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Charity Chase Half Marathon & 5K logo

Charity Chase Half Marathon & 5K

Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 7:30 AM EDT

Location
Hickory, NC
Start line for the 5K and the Half are at the corner of 4th St NW and Main Ave NW, 28601
Open in Maps
Type
RUN
Official registration

Sign up and verify details on the organizer’s official page.

At a glance

Embrace the rewarding challenge of the Charity Chase Half Marathon & 5K, celebrating 20 years with a hilly course and strong community support.

  • Fun
  • Competitive
  • For a Cause

Who it's for

  • Military & First Responders

Great for: cause-driven runners, runners who like a competitive edge

Less ideal for: walkers-only pacing

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Charity Chase Half Marathon and 5K in Hickory, NC. This event offers a rewarding challenge with a course that winds through the city, featuring significant elevation changes. Supported by over 300 dedicated volunteers and safety personnel, runners can focus on achieving new personal bests and enjoying a well-supported race experience. It's an opportunity to push your limits and be part of a community-focused event.

What to expect

  • Navigate a course with notable elevation changes, equivalent to climbing a sixty-story building.
  • Enjoy robust support from over 300 volunteers providing water, Gatorade, and GU.
  • Benefit from police at intersections and EMS on standby for your safety.

Standout details

  • Celebrating 20th anniversary
  • Challenging course with elevation changes
  • Over 300 dedicated volunteers
  • Awards for overall and age group winners

Perks & features

  • Awards

From the public listing — confirm on the official site.

Auto-drafted from the public listing — confirm details on the official event page before signing up.

Distances & registration

2 options

Registration for all distances is through the official signup link above.

  • 5K

    Sat, Apr 18, 7:00 AM EDT · From $27.50

    Opens Dec 30, 2025, 7:00 PM EST · Closes Jan 31, 2026, 6:59 PM EST

  • 13.1 Miles

    Sat, Apr 18, 7:30 AM EDT · From $54.00

    Opens Dec 30, 2025, 7:00 PM EST · Closes Jan 31, 2026, 6:59 PM EST

The course

  • Rolling
  • Timed race

Vibe Check

Steady Effort

longer distance

half marathon distance, rolling area, typically mild weather

  • Rolling area

Based on typical seasonal and area patterns — not a course map or official forecast.

From the organizer

We are celebrating our 20th year of the Charity Chase Half Marathon!!!!

The Charity Chase Half Marathon is a rewarding run for those up for the challenge.  Hickory is in the foothills of North Carolina and the race course winds around the city with elevation changes that will require some effort.  You will have run up and down the equivalent of a sixty-story building before you finish but don't be scared off!  We have participants that run/walk and runners as young as seven and as old as seventy.

The Charity Chase 5k will take participants through the downtown area of Hickory.

Charity Chase Half Marathon will start at 7:30 AM .

Charity Chase 5K will start at 7:00 AM .

Our Charity volunteer groups help make Charity Chase Half Marathon run smoothly.  There will be over 300 volunteers at the start/finish and along the race course to cheer you on, provide water, Gatorade & GU.  They may even entertain you along the way!  Hickory's Police Department will be at every controlled intersection and our EMS will be on standby along the course for your safety.

Packet Pick Up will be Friday, April 17th from 12pm-6pm at the Hickory Metro Convention Center.

Race Day Packet Pick Up is available at race venue between 5:30 am - 6:45 am.

Everything we do at Charity Chase Half Marathon is geared to giving our RUNNERS a rewarding race where, hopefully, new PERSONAL BESTS and GREAT EXPERIENCES will be found.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Awards:

Half Marathon

Top 3 Male/Female Overall

Top 3 Age Group Male/Female Awards: 1-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65+

5K

Top 3 Male/Female Overall

1st place in each age group awards: 1-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65+

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