5K Zombie Run & One Mile Family Fun Run

EARLY REGISTRATION GIFT

Register by January 31, 2026 and receive a lightweight hat by On.

WHAT

Without Limits Youth Cross Country Camp

The Without Limits Youth Cross Country Camp is open to rising middle school and high school athletes wanting to learn how to train for a lifetime of running, while having fun, meeting new friends, and exploring new places to run in the North Carolina mountains.

The camp is designed to encourage athletes through positive reinforcement, in picturesque settings, with a goal of enjoying running while preparing for the upcoming season.

Each year, our athletes leave camp with greater confidence, a new love of running, new friends from all over the country, and motivation when they head back to their cross country team. Our cross country teams that attend leave with stronger team camaraderie heading into the official start of their season.

When your child attends Without Limits Youth Cross Country Camp, they become part of our camp family for life. Many of our campers graduate and return as Junior Counselors during college.

Our Without Limits Camp coaches mission is simple—help young athletes grow and gain confidence as runners and individuals. Our team includes coaches who are professional certified (USATF), award-winning high school coaches, professional athletes, medical professionals, parents, and coaches who have coached athletes to the U.S. Olympic Trials. We believe there’s no better way to serve our campers than by helping them reach their athletic and life goals.

ABOUT THE CAMP

Without Limits Youth Cross Country Camp has been hosting campers for 11 years. The camp is open to athletes entering 5th through 12th grade. The program focuses on the fundamentals of running in an environment that promotes goal acquisition through teamwork and engaged preparation. In other words, we make cross country training fun and encourage athletes to push themselves to become better runners.

But running is not all we do. Days are filled with running, hiking, swimming, camp fires, and more.

Many of our campers are competitive students, however, one doesn’t have to be a varsity superstar to attend. Our coaches facilitate a variety of workouts for skill levels from kids who are new to running – to emerging college athletes. While you don’t have to be a fast runner, it is still a cross country running camp! ALL campers are expected to be able to run 30 minutes.

We have two programs that run side by side during camp:

HIGH SCHOOL: Since 2014, our High School Program has had top performers and teams from across the southeast. The camp is oriented for teams and individuals looking to maximize their talents as distance runners, learning from some of the top coaches in our region.

MIDDLE SCHOOL: Our Middle School program has much of the same instruction and goal acquisition, but the training and activities are tailored for our less experienced distance athletes. Eighth graders with distance running experience are frequently moved into, and excel, groupings with older runners.

WHO

Individuals & Teams

Middle School Athletes

High School Athletes

(Rising 5th - 12th Graders)

WHERE

Home Base During Camp:

Lees-McRae College

191 Main Street

Banner Elk, NC 28604

Runs include locations like Watauga River Road, Trout Lake, Wildcat Lake, Moses Cone area, and more.

WHEN

July 12 - 17, 2026

Note: July 12th & July 17th are travel days.

July 12: Travel to Camp, Check-In, Games

July 13: Run & Activities

July 14: Run & Activities

July 15: Run & Activities

July 16: Run & Activities

July 17: Check Out & Travel Home

CHECK IN & CHECK OUT TIMES

Check In on July 12, 2026

Check In at Lees-McRae College: Check In starts at 1:00 PM

Wilmington Campers: 8:00 AM in Wilmington, NC

Durham Campers: 11:00 AM in Durham, NC

Charlotte Campers: 11:30 AM / Noon in Charlotte, NC

Check Out on July 17, 2026

Check Out at Lees-McRae College: 9:30 AM

Wilmington Campers: Drop Off is approximately 4:30 PM

Durham Campers: Drop Off is 1:00 PM

Charlotte Campers: Drop off is Noon

TRANSPORTATION

Van transportation to/from Lees-McRae College is available from Wilmington, Durham, Charlotte.

Flying to Camp?

We will pick up/drop off campers at the Charlotte-Douglas Airport.

Pick Up: Campers must be ready to be picked up at Noon

Drop Off: Campers will be dropped off at the airport about 10:30am - 11:00am

*Please Note: Our counselors cannot escort campers to their gate.

WHAT IS INCLUDED

Price includes round trip transportation to/from camp, transportation to daily excursions, lodging, meals, camp shirt, breakout sessions, shoe and gear clinic, adventure excursions, fun, and more! For a full list click HERE

CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS

Our cross country teams that attend camp leave with stronger team camaraderie heading into the official start of the cross country season. Teams include middle school, high school, and club teams. Time is set aside at camp for team building activities. Discounts are available for coaches and high school teams. Contact [email protected] for details.

YOUTH COACHING

Without Limits offers youth cross country and track coaching, as well as adult endurance sports training in the following regions:

Wilmington, NC

Raleigh, NC

Charleston, SC

Columbia, SC

Greenville, SC

Visit our website HERE

Race Information

The race starts at 8:30 AM.

Packet pickup starts 30 minutes before the race and ends 10 minutes before the race starts.

