Race Begins @ 6:01 am
The annual Downhill @ Dawn half-marathon will run from Ridgecrest Conference Center to Old Fort. You will experience some absolutely incredible views of wooded, majestic mountains; run pass beautiful streams, rivers and The Old Geyser park. The race is capped at only 500 runners, and has sold out for the past for years.
Race Day:
The race will start at 6:01am on Saturday, June 6, 2015 from Royal Gorge, between the Royal Gorge Apartments and the Maple hotel. There is on-campus parking (secure) for those staying off campus. The simplest parking is near Woodland (building on campus) the ARC and parking near the start of the race in Royal Gorge. At the finish line water, bananas and bagels will be available. Shuttles will provide transportation back to Ridgecrest after the race every 15-30 minutes as needed.
Course Description: This unique ½ Marathon will wind it’s way for 13.1 miles around Black Mountain, North Carolina, down the Old Fort Mountain on Old Highway 70 and finish at First Baptist Church, Old Fort, North Carolina. The first 3 miles, on pavement, will be out and back starting from the LifeWay campus at Ridgecrest. The first 1 ½ miles will be slightly downhill. The return 1 ½ miles will be slightly back uphill to the main campus. Once back at the LifeWay Ridgecrest campus, runners will be turning to go down Old Fort Mountain, the next 10 miles, mostly downhill, will offer the runner 3 of the miles on packed dirt and gravel and 7 miles on pavement. There will be a couple of places along the course where there will be some gradual uphill grades, but it is primarily a downhill run beginning at an elevation of 2700’ and ending at an elevation of 1600’. Water stations will be at the beginning and every 2-3 miles down the mountain. Port-A-Jons will also be provided along the route. RRCA and USA Track and Field Certification code for our half marathon is: NC-08044-PH.
Awards: Awards will be presented at the finish area in Old Fort around 8:45am. Double dipping of awards will not occur. All finishers will receive a medal
Event Website: http://ridgecrestconferencecenter.org/event/downhilldawn#.VMGs5Mso4lY
Registration now open: https://www.imathlete.com/events/EventReg/EventReg_SelectType.aspx?fEID=21821&fNew=1&fsource=Main
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