Captain Thurmond's Challenge
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Event details
Captain Thurmond’s Challenge takes place on Saturday, June 27, 2026, in Fayetteville, West Virginia. The event starts and finishes downtown in front of the county courthouse at 125 North Court Street and runs through New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, using local trails, river access points, and town streets.
Course and divisions
The race is a three-sport loop listed as approximately 32 miles in total. The course order is mountain bike, river, then trail run. Distances for each leg are given as:
- 16 mi mountain bike
- 7 mi river
- 9 mi run
Divisions include Solo (Men’s, Women’s), Relay (3-person Men’s, Women’s, Mixed), and Raft Teams (4–6 participants; Men’s, Women’s, Mixed). Raft team registration may include a raft, certified guide, and river safety gear, or teams may bring their own raft, guide, and gear. Allowed river craft include kayaks, packrafts, canoes, rafts, and other suitable New River Gorge-appropriate craft. Required river items include a helmet and a minimum Type III PFD, and competitors must have competency in whitewater environments.
Logistics and safety
Organizers provide gear transport for mountain bikes, kayaks/canoes, rafts, and personal gear bins using large moving trucks or similar vehicles. Participants are advised that the event is not liable for damage to high-value bikes or boats and may arrange their own transport if desired. Shuttle reservations for gear transport will open in advance; all shuttle reservations must be submitted by the end of the specified weekend so the team has three weeks to finalize logistics. Spectator-friendly locations include the downtown start/finish, Kaymoor Miners Trail parking area, Cunard River Access, and Fayette Station River Access. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
