Runners will lace up before sunrise Sunday for the RDC Marathon in Durham, a race that doubles as a fundraiser for ALS research and draws competitors from across North Carolina and beyond. The marathon and half marathon kick off at 7:10 a.m., with the 10K and 5K following behind, all starting and finishing near The Streets at Southpoint.
The race is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, 2026, according to runrdc.com, which describes a course drawing participants from Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and throughout North Carolina, as well as from across the country. Runners can choose a full marathon, half marathon, 10K or 5K, per the same site. The event benefits the Team Drea Foundation, a Raleigh-based 501(c)(3) that Andrea and David Peet established in 2016, according to teamdrea.org.
Andrea Peet was diagnosed with ALS in August 2014 at age 33, according to a New York Times report. She went on to complete 50 marathons in 50 states using a recumbent trike to propel herself, as reported by ABC11 News, which also reports she will appear on the Durham course riding her green trike this Sunday. The Times noted she had pursued a goal of becoming the first person with ALS to complete 50 marathons in 50 states.
A Boston-Qualifying Route Through Durham's Backyard
The course is USATF-certified and qualifies as a Boston Marathon qualifier, winding along the American Tobacco Trail, per the race's own site. ABC11 reports the route was designed to showcase favorite local areas around Southpoint, the city of Durham, and the trail itself, moving runners through urban streets, forest trails and open farmland. The same outlet notes the trail is a regular spot for local runners' lunchtime jogs and weekend runs of up to twenty miles.
Race-day logistics are straightforward for anyone planning to spectate or compete. The marathon and half marathon start at 7:10 a.m., with the 10K and 5K following at 7:45 a.m., according to the event's expo schedule listed on runrdc.com. Participants will gather in the mall parking lot just west of the AMC movie theaters, with start and finish lines in that same lot, per the race's course page.
Fundraising Tied to ALS Research and Durham's Duke Clinic
Team Drea says on its FAQ page that the volunteer-run foundation has raised more than $750,000 to date, with proceeds going to the ALS Therapy Development Institute and the Duke ALS Clinic. ABC11 reports that ALS typically carries a prognosis of two to five years, context that underscores why the Peets built an entire race weekend around the cause. This year's race also carries a competitive incentive beyond the course itself: the run club with the most finishers wins $1,000 for their club, according to runrdc.com.
The event has grown since its debut. A 2017 report from thenorthcarolina100.com described the inaugural RDC Marathon and Half Marathon, held that November at The Streets at Southpoint, expecting roughly 1,500 total participants on a USATF-certified course already featuring the American Tobacco Trail. That first year's half marathon was capped at 1,000 runners and the marathon at 500, according to a WRAL report from that period. ABC11, a sponsor of the RDC Marathon, is among the outlets that have continued to track the event's growth, including past editions that combined a half marathon, 10K and 5K race over two days.
