Experience New River Gorge National Park, America’s Newest National Park, through this one-of-a-kind event! Starting at the Charlie McCoy Town Park in Fayetteville, West Virginia, this challenging trail race goes into the National Park, through the forest, and loops back to the start, offering views of the river hundreds of …
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Experience New River Gorge National Park, America’s Newest National Park, through this one-of-a-kind event! Starting at the Charlie McCoy Town Park in Fayetteville, West Virginia, this challenging trail race goes into the National Park, through the forest, and loops back to the start, offering views of the river hundreds of feet below. With significant elevation gain, each race offers a difficult yet scenic course. The New River Gorge National Park offers a wide variety of activities and sites to see post-race as well!
Traveling the same course as the Half Marathon, the 50K has a scenic out and back along the rim of the gorge. With nearly 6,000 ft. of elevation gain and loss on single track trails, the 50k is a course that will push you… but the views will be worth it. The rhododendron tunnels, high passages along the rim, breathtaking vistas, and historic forests perfectly represent West Virginia as Wild and Wonderful!
Explore the National Park Trail System with the challenging yet scenic half marathon course. The trail surface consists primarily of dirt and gravel. Take in stunning views of the New River Gorge Bridge on Dalton Trail and gaze at the gorge below while running over Kaymoor Top!
Or run under the longest single span arch bridge in the western hemisphere on the challenging 5K trail! This dirt single-track course has 500 ft of elevation gain.
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Gorgeous Views
This was my only my 2nd attempt at a trail run, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I wanted to do a race in the area, but they only … MORE
This was my only my 2nd attempt at a trail run, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I wanted to do a race in the area, but they only had trail races.
As others have mentioned, there is not much communication until the week of the race. Suddenly, you receive a few messages.You also don’t get a packet pickup spot until a few days before the race.
The 50K and half started at the same time at a local school’s track. The parking lot filled up quickly, so we had to find parking in the neighborhood. The lines at the porta pots were long and people were still in line when the race started.
The first mile and a half were on a paved road leading to the trail. Once on the trail, you are greated with single track with luch vegetation. Luckily, the trail eventually became double track and some service roads. The single track areas were difficult going up and down. Luckily, I was able to cruise for several of the middle miles on the service roads. Starting at mile 10, there is a steep single track up hill for about a mile and a half. It was a tough stretch. You follow the last 1.5 miles back to the school on the paved road. I had the distance as over 14 miles as did about 4 others that I talked to.
The course was marked well with little blue flags and a big sign where the 50K did another loop. The course was fairly scenic through the woods. There were waterfalls and a couple nice peeks at the bridge. I didn’t stop at any of the support tents, but it looked like they were well stocked.
Since it was a trail race, I don’t really have anything to compare it to since I’m not a trail runner. It was fairly minimal, but had what I needed.
The medal and shirt was nice. I didn’t stay afterwards either, but I guess there was pizza somewhere.
It was a nice change from my normal races. It was challenging, but not as difficult as I thought it might be.
Wild and Wonderful
This race lived up to West Virginia's motto. The course is mostly trail with a mile and half of the beginning and end on the road in town. This course … MORE
This race lived up to West Virginia’s motto. The course is mostly trail with a mile and half of the beginning and end on the road in town. This course runs through our newest national park, the New River Gorge NP which makes it special right there. It is also nice to be in a shaded spot for most of the race as summers get very hot and humid.
Pros: Some glorious views of the gorge and the famous New River bridge. Very serene surroundings running through the old forests and passing little waterfalls especially one right before the last aid station that was literally next to the trail. It was roaring due to recently rain but so beautiful and cool framed by ferns and moss. The course is not overly technical just a few miles where you have to pay close attention. I would also not say that it’s overly hilly for a trail race and thought about only 4 stars for difficulty until mile 9.5. Everything was rolling, climbing up, running down fairly gently until that point then it was straight back up for 1.5 miles. It was hard to walk much less run. It didn’t help that the rain made the trail slippery and muddy. They did put down straw which helped. But that hill sucked the life out of me. So 5 stars from me.
