9 running events in Stanly County, North Carolina

7th Annual Locust Lucky Leprechaun 5K Run/Walk

LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT EVENT!

PACKET PICK UP SATURDAY, MARCH 14 @ WEST STANLY CENTER LOCATED IN THE LOCUST TOWN CENTER FROM 9am-12pm.

Senior Center is Located at 213 Town Center Dr. in Locust, NC.

Fast Fresh Course - Green Themed - Shamrock Race Bibs - Finish Line Snacks from Sassy Cake - Chip Timed By Clockwork Timing

Thank you to the first 100 that registered for the Locust Lucky Leprechaun. You will receive a pair of St. Patrick's Day Socks in your race packet!

Always a First Class and Well Organized Event! Locust is a very short drive from Charlotte and Concord to drive over for a race.

PACKET PICK UP DETAILS TO FOLLOW

7th Annual Locust Lucky Leprechaun 5K Run/Walk

Join us on March 15th at 3pm for the 8th Annual Lucky Leprechaun 5K Run/Walk in Locust Town Center in Locust, NC. A fast & flat-ish course through the Locust Town Center & surrounding neighborhood!

Get your Green On and dress in the spirit of Saint Patrick. Wear your favorite St. Patrick's Day attire, prizes for best dressed Leprechaun! @excitebikes will be leading the way during the race, course will be marked and we will have our communication dudes readily available on the course...so please don't get lost. :)

10-year Age Group Awards - Fast Course - Great Volunteers - Lots of Door Prizes - Race is Chip Timed by Clockwork Racing - Post Race Sweets from Sassy Cakes

Age Groups

10 & under

11-14

15-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70+

Proceeds to Benefit the Stanly County YMCA's West Stanly Senior Center

🏃‍♂️🎉 Fellowship of the Idiot Run – 23 Years of Idiocy! 🎉🏃‍♀️

March 21, 2026

It’s official — we’re celebrating the 23rd year of the Fellowship of the Idiot Run (FOTI)! This legendary run is proudly put on by the Uwharrie Brewing Running Club along with Jason Britney, and it continues to be one of the most unique and beloved long runs around.

🗓️ Important Dates

February 21

Last day to register and receive a personalized race bib with your name.

March 7

Final day to order Fellowship of the Idiot T-shirts, hoodies, and tank tops to have them on Run Day

💸 Cost & Donations

Returning Idiots:

This is a FREE event — but donations are strongly encouraged to help cover the cost of:

• Police & Sheriff support

• Emergency Medical services

• Food & snacks

• Permits, bibs & insurance

• YMCA Pavilion rental

(With 300–400 participants, it takes a village… of Idiots 😉)

New Idiots:

$19.70 registration (for the legendary 19.7 miles) This helps cover your official FOTI shirt and race expenses.

📅 Why the Date Change?

Traditionally, FOTI is held three weeks before the Myrtle Beach Marathon and two weeks before the Ellerbe Marathon — the perfect long training run. This year, we’ve moved it to March 21st due to ensure we have enough time to deliver a truly first-class Idiot experience.

⏰ Start Times & Format (Rolling Start!)

We’re keeping the popular rolling start format from last year — with a little more flexibility.

Start Window: 5:00 AM – 6:00 AM

Finish Cutoff: 9:45 AM (no exceptions)

You may start anytime within the window, but you must finish by 9:45 AM. Use the pace guide below to plan wisely:

🧮 Pace Guide

11:25 min/mile or faster:

Start anytime between 5:00–6:00 AM

12:57 min/mile:

Start no later than 5:30 AM

14:28 min/mile:

Start at 5:00 AM

👉 If you’re faster than 11:25 pace, you’re golden — pick any start time you like.

🗺️ The Course

The Fellowship of the Idiot Run is a 19.7-mile, non-timed run that takes you:

From the Stanly County Family YMCA

Up to the top of Morrow Mountain

And back to the YMCA

Expect hills, sunrise views, camaraderie, and plenty of character-building miles.

Route: FOTI Route

💡 Donations and FOTI apparel purchases are greatly appreciated — they’re what keep this incredible run alive year after year.

👕 Becoming an Idiot

First-time finishers of the full 19.7 miles earn:

• The coveted Fellowship of the Idiot Ringer T-Shirt

• And official recognition of your IDIOT Title

The shirt is legendary — and yes, it will quickly become one of your favorites.