All runners must register on RunSignup.

No on-site registration.

Additional Information

Parking and restrooms are located at the Trailhead- https://maps.app.goo.gl/tJmT7w8PjTeEZpnXA

Registration and starting line are located north of the VFW, across the street from the corner of 16th Ave Pl NW and 12th St Dr NW- https://maps.app.goo.gl/5xTSLJccYk39YjU37

5K Course (0.78M)

https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/6233736925

The course is an out-and-back (1.56M)

The 5K does the out-and-back two times.

Half Marathon Course (1.09M)

https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5975171281

The course is an out-and-back (2.18M).

The Half Marathon does the out-and-back six times.

Course Time Limit

3 hours and 30 minutes.

Finisher Medals

All finishers will receive a themed medal.

Best Costume

It is not required to wear a costume, but we do encourage it.

At the beginning of each race, we take a group photo.

The best costume will be awarded at the beginning race.

Series Points

This race earns points towards the US Road Running Race Series.

For more information, go to https://usroadrunning.com/S.php

Awards

https://usroadrunning.com/Awards.php

Frequently Asked Questions and Information

https://usroadrunning.com/FAQ.php

US Road Running

https://usroadrunning.com

Come out to Valdese and join us for the 50th running of the Great Waldensian Footrace to celebrate the Festival of the Glorious Return. A long-running staple of the August race calendar, the Great Waldensian Footrace features a 5K, 10K, and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk, surrounded by the Historic Valdese Festival. All participants & guests are invited to take a cool, post-race swim in the Valdese Community Pool. Enjoy local crafts, food, and great entertainment throughout the day.

Day of race registration is available from 7:00am to 7:45am. Race entry fees are $20 through March 1st; $25 from March 2nd through July 31st; and $30 through August 6th. Race day entries are $35. Students may enter the 5K or 10K for $15 through August 6th. Entries received after July 15th cannot be guaranteed a tee shirt. Register early, claim your preferred tee shirt size, and save!

Join us for our 4th Annual Pirate 5k Run/Walk

(dress in pirate costume theme if you wish)

Date: Saturday

August 15, 2026

Time:07:30am 5k Kicks off

Register on race day between 6:30-7:00am

Age Based Pricing for Students

Location:

St. Luke’s Episcopal

Church

315 North Cedar Street

Lincolnton, NC 28092

Packet Pickup:

Friday Aug 14th from 4-6pm

Saturday Aug 15th from 6:30-7am (At the Parrish house at St Luke’s)

Awards:

Overall Male and Female

1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each age group

Finisher medal for all participants

Age Groups (Male and Female) 14 and under 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+

Deadline for guaranteed shirt: Aug. 3rd

The Third annual Pirate 5K Run/Walk will begin on North Cedar Street in Lincolnton at Historic St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. The church graveyard is the final resting place of Lorenzo Ferrier who may or may not be Jean Lafitte.

From St. Luke’s the runners will work their way to the Lincolnton Rail Trail at First Federal Park at East Pine Street crossing.

For more information pertaining to St. Luke’s please visit the church website.

https://www.stlukeslincolnton.com

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Lincolnton, is a North Carolina non-profit 501 (c)(3) and donations may be tax deductible.

​

ABOUT THE RAIL TRAIL:

The Marcia H. Cloninger Rail-Trail, known locally as the Lincolnton Rail-Trail, is a 1.5-mile paved trail, and is especially popular with walkers, joggers, bikers, and parents pushing baby strollers. Benches line the route, inviting you to pause and take in this enchanting town and trail. The trail is maintained by the City of Lincolnton.

The trail offers a chance to search the heart of this small Southern town, highlighted by a stately courthouse, model Main Street, thriving arts scene, and nearby lakes and mountains. Once an eyesore covered in kudzu and debris, the former Norfolk Southern Railroad corridor is now the pride and joy of “Lovable Lincolnton”.

For more information on the Lincolnton Rail Trail visit https://www.carolinathreadtrailmap.org/trails/trail/marcia-h-cloninger-rail-trail

ABOUT THE PIRATE:

"In 2021, a book entitled Jean Lafitte Revealed, Unraveling One of America’s Longest-Running Mysteries by Ashley Oliphant and Beth Yarbrough presents the theory that Jean Laffite, did in fact successfully change his name and live out the rest of his natural life, dying 1875 at the age of 96, under the pseudonym, “Lorenzo Ferrer” in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Ferrer is buried in a marked grave at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Lincolnton, North Carolina. The grave is commonly referred to as locals as “The Pirate’s Grave.” Whether or not the story is true, it would make for a great movie."

https://potus-geeks.livejournal.com/1456158.html

The Current:

"Laffite’s legend in Lincolnton involves a possible son by Louisa, an alleged murder at a plantation, an argument with another Frenchmen also living undercover and a sword with his initials hidden in plain sight."

https://thecurrentla.com/2021/a-pirate-gets-his-due