South Mountains Marathons
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Event overview
The South Mountains Marathons on January 10, 2026 are organized by Tanawha Adventures at South Mountains State Park near Connelly Springs, North Carolina. In 2026 the event is limited to the half marathon only because some trails remain closed. The half marathon distance is 12.9 miles with approximately 2,600 feet of elevation gain. The course contains about 12.4 miles of trail and 0.5 mile of pavement.
Course and aid
The route mixes double track and singletrack trails and includes two creek crossings. There is one full aid station on course. The published time limit for the half marathon is 4.5 hours. The course description notes steep sections and overlooks created by recent route adjustments.
Entry and policies
Registration information shows entry limits and refund rules: a limit of 200 entrants per day is listed. Refunds of 75% of the entry fee are available through October 15 and 50% through December 15; no refunds after that date. Transfers and deferments are not allowed. If the event must be canceled for major reasons, organizers may move the race to a virtual format on the actual course or reschedule to January 24 or January 25/26, depending on conditions.
Awards
Top three overall male and female finishers receive hand-made awards. All finishers receive hand-crafted ceramic medals. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
