2025 Pre Race Email
Well Uwharrie Family, we are 7 days away from the most exciting day of the year in the Uwharries, and race prep is in full swing.
Below is the final Pre-Race email to review as you finish your own plans and preparations for this upcoming weekend. We had some technical difficulties with the previous email thread, and it seems like some folks didn't receive it. Please give below a thorough read through and let us know if you have any questions.
See you next Saturday!
How to Get There:
DIRECTIONS TO START/FINISH
Wood Run Trail Head located on HWY 24/27 approximately 9 miles west of Troy, NC.
GPS Coordinates of: 35.310293, - 80.043726
https://goo.gl/maps/BVpr2b3X1rpxjkjBA
Pre Race:
RACE BRIEFING
This year’s Pre-Race Briefing will be posted online in the week leading up to the race. Watch out for the Facebook post Mid Week.
**There will also be a short pre-race briefing on the morning of the race at 5:40am at the start/finish for 100 Mile/100K Runners & at 7:40am at the start/finish for 50K Runners.
PACKET PICKUP
Packet pickup will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Wood Run Trail Head (our Start/Finish Aid Station located off of HWY 24/27).
A google maps link to Wood Run Trail Head can be found here.
https://goo.gl/maps/BVpr2b3X1rpxjkjBA
We will also have packet pickup on race day from 4:30 am to 5:30 am at the start/finish for 100 Mile/100K Runners and 6:30 am to 7:30 am for 50K Runners.
PRE-RACE MEAL
**There will not be an “official” pre-race dinner, but for any runner/pacer/volunteer who is hanging around Friday evening at the Start/Finish, we will provide pizza and snacks.
LODGING & CAMPING
Lodging is available in Albemarle. Which is located only 12 miles from the start/finish. There is also dispersed, primitive camping in and around the start finish area.
Medical Emergencies
If you experience an emergency out on the course; please consider the following:
1. If you experience a "setback" on course (fall, twist an ankle, stub your wrist), if you can keep moving, please make your way to the nearest aid station where help will be waiting and available.
2. If you get lost, need someone to come assist in a non-emergent manner please call the RD's at 724-833-1029 and we will arrange for someone to come assist ASAP.
3. If you are experiencing a true medical emergency, dial 911. Search and Rescue are aware of our event and have intimate knowledge of the course and the park.
IMPORTANT LOCAL CARE CENTER INFORMATION
Atrium Health Stanly
301 Yadkin St,
Albemarle, NC 28001
First Health Montgomery
520 Allen St.
Troy, NC 27371
Montgomery County Search & Rescue
911
Race Day:
THE START!!
The 100 Mile and 100K races will start promptly at 6:00 am Saturday at the Wood Run Trail Head at the Start/Finish Aid Station (https://goo.gl/maps/BVpr2b3X1rpxjkjBA)
The 50K event will start promptly at 8:00 am Saturday at the Wood Run Trail Head at the Start/Finish Aid Station (https://goo.gl/maps/BVpr2b3X1rpxjkjBA)
***Parking is limited at the start/finish so we request that each runner bring no more than one vehicle per registered runner.
***IMPORTANT*** you MUST check in on Saturday morning PRIOR to your race start REGARDLESS of if you picked up Friday. This is to ensure everyone who picked up their packet is on course.
DROP BAGS
Drop bags are available at all three of our Aid Stations (Start/Finish Aid Station, Crossroads Aid Station (Mile 6/15) And Kelly’s Kitchen (Mile 11.7) for our 100 mile and 100k runners.
**50K runners are welcome to have a drop at Start/Finish. NO remote drop bags for 50K runners.
***Drop bags can be dropped off at packet pickup on Friday or they can be dropped off at the start/finish on the morning of the race no later than 5:30 am Saturday morning.
PACERS
100m/k runners can have pacers after completing 41 miles (two laps). No pacers for 50K runners.
**There will be no Volunteer Pacer Registration, so if you plan on having a pacer, please make arrangements.
Pacers are required to report into the Start/Finish aid station PRIOR to picking up their runner, so they can be issued a Pacer bib and also so race officials can be aware of all runners that are on the course.
CUTOFFS and Medical DNF's
Cutoffs are STRICTLY enforced. This is for the safety of our runners and in consideration of our race crew and volunteers who are giving of their time to support your run!
Please respect the direction of the RDs and Race Crew if asked to drop due to missing a cutoff or if our medical team believes continuing may negatively impact your health. Failure to do so will jeopardize your ability to participate in any future UwharrieUltras event.
The cutoff for both 100K and 100 Mile races is 6:00 pm Sunday (36-hour cutoff).
***100M/100K Runners must START their last lap by 11:00 am Sunday and LEAVE Kelly’s Kitchen on their final lap heading southbound by 3:00 pm Sunday.
The cutoff for the 50K is 8:00 pm (12-hour cutoff), Saturday (12-hour cutoff).