⚠️ Important: You must complete the full 19.7-mile course to earn the shirt.

🏃 Shorter Distance Options

Training for a half marathon or just want fewer miles? We’ve got you covered:

12-Mile Option:

Turn around at the corner of Valley Drive & Morrow Mountain Road

14+ Mile Option:

Turn around at the front gate of Morrow Mountain State Park

(These options do not qualify for the Idiot shirt — but they do qualify for bragging rights.)

🚻 Facilities

Bathrooms & showers available at the YMCA starting at 7:00 AM

Please bring your own towel

⭐ Why You’ll Love This Run

• Amazing volunteers and on-course support

• A stunning sunrise from the top of Morrow Mountain

• Great food and snacks at the finish

• An unforgettable community vibe only the Fellowship of the Idiot Run can deliver

📦 Packet Pick-Up

Friday, March 20, 2026

📍 Uwharrie Brewing

⏰ 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

121 N. Third St., Albemarle, NC 28001

Saturday Morning (Race Day)

📍 Stanly County Family YMCA Pavilion

⏰ 4:30 AM

115 C. B. Crook Dr, Albemarle, NC 28001

👉 The Pavilion is located in the YMCA Park, next to the playground, across the street from the YMCA.

Aid Stations & Radio Crew:

We will have aid stations at approximately the following mile markers: 2, 4, 6, 8, 9.8, 12, 14, 16, 18.0

We will have Gatorade and Gu's at 4.2 (Big Chair) and Top of the Morrow.

Also, the Stanly County Amateur Radio Club will be stationed along the course. If you need any help, stop and ask them.

SPONSORS:

Our Primary Sponsor is: First Bank. Without their support, we wouldn't be able to put this race on. Please support this business. Thank You.

Secondary Sponsors:

• Visit Stanly

• YMCA of Stanly

• Stanly Amateur Radio

History of the Idiot Run:

Back in the winter of 2003, Peter Asciutto, Derek Blalock, Joe Korzelius, Ryan Owens, Craig Gunkle, Lee Allen and Larry Hyde were training for various marathons. The friends decided to meet one morning at the Stanly County Family YMCA, in the dead of the winter, to run to the top of Morrow Mountain and back. They started their legendary journey at 5:00 am with the temperature at 20 degrees.

By the time they got to the six-mile mark, their water bottles were frozen, as was the water they dropped along the course the previous evening. Word of their travels made it to the local newspaper and the Stanly News and Press ran an article about their adventure.

Renee Asciutto, wife at the time of Charter Member Peter Asciutto, was getting a massage a few days after the story ran in the paper. During her massage, Greta, the massage therapist asked her, "Did you read in the paper where those Idiots ran to the top of Morrow Mountain and back in the freezing temperature." Renee quickly replied, "My husband is one of those Idiots."

Thus the Fellowship of the Idiots was born.

The Idiot Store will be posted soon!Lets go idiots!

For questions, you can call Joey Collins 704-984-0921 or email: [email protected]

🍇 Stony Mountain Vineyard 5K Walk/Run 🍇

Run the hills. Sip the reward.

Join us for the inaugural Stony Mountain Vineyard 5K Walk/Run, a scenic and challenging race set among the rolling hills and beautiful views of Stony Mountain Vineyard.

🗓 Race Details

Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026

Start Time: 9:30 AM

Location:

26370 Mountain Ridge Rd

Albemarle, NC 28001

🏃‍♀️ The Course

This is a fun but challenging out-and-back course featuring several hills—perfect for runners looking to push themselves and walkers who enjoy a rewarding climb. Expect stunning vineyard and mountain views throughout the race.

Here is the Route: Route

🍷 Post-Race Celebration

All participants 21 and over will enjoy:

• FREE wine tasting at Stony Mountain Vineyard

• FREE commemorative wine glass

• Relax, celebrate your finish, and soak in the views after crossing the line.

🏅 Awards

Medals will be awarded to the Top 3 Male and Female finishers in each age group:

• 14 & Under

• 15–19

• 20–29

• 30–39

• 40–49

• 50–59

• 60 & Over

Race will NOT be chip timed. It will be manually timed by Out & Back Timing.

❤️ Giving Back

All proceeds from the race benefit the Uwharrie Brewing Running Club, supporting the local running community.

