Local Races

NC Local Trail Races

Between coaching the local Fleet Feet trails program and chatting up anyone with half an interest in talking about trails (hiiii!), I’ve kept a mental list of local races that seem popular, as well as other races that seem promising. This year I formalized the list, and I wanted to share it with you!

Oh hey! It’s been a while since my last blog post (over a year!) But I’m excited for things coming up this year, and wanted to share a few thoughts. I still want to catch up on a few race reports from last year, but I also have several trail and ultra topics that have been bouncing around in my head for the past few years.

First up: a list of local (ish) trail races! These are races that have come up in trail groups and conversations year after year, plus a few others that I’ve found via searching for local beginner-friendly trail options. This list is focused on the greater NC area (basically anything within a few hours’ drive from central NC), mostly trails, with options from 5K up through 100 milers, plus the World Majors and a few tried and true popular road races. It’s sorted by date (though you’ll find a few “?” rows — these are races that, at the time I put this list together, hadn’t yet announced the 2023 race date), and includes rough location and distances offered at the race.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, nor is it an endorsement of any races listed here. Rather, this is a list of races I’ve seen pop up on local trail runner race calendars year after year, or other local races that give some variety to distance, terrain, and experience. I hope you enjoy! And if you sign up for any of these races, let me know in the comments!

Date	Race	Location	Distance
1/7/2023	South Mountains Marathons	South Mountains State Park, NC	1/2, Marathon, 50K
1/7/2023	Little River Trail Run	Little River Regional Park, Chapel Hill/Durham, NC	7K, 10M
1/7/2023	Salem Lake Frosty Fifty Trail Races	Salem Lake, Winston-Salem	25K, 50K, 50K relay
1/21/2023	Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (WTF)	Gibsonville, NC	5M, 1/2
1/22/2023	Occoneechee Speedway Relay	Occoneechee Speedway (Hillsborough, NC)	13.5M relay
1/28/2023	UGTB Grind'N Trail Run	Harris Lake Park, Raleigh, NC	10M, 5M
1/29/2023	Occoneechee Mountain Challenge	Occoneechee Mtn State Park (Hillsborough, NC)	10M
2/4/2023	Sassafras Struggle	Rocky Bottom Retreat, Sunset, SC	8K, 8M
2/4/2023	Frigid Trail Race & Plunge	Whitewater Center	5K, 10K + polar plunge
2/4/2023	Uwharrie Mountain Run	Uwharrie National Forest, Mt. Gilead, NC	8M, 20M, 40M
2/11/2023	Sandhills Trail & Ultra Festival	Columbia, SC	5M, 25K, 50K, 30hr
2/18/2023	Pilot Mountain Marathon & 20K	Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle, NC	Marathon, 20K
2/11/2023	Fellowship of the Idiots	Albemarle, NC	19.7M
2/25/2023	Jordan Lake 20 Miler	Jordan Lake State Park, Apex, NC	20M
2/25/2023	Black Mountain Marathon/Mt. Mitchell Challenge	Black Mountain, NC (Camp Grier/Mt. Mitchell)	Marathon, 40M
3/4/2023	Umstead Marathon	Umstead State Park, Raleigh, NC	Marathon
3/4/2023	Conquer the Rock	Table Rock State Park South Carolina	25K, 50K
3/5/2023	Tokyo Marathon	Tokyo, Japan	Marathon
3/11/2023	URE (Uwharrie) Marathon	Uwharrie National Park Mt. Gilead, NC	Marathon
3/11/2023	Northern Trails	Greensboro, NC	10M, Marathon
3/11/2023	Color Me Green	Whitewater Center	5K
3/18/2023	MST Endurance	Falls Lake (Raleigh, NC)	50K, 50M, 100M
3/19/2023	Tobacco Road	American Tobacco Trail	1/2, Marathon
3/24/2023	Dogwood Ultras	Twin Lakes State Park (Green Bay, VA)	10M, 12Hr, 24Hr, 36Hr
3/25/2023	Mt. Mitchell Heartbreaker	Black Mountain, NC (Camp Grier/Mt. Mitchell)	50M, 55K
3/25/2023	Blackbeard's Revenge	Corolla, NC	100K, 100M
3/31/2023	Country Mile	Slater-Marietta, SC	5K, 50K, 100K relay, 48hr, LRS
4/1/2023	Cedarock Trail Run	Cedarock Park, Burlington, NC	5K, 10K, 1/2, 1/2 relay
4/1/2023	Umstead 100	Umstead State Park, Raleigh, NC	50M, 100M
4/1/2023	New South Trail Marathon	Whitewater Center	Half, Marathon
4/2/2023	Paris Marathon	Paris, France	Marathon
4/15/2023	Seven Sisters	Montreat, NC	25K
4/15/2023	James River Trail Runs	James River State Park, Gladstone, VA	10M, 50K, 50M, 50M relay
