South Mountains Marathons

We are celebrating our 20th year of the Charity Chase Half Marathon!!!!

The Charity Chase Half Marathon is a rewarding run for those up for the challenge. Hickory is in the foothills of North Carolina and the race course winds around the city with elevation changes that will require some effort. You will have run up and down the equivalent of a sixty-story building before you finish but don't be scared off! We have participants that run/walk and runners as young as seven and as old as seventy.

The Charity Chase 5k will take participants through the downtown area of Hickory.

Charity Chase Half Marathon will start at 7:30 AM.

Charity Chase 5K will start at 7:00 AM.

Our Charity volunteer groups help make Charity Chase Half Marathon run smoothly. There will be over 300 volunteers at the start/finish and along the race course to cheer you on, provide water, Gatorade & GU. They may even entertain you along the way! Hickory's Police Department will be at every controlled intersection and our EMS will be on standby along the course for your safety.

Packet Pick Up will be Friday, April 17th from 12pm-6pm at the Hickory Metro Convention Center.

Race Day Packet Pick Up is available at race venue between 5:30 am - 6:45 am.

Everything we do at Charity Chase Half Marathon is geared to giving our RUNNERS a rewarding race where, hopefully, new PERSONAL BESTS and GREAT EXPERIENCES will be found. We look forward to seeing you there!

Awards:

Half Marathon

Top 3 Male/Female Overall

Top 3 Age Group Male/Female Awards: 1-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65+

5K

Top 3 Male/Female Overall

1st place in each age group awards: 1-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65+

This will be our third Annual Soggy Bottoms Backyard Ultra, a day to test yourself on a farmland trail loop with scenic views, rolling hills, and South Mountain in the distance. The challenge is to see how many loops you can accomplish within an allotted time. You can run, ruck, or walk the full event or tackle just half the day. We want this to be a fun day for people of all ages, promoting fitness for the whole family so bring your grandparents, spouses, and kids to enjoy the fresh air.

Registration: This year’s registration is a donation to raise funds in support of our F3 Brother- Ranger and the Northlake House Memory Care. A donation of any amount gains entry to the event.

The Cause: Donations from this event will go directly to the family of Gary Powers and to benefit the residents of the North Lake House Memory Care. Donations will NOT be tax deductible due to in ability of administrative reporting, but hey, it's an awesome cause.

The Format: Every 30 minutes participants will launch from a covered pavilion choosing a 1-mile or 2-mile farmland trail loop. Music will start 2 minutes before each round to notify runners of the upcoming lap. At the pavilion, participants can house their supplies, chairs, a change of clothes, or whatever items they need to run 12, 16, 20 or even 32 miles. Participants need to supply their snacks, fuel, or whatever items will help them go the distance. Water and light snacks will be provided, and adjacent parking and restrooms will be available.

For Families: Five Oaks Farm is a family owned and scenic space where you can bask in the beauty of the great outdoors. We want participants of all ages and skill levels to join in the fun. This event is a fun day to be in nature with walks through a woodland trail and farm landscape. We have had 5 year olds to grandmothers rack up many loops so bring your whole family for a day focused on fitness and activity at your own pace.

Race Swag: During check-out participants will be able to purchase a commemorative Soggy Bottoms T-shirt. T-shirt orders are needed by April 15, 2026 for shirts to be printed in time for the race.

Participants will be required to sign a release waiver in order to participate in this event.

Take advantage of this incredible opportunity to test your limits and enjoy a day on the farm!

For inquiries and additional information, contact Wes Richardson at soggybottomslnc@gmail.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!

HKY 100 Mile Ultra Run

Experience. Camaraderie. Competition.

Hickory’s inaugural 100 Mile Ultra Trail Race is for teams of 2 to 10 people and soloists. This demanding course puts you or your team racing around the clock challenging the limits of endurance, pace and strategy. The course consists of a 4-mile route taking you on double-track farm trails (believed to be old moonshine roads), to single track hiking trails onto the newly created Aviation Trail, then through Winkler Park into the Hickory Crawdad’s stadium where the start/finish line welcomes you back. Over 15,500 feet of elevation awaits you for this 100-mile challenge. The route consists of approximately 70% trails and 30% paved. There are several short steep climbs and two longer climbs at .65 miles each (see course map). The course will be well marked with cones, arrow signs and reflective tape for night running. Keep in mind this course will consist of off-road trails that include hills, descents, tight turns, roots, rocks and other trail type features.

The Hickory Foundation YMCA is excited to announce that we will celebrate the 25th Annual Hickory Turkey Trot 5K, 10K, and Fun Run on Saturday - November 21st, 2026. Proceeds from this race help the Y carry out its Mission to provide programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body to make Hickory a stronger community. Your race entry fee and generous Donations will help to continue this support in our community.