ℹ️ Additional Info

Race is rain or shine

No refunds

🤝 Sponsor

Proudly sponsored by Stony Mountain Vineyard

👉 Stony Mountain Vineyards

Morrow Mountain State Park, North Carolina. Shelter in the upper parking lot.

Disciplines: Hiking (5-7 miles), and Paddle (3-6 miles)

This adventure race is designed to help the folks new to adventure racing get their feet wet in the sport and to challenge veteran racers who have limited time to race.

Racers will hike and paddle to collect a series of checkpoints. Race pace for an adventure racer is around 4-5 miles an hour. Racers will use pre-plotted CalTopo maps to navigate to check points while paddling and running/trekking through the state park. You can compete as a team or solo. The team of 2-4 must complete all task together, no more than 100 feet apart at any given time unless specifically identified by the race director. Check Points will be placed on natural features hill tops, stream intersections, coves or at obvious trail intersections.

This race starts and finishes at the picnic shelter.

At the completion of the race, we will have food and drinks for the racers. We will also announce winners and award prizes.

Waivers: All participants must sign a Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement

Minors must race with an adult.

JUNE 7th 2025 Saturday

Morrow Mountain State Park, North Carolina. Shelter in the upper parking lot.

Disciplines: Hiking (5-7 miles), and Biking (3-6 miles)

This adventure race is designed to help the folks new to adventure racing get their feet wet in the sport and to challenge veteran racers who have limited time to race.

Racers will hike and bike to collect a series of checkpoints. Race pace for an adventure racer is around 4-5 miles an hour. Racers will use pre-plotted CalTopo maps to navigate to check points while biking and running/trekking through the state park. You can compete as a team or solo. The team of 2-4 must complete all task together, no more than 100 yards apart at any given time unless specifically identified by the race director. Check Points will be placed on natural features hill tops, stream intersections, coves or at obvious trail intersections.

This race starts and finishes at the picnic shelter.

At the completion of the race, we will have food and drinks for the racers. We will also announce winners and award prizes.

Waivers: All participants must sign a Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement

Minors must race with an adult.

Attention Stanly County families!! The Stanly Health Foundation and Atrium Health Stanly - Health Promotions are pleased to announce registration is open for the 11th Annual FREE Passport Outdoor Program (P.O.P.) hosted at Morrow Mountain State Park. Daniel Harkey, Passport to Health instructor, will lead P.O.P as participants explore the hiking trail system at Morrow Mountain. Although this program is primarily an exercise opportunity, participants will also discover many positive attributes to living an active lifestyle including healthy snack and lunch ideas. All participants will be provided with FREE healthy snacks during the hikes and a FREE healthy lunch after each hike. Participants are welcome to bring their own water and containers if they prefer, but FREE bottled water will also be provided to all participants.

P.O.P. will begin on Wednesday, June 3 - PLEASE see schedule on below. All hikes begin at 9 a.m. and end at 12 noon. P.O.P will meet on Wednesday and Thursday of each scheduled week. Participants are not required to adhere to an attendance requirement in order to participate. You can participate as much or as little as works for your family’s summer schedule.

Passport Outdoor Program is fully funded by Stanly Health Foundation and offered to all Stanly County public, private and home-school 4th and 5th grade students, and their families. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for all participants including adults via Passport Outdoor Program (P.O.P.) (runsignup.com). Children in grades lower than 4th grade may attend as well, but must be accompanied by a parent, or an adult guardian (grandparents, aunts/uncles, baby-sitter, etc.). Students in grades above 5th may also attend, but parents of these students are asked to contact Daniel Harkey, prior to registering their student.

Thank you, we look forward to hiking with you this summer!

Daniel Harkey 704-984-8997 or [email protected]

P.O.P. 2026 Hiking Schedule - all hikes begin at 9:00am. Participants should be picked up at 12 noon.

Week 1 - June 3, 4: Participants will meet in the Bridle Trail/Sugarloaf Trail/Horse trailer parking area. This parking area is located a ½ mile on the right after entering the main entrance of Morrow Mountain State Park.

Week 2 - June 10, 11: Participants will meet in the parking/picnic area located just past the swimming pool.

Week 3 - June 17, 18: Participants will meet in the parking area located at the Morrow Mountain boat launch and boat rental facility.

