Raleigh, N.C. — Some roads in Raleigh will be closed Sunday morning as thousands of runners pound the pavement for the third annual City of Oaks Marathon and Rex Healthcare Half Marathon.

Runners left the starting line on North Carolina State University's Centennial Campus at 7 a.m.

Roads will be be reopened by 1 p.m., when runners are required to finish the races.

See when roads will be closed.

They'll go down Western Boulevard and Hillsborough Street into downtown, then back out Clark Avenue onto N.C. State's Central Campus. Those doing the full marathon will continue on into William B. Umstead State Park.

The route goes past many Raleigh highlights, including Fayetteville Street, the State Capitol building, Meredith College and N.C. State's Bell Tower.

Marathon and half-marathon routes

More than 3,000 runners took part in the past two editions of the City of the Oaks marathon. Organizers established the marathon to bring a prestigious running event, like those in other state capitals, to Raleigh.