Welcome to the official website of the
Leatherwood Mountains Ultra Run
Registration
Registration for 2013 is closed!!
**Refund Policy: 50% refund will be available until 12/31/12. No refund as of 1/1/13
Event
The Inaugural Leatherwood Mountains Ultra Run will be held on the grounds of Leatherwood Mountains Resort and Stables. Unlike most events that are held on public lands, this event will be primarily on private land. Don't miss it....You WON'T be disappointed!!!
Course
Race course will take place over varied terrain in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Much of the race will be on single track trail, but will have a mix of asphalt, gravel, and jeep trail roads. Tree foliage should be close to peak at this time, so much of the race will be shaded when on trail. If you have experience running in the Blue Ridge Mountains you'll know that the trail could change from one day to the next. One day could be dry, the next could be muddy.
50 Mile - Course will consist of 3 loops. Each loop will be unique. Very little trail will be repeated which will keep the entire race interesting to the runners. Gain and loss will each be about 10,000ft.
50 Kilometer : Course will consist of 2 unique loops. The first loop of 19 miles will be much the same at the 50 mile course, with a few deviations to reduce mileage. The final loop of 12 miles will be the same as loop 2 of the 50 mile course, also with a few deviations to reduce mileage. Runners will need to pay attention to directional markers where 50M/50K courses split. We will do our best to make sure it's easy to follow. All aid stations will be the same.
10 Mile - Runners will follow PINK markers. Also pay attention to directional plates to aid in getting you through the trails. Course will be a challenging one with 2000ft of gain and loss. Runners will start down Meadow Rd, which is paved, for 1 mile. Take a right at Key's Cabin up a gravel road. A short ways up you will take a right where you hit the first single track trail of Rhodo Gap. From here the course will be mostly single track and jeep trail. Runners will pass through Rawhide Aid Station at miles 4.7 and 8.5. See Course Map for further info.
Prerace and Packet Pick-up
- Packet Pick-up with be available late afternoon on Friday. It is advised that 50M/50K runners get your packet on Friday. Saturday packet pick-up will also be available from 5am-6am for 50milers. 50K and 10milers may pick up packets Friday or on Saturday morning after the 50 mile race has started.
- Dinner will be around 6:30 and is catered by Saddlebrook Restaurant. Get your tickets through Eventbrite. We are excited to have author/adventurer/record holder, Jen Pharr-Davis, speak during dinner. Prerace meeting about the race and course description will be held at 7:30pm
- 50 mile start time will be 7:00am. At 7:00pm, if you have not completed the first two loops, totaling 40 miles, you will be dropped from the race. So long as you are out on the last loop of 10 miles before 7:00pm, there will be no further cutoff time to the finish.
- 50K start time will be 8am. No cutoffs
- 10 mile start time will be 9am
- Dawn - 6:19am. Sunrise - 6:50am. Sunset - 7:58pm. There will not be glow sticks, so if you think you may be out after 8pm, be prepared with a light source.
50M/50K course will have 3 fully stocked aid stations. Runners will arrive at the Bob's Branch AS/checkpoint around the 5 mile mark. First full AS will be around mile 12 for 50M, mile 9 for 50K. After that AS will be about every 5-7 miles. Crew may access the first full AS. The rest of the race, crew can stay at the Stables AS and will be able to service their runnings. Runners will pass through the Rawhide AS several times. Room is limited at Rawhide AS, so you may send a drop bag, but no crew is allowed.
10 mile race will go through the Rawhide AS twice.
Runners in all races will be required to carry a container for liquid. Aid stations will be able to refill your container with water and/or sports drink. To limit waste, AS will not provide disposable cups. Lets all work together to keep the trails and facility clean.
Prizes
All runners completing their race will receive a finishers award - TBD
Other prizes will be awarded as well - TBD
Accommodations
- What makes this event so unique is the availability of luxury mountain cabins to rent at Leatherwood. Get a group of runners, friends, or family together and make a memorable weekend vacation. Who wouldn't want great mountain views and a hot tub at your convenience?!?!
- Electrical Hookup is available along Elk Creek. Contact Leatherwood to make reservations 1-800-462-6867
- Primitive camping is available on the Leatherwood Stable grounds. When you arrive, check-in with the Leatherwood Front desk to pay for per night camping
- Closest Hotels are about 30min from Leatherwood. Lenoir and Wilksboro are the nearest towns to search for hotels.
This event will be like none you have experienced before. Onsite is Saddlebrook Restaurant and Bar. Have a few drinks with friends Friday night before the race. Saturday the restaurant will be open to accommodate you and your crew for lunch. There will be a buffet of some sort served at a reasonable price for dinner. That evening there will be an open mic night to entertain and motivate you to get through to the finish. It should be quite the party atmosphere Saturday evening. Look for a fire in the pavilion on your final stretch to the finish line. Hopefully the 10 milers won't feel the need to rush home, but instead I hope y'all hang around and cheer on the 50s throughout the day.
Bring the family. Kids will enjoy the play area just off Meadow Rd.
Directions
To get to Leatherwood, it is not advised to use GPS navigation. The only way to get there is to take Elk Creek Darby Rd. off of Hwy 268.
- From Lenoir - Take Hwy 18 east off of Hwy 321 for 9 miles. Turn Left on to Grandin Rd. Go 6.2miles to dead-end into 268. Turn Right on Hwy 268. Go 2.3 miles to Elk Creek Darby Rd. Take a left. Continue on Elk Creek Darby Rd. for 6 miles. The store on 268 at Elk Creek Darby Rd. is the nearest gas/store to Leatherwood.
- From WIlksboro - Off of Hwy 421, take Hwy 268/River St. Head West on Hwy 268 for 15 miles. Take a Right. Continue on Elk Creek Darby Rd. for 6 miles. The store on 268 at Elk Creek Darby Rd. is the nearest gas/store to Leatherwood.
Contact
If you have question, please contact us bigfootultras@gmail.com