AID STATIONS
“Start/Finish” - Mile 0 and 20.5 of each loop
Captained by Kim & Steve Haemmerle
“Crossroads” - Miles 6 and 15 of each loop
Captained by Vinny Swendsen
Co-Captained by Joel Johns
“Kelly’s Kitchen” - Mile 11.7 of each loop
Captained by Jenna Koenigshofer & Amanda Paige
AID STATION FOOD
The Uwharrie 100 Trail Run has been known for years as a truly unique and fantastic food experience.
“Normal Fair” of hamburgers, pizza, BACON, hummus wraps, hot dogs, pierogis, grilled cheese, gummy bears, watermelon, etc. are common. But it isn’t uncommon to see “porter brazed flank steak”, “Swedish meatballs”, or “unstuffed egg-rolls” and "shrimp and grits" on course. Bring your appetite!!
This year, we are super jazzed to be sponsored by SpringEnergy (https://myspringenergy.com) and Tailwind Nutrition (https://tailwindnutrition.com)!!
We will have multiple Spring Gel flavors available at each aid station as well as “Mandarin & Watermelon” flavored Tailwind at each location.
**Please be considerate when managing your race nutrition when it comes to Spring. We should have plenty of gels if everyone uses only what they need.
SPONSORS
SpringEnergy (https://myspringenergy.com)
Tailwind Nutrition (https://tailwindnutrition.com)
UltraRunning Magazine (https://ultrarunning.com)
Lowa (https://www.lowaboots.com)
BUFF (https://www.buff.com/us/)
Long Run Coffee (https://longruncoffee.com)
Salty Britches (https://getsaltybritches.com)
Uwharrie Aesthetics
Course Information:
The Uwharrie 100 Mile Trail Run is held on a 20.5 mile single track course in the Uwharrie National Forest which runners will complete five times. Runners participating in the 100K event will complete three 20.5 mile loops.
Follow this link to the Course Description:
http://www.uwharrie100.com/raceinformation
Runners participating in the 50K will complete one-and-a-half 20.5 mile loops.
Follow this link to the Course Description:
http://www.uwharrie100.com/uwharriegoldrush
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
The best word to describe the course is UNRELENTING. There is little flat ground on the course and the constant rolls and climbs, decent and rock hopping will require absolute attention throughout.
There are three large climbs on the course (Mile 7.4, 8.4, and 16 of the single track loop).
**100 milers will experience a total of 17,420 feet of elevation gain and a total of 34,840 feet of elevation change during their tour of 5 loops.
**100K runners will have a total of 10,452 feet elevation gain and 20,904 feet of elevation change during their tour of 3 loops.
**50K runners will have a total of 5,070 feet elevation gain and 10,140 feet of elevation change during their tour of 1.5 loops.
COURSE MARKERS, TURNS, WEATHER & UPDATES:
The course is marked entirely by NATIVE course markings:
DUTCHMAN'S IS MARKED BY YELLOW DIAMOND BLAZES.
UWHARRIE IS MARKED BY WHITE DIAMOND BLAZES.
"BLUE is poo". Meaning, if you find yourself running on a trail with blue blazes, STOP and look for yellow or white markings. BLUE is for the mountain bike circuit at Uwharrie and is NOT part of the Uwharrie 100 race course.
THE ONLY NON-NATIVE TRAIL MARKINGS ARE YELLOW FLAGGING TAPE PLACED AT A FEW CRITICAL TURNS AND ROAD CROSSINGS. IF YOU SEE YELLOW TAPE PAY ATTENTION.
THIS RACE IS NEARLY 100% SINGLE TRACK, with the only exceptions being a few forest service road crossings. You are only on forest service roads long enough to cross them. If you find yourself running on road for more than 10 steps, STOP and look for the trail markers to get you back on track.
There is one critical turn which is marked heavily with flagging tape and a sign around mile 11.5 of each full loop where DUTCHMAN'S trail dead-ends into UWHARRIE.
When you reach this junction, turn LEFT, following the flagging chute. You have just transitioned from Dutchman's (yellow markers) to Uwharrie (white markers).
You will run a short .5 mile out to Kelly's Kitchen Aid Station on Uwharrie, turn around and come back to that same intersection with the flagging tape. This time stay LEFT at the intersection and you will run on white markers down the hill.
It looks like there may be some rain this week before the race, but creeks should be on the dry side. Please be sure to bring enough carrying capacity to get from aid to aid (roughly 6 miles apart). Filtering from the creeks will be difficult given the amount of water in them.
WEATHER:
Right now, the weather looks GORGEOUS, but a little on the warm side.
Saturday - LOW of 56 / HIGH of 79
Sunday - LOW of 56 / HIGH of 79
SWAG and Awards:
Finishers of the 100 Mile Trail Run within the published time limit will receive a custom buckle.
Finishers of the 100K Trail Run within the published time limit will receive a custom medal.
Finishers of the 50K Trail Run within the published time limit will receive a custom medal.
If for some reason you cannot attend the race, please take a moment to cancel your registration through the official UltraSignup site and shoot us a note at uwharrieultras@gmail.com.
If you have additional questions that were not answered in this email or the links provided, please reach out to us at:
We can’t wait to see you!!!
All the Trail Love,
Ryan and Meghaan Hampton
Race Directors
uwharrie100.com