GRAND-FURTHER
MOUNTAIN RUN

Grandfather Mountain, sitting at 5,945 feet tall is the most iconic mountain in all the Southern Appalachians. It is rich in scenery and bio-diversity and home to some of the most gnarliest trails you can find on the east coast. So what better place to hold a pure mountain race?!? The Grand-Further Mountain Run is the premiere mountain race in North Carolina. The 25 kilometer course will climb Grandfather Mountain a total of two times from both sides of the mountain. The terrain is unforgiving, extremely technical, but most of all, astounding! Fixed ropes and ladders are even placed in certain sections of the trails to assist in climbing the tallest mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountain Range. This race is not for the faint of heart or the weak of knees. It demands your best and your utmost respect.

Prior trail running experience required to participate.

ABOUT

Date & Time

August 24th, 2024

Start: 8:00 AM

Location: Profile Trail Head

Grandfather Mountain State Park

Registration & Entry Fees

Registration opens March 1st at 8am.

Price: $85

75% refunds granted up to June 1st.

50% refund granted up to July 25th.

No refunds within 30 days of event.

No Transfers/Deferments at any time.

200 participant limit

Register here!

Awards

Top three M & F overalls receive hand-made awards and Mountain Running Company Gift Certificates. Top Male/Female receive free shoes from La Sportiva.

All finishers receive a custom finisher ceramic finisher medal from Hannah Thrower Ceramics.

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Information

The Numbers

Distance: ~14 Miles

Elevation Gain: ~ 4,200 feet

Time Limit: 6 hours

Miles of Single Track Trail: ~ 13.7 miles

Miles of Pavement: ~ 0.25 miles

Course Discription

From the start you will run approximately a half mile of pavement to thin out runners before hitting the singletrack of Grandfather Mountain's Trail system. The first mile or so will be mellow, but after that the climbing and extremely technical terrain begins. Ladders and fixed ropes are placed on near vertical slopes to help aid in climbing the mountain near the summit. Expect roots, rocks, and boulders almost every step of the race.

Aid Stations

Aid 1: 3.5 miles - 9:45 am cutoff

Aid 2: 7.1 miles - 11:00 am cutoff

Aid 3: 10.7 miles - 1:15 pm cutoff

Aid stations will have at a minimum: Water and Skratch. Foods include: bananas, potato chips, pretzels, and M&Ms.

EXTRA INFORMATION

Extra Information

Packet Pick Up

Early Packet pick-up will be held from 4:00-7:00pm, at Mountain Running Company in downtown Boone.

Race Day packet pick up will be held at the Start/Finish from 6:45 - 7:50am. We'd prefer to have you pick up early.

All runners must check in before race on race day. Please have your required gear ready to show when checking in to streamline the process.

Need to Know

Weather conditions can change drastically on the mountain. If the race needs to be canceled due to extreme weather, the race will be rescheduled to the next day August 25th, 2024. No refunds will be given if you cannot attend the rescheduled date
You are required to carry mandatory gear. This includes a rain shell, at least a 20oz water-carrying device, and an emergency blanket.
No parking at the Profile Trail Head unless purchasing a VIP Parking Pass. You'll be parking at designated sites close by sent out in pre-race runner manual.