Like you get you guys got stuff figured out.

SPEAKER_00 15:01

Yeah, well, I mean, uh working at it since 2010, we kind of figured it out. We had a couple of hiccups early days, but uh, you know, like with the bus dri buses from that app, which have been wonderful, and effectively they're another sponsor too, because they uh allow us to uh spill over into their parking lot, and that really helps.

Coach Carlie 15:22

Yeah, definitely. Um, and I will have to say, plenty of Portageons. So two thumbs up from the dietitian.

SPEAKER_01 15:29

You're reminding me, yeah. You know, I've seen been a runner in this race, coach cheered, and I've certainly volunteered most years, but two memorable years. One was NetApp uh with the buses, making sure that stays efficient. But then also one year I was fortunate enough uh to put out all the porta potties. Big job. So there's a lot of there's a lot of work. That's something that I had no clue about, you know, as a as a runner, just what goes behind getting um a race ready.

Coach Carlie 16:01

Yeah, yeah. So let's talk about that. Like, what are some things that you wish people knew as runners of what goes into this event?

Field Size And Crowd Flow

SPEAKER_00 16:11

Well, I mean, it's it isn't something that comes together at the last minute, but you'll have people making requests and so forth. And people just have to realize there's a lot of other runners out there with their needs. As long as you got, you know, your bib and you know where to go and you listen to the advice of people like you and stay hydrated and so forth, that you should be content with that. So I I discourage people with special requests, and that that's I guess something that I feel would be helpful.

Coach Carlie 16:44

Yeah. Okay. So uh try to keep your special requests limited. Although I, you know, again, I don't think it's necessary with all the work you guys have put in between the great parking, the great communication, the expo, and volunteers. How many volunteers do you guys have?

SPEAKER_00 17:01

I have about 700 volunteers. That's crazy. Yeah, and all and the board is all volunteer. The only people that get paid are like the FSS series that uh does the timing. It's their job. You have to take care of those guys. But as far as uh guys like Dave and I, Kazam convinced us somehow we just give away our time. No, it's and that's part of the culture of the event that there's so many giving people, there's so much genuine desire to help others. Uh and that may sound saccharine, but it's true.

Coach Carlie 17:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:37

That's right. Giving back is important, right? Endurance events are important to us. It's a it's a strong community, and this is one way whether you run it, whether you cheer, whether you coach, whether you volunteer to give back and be part of your community. And that's super important for me. I you know, I happen to be employed by the marathon sponsor Varadime. So this is one way that I can give back as an employee and as a runner. And this is an important race for me personally, just on multiple levels. Yeah. And the fact that you can sleep in your own bed because it's local and to that. Yeah.

Coach Carlie 18:18

Or and I mean, even if you're traveling from out of town, like there's so many options for stays.

SPEAKER_01 18:24

Yeah, that's a good catch, yeah.

Coach Carlie 18:25

Yeah.

Logistics, Parking, And Buses

SPEAKER_01 18:26

So you know, coming back to the aid stations real quick, Chris. Um, that was one of the things that I underestimated each year in the last several years now. I've been making sure I volunteer to pack the aid stations, which is done days before, right? Or a day or two before. You know, you've got all the containers that you're packing and then they get transported. So the I totally underestimated how much work to set up one aid station. But and and we've got plenty of aid stations, right? So if someone's being a camel and not drinking, then that's not that's on them. It is on them. Because there's plenty of water and and uh you know nutrition on the course.

Coach Carlie 19:06

Yes. But yeah, packing those aid stations. You know, you've got like we already talked about the bus transportation, the portageons, the music, the volunteers, the board, praying to the weather gods and uh police, right? They have to work with traffic.

SPEAKER_00 19:23

And don't forget uh EMS because uh we've had some scary incidents because it just happens with every race. It does, it does. They are very responsive and they take care of uh our runners when they need it.

Coach Carlie 19:37

I love that. So if you want to run a race that is not only fast and flat and hopefully cool, it may or may not rain on you, but you know, no guarantees, has a great BQ shirt, a great shirt, a great metal, great post race beer, food, and heart. It sounds like Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon is right up your alley. So, how can people sign up?

SPEAKER_00 20:05

Well, the the touchstone, and thanks for bringing that up, is uh tobacco roadmarathon.com. And if you're curious about all the details, I mean, there's so much information in there, we couldn't possibly cover it in this podcast. Yeah. So there's very few questions that I can imagine someone would have that they can't find the answer to there. And you can register there. But the other thing is you can even register at our expo. I think we'll have some spots and you could come in and register at the expo.

Coach Carlie 20:35

But we're all going to be responsible and sign up beforehand, right?

What Runners Don’t See: Operations

SPEAKER_00 20:39

Yeah, don't wait for the weather report. I I I don't want to leave out that in that vein. We have runners from every typically we have runners from every state in the country, maybe only one, but uh, you know, we had a guy come over from Hawaii and then also some people from Europe, and we have elite runners. Those are the guys that get a little bit of money at the end uh for their performance. So it's a world-class race. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:09

In outstanding pace groups, too. So yes, those are well covered.

Coach Carlie 21:13

How do you forget that? Yeah, so I know there's there's two hours. There's 215. Is there like a one? Is it by 10 minute? Is like 140, 150, two hours. How do you refer to that?

SPEAKER_00 21:25

I don't know what the increments are, but I Dave, you may have to be able to do that. It's on the website, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:29

Well, yeah, it's on the website, and I know some of them are kind of centered around making, you know, if if qualifying for Boston isn't a goal, then you know, I forgot 350 used to be one, four, whatever. So there, but I it starts slow.