4/16/2023	MST 12 Mile & 50K Challenge	Falls Lake (Raleigh, NC)	12M, 50K
4/17/2023	Boston Marathon	Boston, MA	Marathon
4/21/2023	Ragnar Atlanta	Atlanta, GA	Ragnar Trail Relay
4/22/2023	Philosopher's Way	Carolina North Forest, Chapel Hill, NC	7K, 10M
4/22/2023	Tar Heel 10 Miler	Chapel Hill	4M, 10M
4/22/2023	Promise Land 50K	Bedford, VA	50K
4/23/2023	London Marathon	London, UK	Marathon
4/28/2023	Ragnar Richmond	Richmond, VA	Ragnar Trail Relay
4/29/2023	Owls Roost Rumble	Greensboro, NC	4M, Half
4/29/2023	UROC (Ultra Race of Champions)	Shenandoah Valley	100K, 50K, 25K
5/5/2023	Knock on Woodstock	Marietta, SC	1M, 10M, 50K, 100M Relay, 48HR
5/6/2023	Zen Squirrel	Briar Chapel (Chapel Hill)	2M, 5M, 10M
5/12/2023	Hellbender 100	Mt. Mitchell	100M
5/19/2023	Ragnar Kentucky	Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area, KY	Ragnar Trail Relay
5/19/2023	Time Laps	Whitewater Center	24 hr
5/21/2023	Highball to Thurmond	New River Gorge, WV	50M (solo/relay), 50K
6/3/2023	Dam Yeti 50	Damascus, VA	55K, 50M
6/3/2023	Running of the Bulls	Durham, NC	8K
6/7/2023	The Big Run	Hillsborough, NC	5K
6/24/2023	Night Train	High Bridge Trail State Park, Farmville, VA	5K, 1/2, 50K
7/4/2023	4 on the Fourth	Carrboro, NC	4M
7/15/2023	Carolina Reaper Challenge	Anderson, SC	10K, Half, Full, 50K, Relay
7/22/2023	Common Rush Trail Run	Harris Lake County Park, New Hill, NC	5M, 10M
?	Grand-further	Morganton, NC	25K
8/11/2023	Ragnar Appalachians	Upstate WV	Ragnar Trail Relay
8/26/2023	Trotting for Tatas	Mill Spring, NC	5K, 2HR, 4HR, 8HR
9/2/2023	Iron Mountain	Damascus, VA	16, 30, 40, 50 miles
?	Lake Ridge Endurance Run	Claytor Lake State Park, Dublin, VA	6/12/24 hr
9/16/2023	Jones Gap Trail Run	Marietta, SC	9M
9/23/2023	Table Rock Ultras	Morganton, NC	50K, 30K
9/24/2023	Berlin Marathon	Berlin	Marathon
9/29/2023	Yeti 100	Damascus, VA	100M
Mid-Sep	Sappony Trail Run	Roxboro, NC	5K, 1M
9/30/2023	Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock	Winston-Salem, NC	50M (solo/relay), 50K
9/30/2023	Hinson Lake 24 Hour	Hinston Lake, Rockingham, NC	24 hr
?	No Business 100	Pickett CCC Memorial State Park, Jamestown, TN	100M
10/1/2023	Hillsborough Half	Hillsborough, NC	5K, 1/2
10/6/2023	Carrboro 10K	Carrboro, NC	10K
? - 10/7?	High Bridge Ultra	High Bridge Trail State Park, Pamplin, VA	50K, 30K
10/8/2023	Chicago Marathon	Chicago, IL	Marathon
10/14/2023	Cloudsplitter 100	Norton, VA	100M
10/15/2023	Bull City Race Fest	Eno River State Park, Durham, NC	5M, Half
?	Medoc Mountain Race	Medoc Mountain State Park	10M, 5M
10/21/2023	Sadlers Creek Stumble	Anderson, SC	10K, Half, 50K, 30HR
10/21/2023	Uwharrie 100	Uwharrie National Forest	50K, 100K, 100M
10/21/2023	Rootrock Trail Run	Briar Chapel (Chapel Hill)	5K, 10K, Half
?	Eno River Run	Durham, NC	6M, 11M
10/28/2023	Fonta Flora	Morgaton, NC	50K, Half
10/28/2023	Triple Lakes	Greensboro, NC	1/2, Marathon, Marathon relay, 40M, 40M relay
11/4/2023	Rim to River	New River Gorge, WV	100M
11/4/2023	Lake Summit 10 Miler	Lake Summit, Tuxedo, NC	10M (gravel)
11/5/2023	New York Marathon	NYC	Marathon
11/5/2023	City of Oaks Marathon	Raleigh, NC	5K, 10K, 1/2, Marathon
?	Shut-in Race	Asheville, NC	~19M
? - 11/11?	Eastern Divide	Blacksburg, VA	8M, 50K
11/11/2023	Richmond Marathon	Richmond, VA	8K, 1/2, Marathon
11/11/2023	Prisoner of War Trail Race	Camp Croft State Park, Spartanburg, SC	8M, 25K, 50K, 30HR
11/4/2023	Leaves to Leases	Cary, NC	5K, 8K
11/23/2023	Gallop & Gorge 8K	Carrboro, NC	8K
11/23/2023	HRC Turkey Trot	Hillsborough, NC	5K
?	Chestnut Ridge	Camp Chestnut Ridge, Efland, NC	4M, 8M
12/2/2023	Run at the Rock	Cedarock Park, Burlington, NC	5K, 10K, Half
12/3/2023	Running of the Elves	Hillsborough, NC	1M
?	Race 13.1	Durham, NC	1/2
12/9/2023	Shakori 40	Shakori Hills, Pittsboro, NC	4M, 40K, 40M, 40M relay
12/9/2023	Nutcracker Endurance Run	Erwin, NC	3Hr, 6Hr, 12Hr
12/9/2023	Beast of the East	Crowders Mountain State Park, NC	15M, 25M, 50M, 100M
?	Freight Train	High Bridge Trail State Park, Farmville, VA	Half, 50K, 100K
12/16/2023	The Longest Night	Greenville, SC	Timed loops: 10K, Half, Marathon, 50K, 50M
?	Pilot Mountain Goat	Pilot Mountain State Park	3M, 7M
?	Carolina Beach State Park Trail Half	Carolina Beach State Park	5K, Half