Alexander County, NC – Area runners are invited to participate in the 7th Annual RockyFest Trail Race on Saturday, April 13 at 8:00 a.m. at the Rocky Face Park Multipurpose Building. There will be three race distances, including a 4.5-mile, 9-mile, and 13.5-mile event.
The race is FREE to Alexander County residents and county employees (active or retired), and ALL emergency services personnel, military, and teachers.
Early registration for either race is only $25 if postmarked by April 1, with an additional $10 fee after that date, including race day. T-shirts are not included in the registration fee, so please include $10 more if you want a race t-shirt. T-shirts are guaranteed to those who register by April 1.
Online registration is available at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=62715 until April 11 at 12:00 p.m. All proceeds from the race will go to Rocky Face Park.
The race course is the same as 2018. Runners will start at the multipurpose building and continue on Grindstone Trail, turn right at the campground area, and up the popular but difficult Stairway to Heaven Trail. At the intersection at the top of the hill, turn right onto Hollow Rock Trail, up the loop, turn right on Short Cut Trail, back down to Hollow Rock Trail, turn right and travel to intersection of Grindstone and Prison Camp Trail. Then runners will turn right and travel Prison Camp Trail to the bottom, turn left on Buzzard Loop Trail up to Hollow Rock Trail, then turn right on Grindstone Trail back to the finish line.
That’s one lap, which equals 4.5 miles. If you choose the 9.0-mile event, complete the course twice, or three times for the 13.5-mile event. Any runner who can complete one loop in less than 40 minutes, two loops in less than 80 minutes, or three loops in less than 120 minutes will receive a refund of their registration fee (t-shirt cost not included).
Special awards will go to the top three (3) overall males and females in each race. Masters awards will be presented to the first male and female (age 40+) in each race.
All finishers will receive a custom medal. Race numbers and t-shirts may be picked up at the Rocky Face Park Multipurpose Building on Friday, April 12 from 10:00 am. to 6:00 p.m. and on race day from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. Late registrations will also be accepted at those times.
The Rocky Face Park Multipurpose Building is located at 3645 Rocky Face Church Road in Hiddenite. For more information, visit www.rockyfacepark.com/rockyfest, or contact race director Rick French at [email protected] or (828) 632-9332. You can download an application, course map, and see complete details at www.rockyfacepark.com/rockyfest.
ROCKYFEST 2019: After completing the trail race, join the fun at RockyFest 2019, which begins at 10:00 a.m. on April 13. The annual festival will feature live music, children’s activities, free rock climbing and rappelling classes, food, arts/crafts vendors, and more. Vendor applications and sponsorships are currently being accepted. For more information about RockyFest 2019, contact Alisha Stamey at [email protected] or (828) 632-1308, or visit www.rockyfacepark.com/rockyfest.
