Fonta Flora 50K and Half Marathon
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Event Details
The Fonta Flora 50k, Half Marathon, and Relay is held along the trails and banks of Lake James State Park in North Carolina. The course features gentle rolling trails with mountain scenery. The event starts and finishes at Fonta Flora Brewery's Whippoorwill Farm in Nebo, NC, near Shortoff Mountain and the Linville Gorge. Portions of the proceeds support further trail development around Lake James, including the Fonta Flora State Trail.
Distances and Relay
The event offers several race options:
- 50K on Saturday.
- 50K 2 Person Relay on Saturday, with legs of roughly 13.5 and 18.5 miles.
- 50K 3 Person Relay on Saturday, with legs of roughly 13.5, 12.5, and 6 miles, run in that order. Awards are given for the top finishing relay team in Male, Female, and Co-Ed categories, with all teams competing against each other.
- Half Marathon on Sunday.
Course Information
Half Marathon: The distance is approximately 13.1 miles with an elevation gain of roughly 850 feet. The time limit is 3.5 hours. The course has about 12.8 miles of single-track trail and 0.3 miles of pavement.
50K: The distance is approximately 31.5 miles with an elevation gain of roughly 2,400 feet. The time limit is 9.5 hours. The course has about 30 miles of single-track trail, 0.75 miles of pavement, and 0.75 miles of gravel.
Additional Information
A costume contest is held during the event, as it coincides with Halloween weekend. Participants who run the entire race in a costume are eligible. Winners receive a free entry into a Tanawha Adventures race for 2026.
Early packet pick-up is available at Fonta Flora's Whippoorwill Farm on the Friday evening before the race. Race day packet pick-up is at the start/finish area.
Camping is available at Lake James State Park, and hotels are located in Morganton, approximately a 20-minute drive away. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
