XC Experience

The Gold Rush 5K is presented by Glenwood Ruritan Club in conjunction with NC Gold Foundation Gold Festival.

GOLD There will be a drawing for a genuine GOLD nugget worth $200! All registered runners will be entered to win!!!!!!

T-shirts will be given to the 1st 25 registered runners, so register early! Additional t-shirts will be available for purchase on race day.

There will be a FREE kids Fun Run starting at 9am. Race Day registration WILL be available for $25.

Brought to you by the Spindale Burrito League!

How many times can you run a 0.34 mile segment? How about if the time to complete gets shorter and shorter by the hour?

This race will be a modified version of a last man standing style race.

For the first hour, you will run the segment every 6 minutes. That time will reduce by 1 minute each hour. After the 4th hour the segment time will cap at 3:00 minutes. The race will end when there is only 1 person left.

Every two hours we will pause for 10 minutes for a bathroom break.

2025 was a RECORD BREAKING YEAR!!!

Registration for

Saturday June 13th, 2026

is now OPEN!!

Fun people + beautiful trails + good food = a great day. This is a clothing optional 5K trail run/walk through the woods, trails, and meadows of Carolina Foothills Resort. You may choose to run the 7.3K at no additional cost. If you run the 7.3k, you will also be entered into the 5K. Please choose only one race length.

This race is professionally chip timed! There is a chip embedded in an ankle strap to record the 5K finish times with instant results to displayed on a TV.

The Mike Ward Challenge: Go the Extra Mile, in the 7.3K Mike Ward Challenge honoring the man who inspired the event. Mike was a longtime member of CFR who passed away in 2017 at the age of 73, thus the 7.3k. His wish was for the race to continue annually and to introduce more people to the resort. We give awards in the 5k for the Overall Male and Female along with first and second place Male and Female winners in each age group as well as a special finisher's medal for those who complete the Mike Ward Challenge.

Registration by May 11 includes:

• Specialty Buck Creek Streak T-Shirt

• Delicious Lunch (additional charge for nonrunners)

• A Day Pass to Carolina Foothills Resort (additional charge for nonrunners)

Registration after May 11 includes (while supplies last):

• Specialty Buck Creek Streak T-Shirt (while supplies last)

• Delicious Lunch (while supplies last, additional charge for nonrunners)

• A Day Pass to Carolina Foothills Resort (additional charge for nonrunners)

Registration:

• $45 - June 23 – December 31

• $55 - January 1 – March 31

• $65 - April 1 – June 13 (Same day registration will only be available for returning guests)

Other notes of interest:

• Non-runners will have to purchase a resort day pass

• Meal tickets for non-runners will be available for purchase

If you have never been to Carolina Foothills Resort before, please call the CFR office at 864-461-2731 and get your background check completed prior to race day.

The 2026 Meet Me at the Fountain 5K is July 26, 2026

Proceeds from the 12th running of the 5K will benefit Local Rutherford County Needs.

Schedule:

Friday - July 24th

4:00 - 6:00pm: Packet Pick Up and On-site Registration at Smith's Drugs of Forest City

Saturday - July 25th

7:00 - 8:00am: Packet Pick Up and Late On-site Registration

8:00am: 5K START

9:00am: Fun Run START

Registration:

5K Run/Walk

$25 EARLY BIRD: 2/1/2026 - 2/8/2026

*CUTOFF TO BE GUARANTEED A T-SHIRT IS 7/6/2026*

$30 Regular Registration: 2/9/2026 - 7/19/2026

$35 Late Registration: 7/20/2026 - Race Day

$15 Kids 12 & Under *(CUTOFF TO BE GUARANTEED A T-SHIRT IS 7/6/2026)*

Fun Run (ages 8 and under): FREE [While FREE we do ask that you register in advance] Shirts are available for $15.

Awards & Age Groups:

5K: Top 3 Male/Female Overall. Top Male/Female Masters

5K: Top 3 finishers in each Age Group < 8, 9-11, 12-14, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+

Course Map:

Click HERE for a map of the 5K course

It's Back!

The Slam the Dam 10K is back! As most of you know, Chimney Rock and Lake Lure were devastated by Hurricane Helene in 2024.

While the area is slowly recovering, the Lake Lure Olympiad Committee is pleased to be able to bring back both the Slam the Dam 10K as well as the Race to the Rock 5K, as part of their "Race for Recovery" weekend. Unfortunately, the Lake Lure Triathlon will have to wait another year as the lake is still not up to proper standards for safe swimming.

NOTE: This is a difficult course with lots of elevation changes.