The Not-So-Grand Prix

By Gilbert B. Elwyn

Last month we promised to compile a list of fun races for you to consider. Check out last month’s column for our race criteria.

January – Race for the Grasshopper, Cowpens, S.C.- 5k
Described in a previous column

February – Causeway Classic, St. Simmons Island, Georgia – 8k
St. Simon’s Island is a beautiful, historic town with a picturesque lighthouse. The race begins and ends at the marina and the course itself traverses the Causeway Bridge.

March – Triple Crown Road Race, Aiken, S.C. – 10 miles
The race is on a flat course which winds through some of Aiken’s most beautiful areas, including horse country.

May – Lake Hartwell Dam Run, Hartwell, Georgia – 10k and 5k
The 10k runs from Georgia to South Carolina and back again. You actually run across the dam making it “The Best Dam Run Anywhere” (their slogan)

May – RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival Road Race, Bell Buckle, Tennessee – 10 miles
Held in conjunction with one of the most fun town festival’s ever, this challenging, but well-supported race finishes in the middle of Historic Bell Buckle… Be sure to stay for the famous Synchronized Wading.

July – Firecracker Run, lots of towns – usually 5k
We’ve enjoyed both the Heart of Brevard and Weaverville, N.C. races, both held as part of town festivals, but there are a LOT of Firecracker runs to sample.

August – Sourwood Festival Race, Black Mountain, Tennessee – 8k
Again, this is a race which is held as part of a town festival. This is a lovely area in which to run.

October – Halloween or Oktoberfest themed races – usually 5k
Brevard had their Flight of the Vampire, Rock Hill has The Great Pumpkin Road Race, Walhalla has their Oktoberfest Race, and you can find many more fun seasonal events to run and enjoy.

November – Battleship North Carolina ½ Marathon, Wilmington, N.C. – ½ marathon
The race begins and ends at the Battleship North Carolina and traverses all of the surrounding bridges. The pre-race pasta dinner is actually held aboard ship in the galley and tickets to tour the ship are included in the race packet

November – Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon, Chickamauga, Georgia – Marathon
The race tours the historic Civil War battlefield and contains many monuments for you to read as you struggle for 26.2 miles.

November – Turkey Trot, many locations – usually 5k
Asheville and Cedar Creek in Aiken are the two Thanksgiving Day races that we’ve run, but there are many good ones to choose from.

If you run any of these races, we’d love to hear your experiences. Or, if you know of a fine and fun race that we’ve left off of our definitely finite list, we’d be pleased to know that, too.

A reminder for all runners, many of these races will be paired with runs of shorter distances and there are often 1 mile fun runs for the children.

One disclaimer: race distances and months are subject to change.