Looking Glass 100k

An epic run deep in the heart of Pisgah

ABOUT

The Looking Glass 100k is an extremely scenic tour of Pisgah around the unmistakable Looking Glass Rock hitting multiple highlights in the area, including multiple waterfalls and the high balds of Black Balsam Knob and Tennet Mountain above 6,000 ft! After a few years of absence, we bring you this race back bigger and better than ever, while creating the most scenic and highest trail 100k race on the beast coast!

Date & Time

November 18th, 2023

Start Time: 4:00 AM

Location: Pisgah Ranger Station

Runner Perks

•Long Sleeve Hoodie Shirt
•Custom Finisher Award
•Live Tracking
•Extremely Scenic Course
•Well-stocked aid stations
•Post-race food & socializing
•Post race craft beer

Registration & Entry Fees

Registration opens May 26th at 8am!

Price: $235 until July 1st, $250 until Aug 15th, $265 after

Refund windows are as follows:

•May 26th - July 15th - 75% refund
•July 16th - Sep 15th - 50% refund
•Sep 16th - Nov 18th - No refund given under any circumstance

No Transfers at any time. Deferments only granted for military deployment, pregnancy, or death in the family within 2 weeks of the event.

Signup Here

The Numbers

Start Time: 4:00am
Distance: ~62 miles
Elevation Gain: ~13,600 ft
Elevation Loss: ~13,600 ft
Time Limit: 20 hours
Aid Stations: 9
• 7 Full-Service Aid Stations
• 3 Crew Access at Aid Stations 1, 3, & 5

• 3 Drop Bag Locations at Full Aid 1, 3, & 5
• 2 Self Serve Fluid Only Stations

Course Description

The course has a bit of everything, from smooth singletrack, technical singletrack, grassy double track, gravel, and a short bit of pavement. The course starts and ends at the field across from Davidson River Campground off FS 5069 near the Pisgah Ranger Station. The course passes through multiple ecosystems along its journey, from acid and rich cove hardwood forest, to thick boreal balsam woods found in more northern climates, to high-elevation mountain balds with incredible long-range views. The course also passes by multiple waterfalls and moss-covered streams, some of which will require crossing. An absolutely stunning course and unrivaled anywhere else on the east coast, from it's beauty to its heights, with multiple summits over 6,000 ft.

Each course will have a combo of full and fluid-only aid stations located approximately every 4.5 - 8.6 miles along the course. Aid stations will have at a minimum: Water and Skratch Labs electrolyte drink. Minimum foods include: bananas, orange slices, potato chips, pretzels, PB&J, pickles, Snickers, & M&Ms. Most aid stations will have a variety of other hot and cold solid foods that will vary by aid station.

COURSE INFORMATION

EXTRA INFORMATION

Need to Know

Weather conditions can change drastically on the mountain. If race needs to be canceled due to extreme weather, the race will try to be rescheduled or run virtually. No refunds will be given if you cannot attend the rescheduled date or if rescheduling is not an option.

In the event the parkway is closed, but the course is in otherwise good condition, an alternate course will be used that does not cross the parkway. The alternate course is also stunning with multiple long-range views.

Due to the unpredictable mountain weather on this course we will require all RUNNERS and PACERS to carry the following gear at ALL times for their safety. This includes: headlamp, back-up batteries or light, weatherproof jacket (seam-sealed), emergency bivy (such as a S.O.L. emergency bivy, an emergency blanket does not count), insulating base layer (aka long sleeve shirt or better), warm hat and gloves, emergency whistle, hydration carrier (32oz+), and GPS tracker (provided by race on race morning). We will be very strict about these gear requirements. We will have mandatory gear checks before race start, and at multiple times during the race. We will reserve the right to pull runners and/or pacers from the course at any time if you are not carrying the required gear.

Rules

•Stay on marked trails, DO NOT CUT SWITCHBACKS!
•Must carry required gear at all times.
•Use proper trail etiquette when passing other runners
•Be courteous to other trails users (mountain bikers)
•Crews are only allowed at full aids 1, 3, & 5.
•Crews must service runners within 50-yard radius of the aid station
•Crews must abide by all parking regulations at aid station locations
•Obey any race official's request
•Pacers must obey all rules above
•Pacers can join at aid 5 (mile 41.8)

Packet Pick Up

All runners must pick up their packet Friday before the event between 4-8pm. Location of packet pickup is still to be determined. There will be no race morning packet pickup and runners must be present to pickup their own packets.

A pre-race meeting will be held at 7pm on Friday before race day and all are encouraged to attend. Location TBD.