THE MOUNTAIN TIMES SUMMER GUIDE
PAGE 68
2012
Two Legs or Two Wheels Road Sports on a Higher Level
BY SAM CALHOUN
D
uring winters in the High Country, it’s all four-wheel drive, layers of coats and mittens, but when the sun takes over and spring awakens in these mountains, we shed the vehicles and layers and take to the roads, running, walking and biking among the lush, cascading landscape that is the envy of flatlanders. Featuring some of the coolest summer temperatures and strongest breezes in the South, the High Country serves as an ideal location for a host of foot and bike races and events. Whether you’re a family looking for a fun run, a road biker hoping for a challenge, a professional runner determined to conquer a mountain or a mountain biker itching for national-level competition, Watauga, Avery and Ashe counties supply multiple entry points for the outdoor sport enthusiast. So, ditch the car and the coats, lace up your shoes, take a deep breath, and experience our mountain-carved roads on foot or by bike – you’ll never want to run or bike in the flatlands ever again.
On Foot BEECH MOUNTAIN A COOL 5 RACE WEEKEND Date: Friday and Saturday, June 8 and 9 (9 a.m. five mile, 9:30 a.m. 1.5 mile) Location: Beech Mountain Distance: five-mile race, 1.5-mile fun run and walk Cost: $30 through June 7; $35 race weekend; $20 kids age 13 and under More information: www.acool5race.com
THE CUB RUN Date: Saturday, June 16 (8 a.m.) Location: starts and finishes at Valle Crucis School Distance: seven miles Cost: $25 advance, $35 race day More information: www.triplecrown.appstate.edu/cub
THE BEAR FIVE-MILE RUN Date: Thursday, July 12 (7 p.m.) Location: Linville to Grandfather Mountain Distance: five-mile run to summit of Grandfather Mountain Cost: $35 per runner More information: www.hopeformarrow.org
GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN MARATHON Date: Saturday, July 14 (6:30 a.m.) Location: Kidd Brewer Stadium to Grandfather Mountain Distance: 26.2 miles Cost: $70 per runner More information: www.hopeformarrow.org
THE SCREAM! HALF MARATHON Date: Saturday, July 14 (8 a.m.) Location: Jonas Ridge Distance: 13.1 miles Cost: $50 advance, $60 race day More information: www.thescream. blueridgemultisports.com
THE ASCENT 3.6-MILE HILL CLIMB Date: Sunday, Aug. 12 (12 p.m.) Location: Blue Ridge Mountain Club, Blowing Rock Distance: 3.6 miles Cost: $20 advance, $30 race day More information: www.bikehighcountry.com/run
The Bear Five-mile run takes place July 12, 2012.. PHOTO BY ROB MOORE | MTNSNAPSHOTS.COM
TRIPLE CROWN HALF MARATHON Date: Saturday, Aug. 25 (8 a.m.) Location: Kidd Brewer Stadium to Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve Distance: 13.1 miles Cost: $40 advance, $50 race day More information: www.triplecrown. appstate.edu/halfmarathon
BLUE RIDGE RELAY Date: Friday and Saturday, Sept. 7 and 8 (7 a.m.) Location: Blue Ridge Mountains to Black Mountains, Virginia and North Carolina Distance: 208 miles Cost: $580 to $1,160 per team
of four to 12 runners More information: www.blueridgerelay.com
THE KNOB RUN Date: Friday, Oct. 5 (5:30 p.m.) Location: Watauga Public Library to Howard’s Knob Park Distance: two miles Cost: $20 advance, $30 race day More information: www.triplecrown.appstate.edu/knob
THE MOUNT JEFFERSON CHALLENGE Date: Saturday, Oct. 13 (9 a.m.) Location: summit of Mount Jefferson
and back Distance: 7.2 miles Cost: $25 through Sept. 26, $35 after Sept. 26 More information: www.newrivermarathon.com/?page_id=149
WOOLLY WORM WOAD WACE Date: Saturday, Oct. 20 (10 a.m.) Location: around Avery County Distance: five miles Cost: $20 advance, $25 race day More information: www.averycounty.com/upcomingevents/woolly-worm-woad-wace CONTINUED ON PAGE 69