REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS NOW REOPENED! New race date SEPTEMBER 6, 2025!***
Please note that this race was originally scheduled for 10/5/2024, one week after Hurricane Helene hit WNC. All race shirt, medal, and award artwork will reflect the 2024 date. The items were ordered and in house when the hurricane hit our area.
Race Guidelines
The goal of the timed races is to complete as many loops as possible in your chosen timed race. Loops will only be counted to your total if they were completed before the end of your race time. The 12 Hour Race will end at 7PM, the 6 Hour Race will end at 2PM, and the 3 Hour Race will end at 12PM. For example, if you are running the 6 hour, you MUST finish all your loops within the 6 hours. Any laps finished outside of your time limit will not be counted.
Crews with 10×10 canopies are welcome at the Gateway Trails Parking lot. All canopies or tents must be weighed down with 10lb weights at each leg or with stakes. There is additional parking locked further up Curtis Creek, a short walk to the race base. There are two bathrooms at the trailhead.
The trail system is not closed. Please be courteous of other people using the trails. Camps must clean up after themselves and remove any trash from their site. Dogs & Strollers are not allowed on this course. Well behaved dogs are welcome at the Gateway Trailhead.
This event will be held rain or shine. If there is lightning, we will delay any race start for at least 30 minutes. If there is lightning during the race, we ask runners/spectators to take shelter.
Packet Pick Up
Early Packet Pick Up
4-6PM Friday 9/5 at Mountain Running Company at 4 S Tunnel Road, Asheville
*** Make sure you pick up any last minute supplies & fuel from them!
Race Day Saturday 9/6 Packet Pick Up 6AM-9AM at the Gateway Trailhead Parking Lot at the Race Site
Site Map & Course Info
Site Address: 1501 State Road 1227, Old Fort NC.
The race start/finish line will be on the grass portion of the Gateway Trailhead parking lot. There are two runner parking lots. See the map below!
PARKING MAP BELOW!
The first left (green arrow) will show the overflow parking lot (green cars) if need be. This is the only parking lot that overnight tent camping is allowed. If you are arriving on Friday night and wish to camp, this is the field where you will be permitted to camp.
The second left (blue arrow) will lead to the Gateway Trailhead parking lot. This parking lot has around 75 parking spaces, all first come first serve. There will be parking volunteers in hi-vis vests helping runners park. There are 2 bathrooms in this parking lot.
Runner/Crew Stations (timed events only)
Set up for runners can start at 3PM on Friday 9/5 in the designated grass lot in the Gateway Trailhead parking lot. This will be marked off by Kick It Events staff. Please do not arrive earlier than that to set up. If runners set up their stations on the event site where other tents are designated, they will be asked to move. If you put up a 10×10 tent, you MUST have 10lb weights for that tent.
Aid Station
There are NO aid stations on the course. Please be prepared to carry all of your nutrition and fuel for 3.1 miles of trail. There are 2 bathrooms in the Gateway Trailhead parking lot.
There will be 2 red tents next to the START/FINISH area that will have aid for runners.
- Water! Cups will be available but please reduce as much trash as possible.
- Other hydration: Tailwind Dauwaltermeon (non-caffeinated) & Tailwind Raspberry (caffeinated)
- JamBars: organic, gluten free/vegan options available
- Bananas
- Other snack food available!
Course Marking Information
The course will be well marked with survey tape and directional arrows. The directional arrows are black with a white background. The course is linked below. There will be blinky lights for the early morning/evening times.
The course is 3.1 miles with approximately 380 ft of elevation gain on trail with approximately .2 miles of gravel. The course is NOT closed to the public so please be aware that there may be others/mountain bikers/pets on the course and be courteous when passing.
ALL Race Awards
Top Male & Female
1st Place Custom Award & $50 Gift Card to Mountain Running Company
2nd Place Custom Award & $35 Gift Card to Mountain Running Company
3rd Place Custom Award & $20 Gift Card to Mountain Running Company
Race Day Schedule
6:00-9:00AM Packet Pick UP at Gateway Trailhead
7:00AM 12 Hour Race Start
8:00AM 6 Hour Race Start
9:00AM 3 Hour Race Start
9:30AM 5k Race Start
10:30AM 5k Tentative Awards
12PM 3 Hour Race End
12:30PM 3 Hour Tentative Awards
2PM 6 Hour Race End
2:30PM 6 Hour Tentative Awards
7:00PM 12 Hour Race End
7:30PM 12 Hour Tentative Awards
A portion of race proceeds will be donated to the McDowell Trails Association!
Their mission is to extend and maintain greenways and trails to promote a healthy lifestyle and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors in McDowell County.
Chasing Trail Ultras and Kick It Event Management have a NO REFUND policy.
Kick It Event Management (Kick It Events) & Chasing Trails Ultras have a no refund policy. As we work diligently year-round to prepare for this event, including the ordering of items like medals and shirts months in advance, we want to ensure a smooth experience for all participants.
Transfer Policy for Chasing Trails Ultras
We understand that plans can change and training might not go to plan, so we offer a transfer option to accommodate such situations. Please familiarize yourself with our transfer policy:
– You can transfer your registration to another runner or to another Chasing Trails event (ie, 3 Hour to 5k) up to Sunday 8/31/2025 at 6pm. If you have any problems contact info@kickitevent.com immediately.
Runners running on someone else’s bib without our knowledge will be DQ’ed.
– You can transfer from an in-person runner to a virtual runner up until Sunday 8/31/25 at midnight without having to pay shipping fees. If you transfer to a virtual runner after 8/31/2025 you will be charged a shipping fee for your race packet. There are no refunds for a transfer to a lesser subevent.
If you want to transfer to a different distance or to a different runner after 8/31/2025 please email Info@kickitevents.com and we will get you switched.
Postponement Policy for Chasing Trail Ultras
In the event the race is postponed and you would like your race swag mailed to you, you will be required to pay the shipping cost for your race bib and race swag.
In the event of severe weather or course flooding, the event will be postponed, at the race directors discretion. There will be NO REFUNDS if the event needs to be postponed.
Inclement weather determination is at the discretion of the race directors. We are looking for dangerous conditions for our runners and volunteers or impassable flooding on the course along the river. The postponement announcement will be made as early as we can. If there is surprise weather, we reserve the right to postpone the race up until race morning.
No refunds will be given if you signed up for this race by accident. Double check the city, date and time BEFORE registering.
In the event of inclement weather, the event will be postponed at the race directors discretion. There will be NO REFUNDS if the event needs to be postponed.
Inclement weather determination is at the discretion of the race directors. We are looking for dangerous conditions for our runners and volunteers or impassable flooding.
The postponement announcement will be made as early as we can. If there is surprise weather we reserve the right to postpone the race up until race morning. A Postponement announcement will be by 5am race morning.
If the event needs to be canceled due to a global pandemic, health emergency or state of emergency, there will be no refund. We will do our best with a virtual event or socially distanced race.
Race postponement will be emailed out to runners using the email used during registration, posted on the race website as well as posted on our social media platforms.
