All 26.2 miles of the marathon will be run within the bor-ders of William B. Umstead State Park, a five thousand-acre tract of dense woods, lakes, streams, hills, and trails that rests between the cities of Raleigh, Cary, and Dur-ham. The course will be run almost entirely on the park’s newly resurfaced bridle trails, which are the width of a single lane road and covered with fine gravel. The route is sce-nic and hilly.