Week 4 - June 24, 25: Participants will meet in the Bridle Trail/Sugarloaf trail/ Horse trailer parking area. This parking area is located a ½ mile on the right after entering the main entrance of Morrow Mountain State Park.

Week 5 - July 8, 9: Participants will meet in the parking area located at the Morrow Mountain boat launch and boat rental facility.

Week 6 - July 15, 16: Participants will meet in the Bridle Trail/Sugarloaf trail/ Horse trailer parking area. This parking area is located a ½ mile on the right after entering the main entrance of Morrow Mountain State Park.

Week 7 - FINAL HIKE, Tuesday, July 21: Participants will meet in the Morrow Mountain State Park Office and Museum parking area. Pick up time this date is 12:00pm. There will not be a hike on Wednesday, or Thursday of this week 7.

The Badin Lake Triathlon provides a perfect opportunity for all fitness levels to get involved in a sprint triathlon. Participants will swim a 750 yard open water swim in Badin Lake, bike 13 miles through rolling country roads of Stanly County, and run a 5K through historic Badin, NC.

In 2019, Badin Lake Triathlon joined forces with Trivium Racing and became part of the Trivium Multisport Series. Triathletes will have the opportunity to participate in several multisport events throughout the year with a chance to win a series prize at the end of the year. Visit Trivium Racing for more information.

SWIM COURSE CYCLE COURSE RUN COURSE

Individuals will have the opportunity to compete in age group, Athena, or Clydesdale Divisions. Athletes competing in the Athena division must be female weighing 160 pounds or more. Athletes in the Clydesdale division must be male weighing 220 pounds or more.

The Relay Team Challenge encourages everyone in the community to get active and fit while having fun! It's a perfect way to get involved in the Badin Lake Triathlon without taking on all of the events. Three-man teams consist of one swimmer, one cyclist, and one runner. Two-man teams are welcome where one member of the team completes two of the legs. Teams can be All Male, All Female, or Coed.

Awards to be given to Overall, Age Group, Athena, Clydesdale, and Team Category winners.

Again this year, the Y would like you to help send underprivileged kids to camp this summer. With a gift of $30 you can send a kid to camp for a day this summer! Want to take it one step further and get your registration fee waived? Become a Fundraiser for the Send a Kid to Camp campaign and get your registration fee waived if you raise a minimum of $150. Not only will you get your registration fee waived but you will give a child an opportunity to experience the adventure and fun of day camp this year. In addition, all proceeds from the Badin Lake Triathlon support the YMCA Strong Communities Fund which funds the six signature programs of the Stanly County Family YMCA.

REGISTER BY 5/22 to be guaranteed a t-shirt!

SAFETY MEETING will take place at 7:15 AM at the Transition Area.

RACE BEGINS at 7:30 AM with the first swimmer in the water.

🌟 Join the Movement, Make a Difference! 🌟

The Albemarle Rotary Club proudly presents the 5th Annual Race to Remember 5K & 1-Mile Walk — an uplifting event dedicated to advancing Alzheimer’s research through Rotary’s nonprofit, C.A.R.T. (Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust) 💜🧠

🗓 Date: Saturday, June 13th, 2026

📍 Start 8:00 AM/ Finish: Field beside the YMCA Pavilion

👟 Scenic Route: Wind through beautiful historic downtown Albemarle and surrounding neighborhoods

🚗 Parking: Available near Y Park, Hartsell Funeral Home (522 N. Second St.), & the lot across from the pavilion

🏅 Awards: Top 3 in each age group (0-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+)

💯 Every step makes a difference!

Proceeds and all donations go directly to Alzheimer’s and dementia research—no overhead, just impact.

🧢 Race Shirt Reminder:

Register by 6/5 to get your shirt on race day!

Late registrations? No worries—your shirt will be available for pickup at Uwharrie Dash or mailed for just $3.

Race Packet Pickup 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM at Uwharrie Dash 154 South1st Street, ALbemarle, NC 28001 and on Race Morning

👣 Whether you’re running for a loved one, chasing a PR, or walking in support — let’s race for a reason.

Because memories are worth fighting for! 💜🏃‍♂️🚶‍♀️

#RaceToRemember #EndAlz #RotaryCART #RunForACause #AlbemarleEvents #UwharrieDash