BOONE, N.C. – Known as “The Hard Half,” the High Country Half Marathon is accepting registrations for those who are up for the challenge! Scheduled for August 25, starting at 7:30am, the race will cover 13.1 miles from Boone to Blowing Rock. Presented by ZAP Fitness and sponsored by The Blue Cross of NC Institute for Health and Human Services (IHHS) at Appalachian State University, runners will enjoy some of the most spectacular views of any race in the state. Race director Mary Sheryl Horine stated, “Our race has a fantastic following of runners and they keep coming back to enjoy the views and camaraderie along the race course!”
As the second race in the High Country Triple Crown series, the High Country Half Marathon is celebrating its eighth annual race. All proceeds benefit Girls on the Run of the High Country, a self-confidence building program for girls in the third through eighth grades.
The race debuted in 2011 and participants have described it as challenging because it follows the route of the first half of the Grandfather Mt. Marathon. Horine explained, “We celebrate the fact that we’ve got a beautiful environment for running in the summertime. Combine that with dedicated volunteers, cool awards and a great cause and you’ve got a race that people travel to from all over the southeast.”
The race begins at Appalachian’s Kidd Brewer Stadium and follows picturesque roads of Watauga County before ending in Blowing Rock at Davant Field. An awards ceremony following the race will feature overall and age category awards, grandmaster (age 50+) awards, door prizes, food, beer provided by the Blowing Rock Brewing Company and Appalachian Mt. Brewery as well as cold brew coffee provided by Hatchet Coffee.
Participants can register online and read a full route description at www.triplecrown.appstate.edu. The registration fee is $75 and includes a tech running shirt and a finisher’s medal. Other races in the High Country Triple Crown Series include The Valle Crucis Cub 7-Miler, which was held over Memorial Day weekend and presented by Mast General Store, and The Knob and The Bonk to be held on October 6 and sponsored by Lost Province Brewing Co.
Runners who participate in all three High Country Triple Crown races will be eligible to win $1,500 in cash prizes and a congratulatory award for participating in all three events.
For more information and to register for The High Country Half Marathon or The Knob, please visit www.triplecrown.appstate.edu or call 828-262-7557.
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