Mt Mitchell Challenge and Black Mountain Marathon
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Black Mountain Marathon and Mount Mitchell Challenge
The events begin in downtown Black Mountain, North Carolina, and finish at Lake Tomahawk. Runners follow marked roads and trails. The route reaches the summit of Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet, described by the organizer as the rooftop of western North Carolina. Marathon runners and Challengers run together to the Blue Ridge Parkway overlook, where marathon runners turn back and Challengers continue to the summit.
Course features include paved sections for the first and last about three miles, white yard signs with black arrows, and trail ribbon. There is no crew access on the course and no drop bags. Aid stations are stocked; the marathon has six aid stations and the Challenge has ten. Each aid station will have at minimum water, electrolytes, salty snacks, and fruit. This is a cupless event; runners must use reusable bottles.
Required gear includes a vessel that holds at least 20 ounces, a rain shell, and a cellphone. Runners must present required gear at check in and at aid stations; missing gear leads to disqualification. There is a Parkway checkpoint with a cut off; Challengers who miss that cutoff are placed into the marathon.
Each race is limited to 250 runners, with a waitlist once capacity is reached. The event has a no refund policy except limited refunds when a waitlist exists. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