Coach Carlie 21:44

So yeah, I guess I was I was that was the half. Um yeah, they're half in full pacers.

SPEAKER_01 21:50

There's half in full pacers, yeah. Yeah, yeah. So that's that's something that and they do a great job. They really do.

SPEAKER_00 21:57

Well, you know, and yeah, and Dave just touched on it. You what you can easily get caught up in the front runners and you know, personal goals on, but sometimes people's personal goal is just to finish. And I've talked to people and actually convinced them to enter. Oh, I wish I could enter, but I I'd be embarrassed. I'd be almost like enter the half marathon, you can walk the distance and you're still gonna be coming in ahead of a good number of the marathoners. So the beer's still flowing, Bomb Brothers beer's still flowing, Papa John's brings lots of pizzas, so come over and listen to music, and you know, have a good time.

Coach Carlie 22:33

Yeah, Mark, I'm I'm glad you brought that up because yes, while you can focus on something like a BQ or uh just a general PR, but just calm because it's a great opportunity to test your fitness in what I feel like is just a prime setup of the tobacco road.

Volunteers, Safety, And EMS

SPEAKER_00 22:52

Yeah, I think uh a lot of people and myself included, uh, you know, we're inspired by the people that are really struggling, and it's obvious they're not at an ideal fitness level. But don't give up, get out there, be active, and who knows where you can go from there.

Coach Carlie 23:09

Yeah, yeah. Just keep moving. I feel like is another experience and opportunity for growth.

SPEAKER_01 23:16

Well said. Yeah.

Coach Carlie 23:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:18

Yeah. So I um I'm glad you brought that up because I've got uh a bunch of coworkers who aren't used to running. Maybe they want to walk. And so we've got a small group of folks at Veradim that are are going out to if. Worst case, uh walk it. But the most important thing is you just get out and move, and that's what keeps this from rusting, right? Yes. And my Holly Springers, I don't want to forget them and the carry folks that uh they'll be out there and forced to.

Coach Carlie 23:45

Yeah, I love that. So get out, move your body, enjoy the amazing tobacco road that we are so blessed to have in this area. So whether you're coming in from out of town or you're local from the triangle, we welcome you to the Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon. Mark Dillon, Dave Gross, let's let's give everybody a last-minute tip who's who's racing. Or might or is like maybe on the fence. Convince them. Let's see what you got. Mark, you go first.

SPEAKER_00 24:12

Well, I I mean my best convincer is if you haven't done it and you want to do it, just enter the half and walk it, and you won't be embarrassed at the end. You know, the key thing is to just And ring the dang bell when you finish, you know?

Coach Carlie 24:25

And ring the bell. Yeah. Okay. All right, Dave. What's your what's your tip for anybody who might be on the fence?

Registration, Pacers, And Inclusivity

SPEAKER_01 24:33

Well, uh the the big tip is it's still open, it's still available. And that's you know, not to be taken for granted, and that won't be that way for long. Register whether you're gonna walk it, whether you're gonna run it. I get out there and and don't forget to drink and maybe eat along the way. That's important.

Coach Carlie 24:50

Be sure to hydrate.

SPEAKER_01 24:52

Hydrate, and I'm a high carver, so I you know amen to that.

Coach Carlie 24:55

Love those high carbs. Yes, you will probably see these guys out on race day, I would imagine. And certainly if you do decide to race, come say hi to us at the expo. And maybe I'll have like a little prize at our expo. Like if you signed up because you heard this podcast, I might have to incentivize people a lot.

SPEAKER_00 25:15

I'd like to I'd like to know about that.

Coach Carlie 25:17

Yeah, maybe we'll do an extra like donation or I don't know. We always got something up our sleeve. So come say hi and come race or come participate if you don't like the word race.

SPEAKER_00 25:29

Yeah, and start out early, you runners, as far as arriving, because it it starts at uh seven, and uh you know, it it's not a huge, huge race, but it's out in a more remote area with narrower roads and so forth. So you really need to get there early. You know, don't get caught up with raising your blood pressure over whether or not you're gonna make it, just get out there and I will say that tends to be a common anybody who's new, they're like, oh, the race starts at seven, therefore I arrive at 645.

Coach Carlie 26:00

Yeah, no, no, you gotta back that up. You can go take a nap later, just get there early.

SPEAKER_00 26:08

Yeah, come over to our tent and uh you know, you can mingle with the other runners and their support base. We we probably have uh a total of nearly 10,000 people that come because most runners have like a support team, you know, of one or two other people. So there's a multiplier effect there.

SPEAKER_01 26:30

You know, I've run over 30 marathons, and I think I've enjoyed the signs at Tobacco Road the most. Yeah. Um, because some of them get super creative. Oh, yeah. And especially when you're out on the trail, and then it ends up being one sign leads to another one, and um it keeps keeps the mind distracted. It does. And miles fly by.

Last-Minute Tips And CTA

SPEAKER_00 26:52

We've had unofficial uh hydration stations where people not living nearby come out and set up like a card table and offer Paps Blue Ribbon beer.

Coach Carlie 27:03

Oh my gosh, that's so awesome.

SPEAKER_00 27:05

So there's some character to this, is the main point in saying that.

Coach Carlie 27:09

Yeah, I love that. So good. All right. So if you haven't yet, sign up, tobacco roadmarathon.com. And um, there's also the half. So come out, come say hi to us, come raise, come support all these amazing beneficiaries. Um, Mark Dillon, Dave Gross, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. And I am looking forward to an amazing race.

SPEAKER_00 27:29

Thank you for having us.