There were only 3 aid stations but they were well stocked like a typical trail race. Considering the terrain and nature of trail running this seemed ok just bring along a water bottle, pack or something for in between.
Race shirt and medal were ok. Nothing special but not cheap. Food at the end was more trail snacks but your bib did have a ticket for a free beverage at the coffee shop just in town.
Cons:
Really my only complaint is communication which was sparse. Another reviewer commented about the same thing and nothing seems to have changed from last year. That said it was organized and started on time. For those traveling or a bit antsy for info, the lack of communication might make you twitchy.
Overall good, solid race. Glad I did it. I had wanted to see the park. I would advise making a weekend of it as there is lots to do in the area.
Tough course but views make it worth it
Communication for this race was a little sparse. Packet pickup up was easy. Did the 5k the night before(lots of hiking vs running, some steep climbs). Not a huge production … MORE
Communication for this race was a little sparse. Packet pickup up was easy. Did the 5k the night before(lots of hiking vs running, some steep climbs). Not a huge production at this finish line(boarded a bus to return to the start). Half had a nice early start, poor course direction, a large portion of the runners ended up doing the loop backwards so the first aid station(which would have been one of the last) wasn’t set up yet. This is a gorgeous area with some tough areas of trails(roots, rocks, climbs) but the setting makes it well worth it. Thankful for the longer cut off times. Very nice finisher medals and lots to do in the area afterward.
Strong potential, still needs some work.
Overall Rating: Excellent location but the logistics need some work. Course Difficulty: This course was a fairly difficult double loop + out and back course. It had all the trail … MORE
Overall Rating: Excellent location but the logistics need some work.
Course Difficulty: This course was a fairly difficult double loop + out and back course. It had all the trail necessities other than creek crossings (rocks, roots, hills, mud), and was average as far as technicality. The heat and humidity added to the difficulty; falling three times (once hard) didn’t help either. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 3500′ of elevation gain, and spread fairly evenly throughout the course. This race was a good mix of single track, double track, forest service roads, and a very small amount of pavement – less than a mile. Nearly 100% shade on this course, without that it would have been crazy hot.
Course scenery: With pretty constant views of waterfalls, old growth forest, the new river and bridge, and a lot of other interesting stuff, the scenery on this run was fantastic.
Race Production: I’m mixed on this.
Pre-race communication was sparse, with the race manual coming out the Thursday before the race at noon (I left Fri morning at 6), so questions like “can I car camp at the start finish line weren’t answered until then (despite having asked earlier via messenger). With the lack of communication, I had booked a campsite, but still this would have been nice to know. Not that big of a deal.
Packet pickup was a breeze, with no issues. Race morning everything was fine, there was a line for the port-a-jon, which is something I haven’t had to deal with at ultras much (maybe ultra runners just go in the woods), but all else was good…until start time. The race started as it should have, but it turned into one long train coming off of the mat. There were 240ish half marathoners and 100ish 50kers (I think these are the numbers I heard) starting at the same time straight onto single track; coupled with 45% of the 50k field being first timers (pre-race stat), it was an immediate log jam. We continued on and at 5 miles, I asked wasn’t there supposed to be an aid station at mile 3.7? Someone mentioned that we were running the course backward, so aid stations would be messed up. What really happened, is that everyone except a few of the fastest folks missed an early turn…everyone! The RD made a decision (which we were informed of at the first AS – mile 7) that we could simply continue running the course backward…which was fine, I’m actually glad they didn’t make us go back to the turn we missed. Of course, all the AS’s were messed up the rest of the day, since the plan was not built for trying to restock with people running in reverse, and as every ultra runner who has ever started with 5k, 10k, or half knows…whatever you actually wanted at the aid station is gone.Staggered start times would make a huge difference at this race.
Timing was excellent with regular mats and the ability for friends to track online. Times were posted immediately.
Race Swag: Good. Wicking T-shirt, custom finish medal, race specific stickers.
My Performance: Ok. I had decided at the beginning (in the log jam) that there was no reason to get in a hurry, it was just about time on the feet for me. I took my time, talked to a lot of folks, stopped to help a few runners out. Oh, and I fell hard enough to break my glasses…that will take the run right out of you. So not great – not terrible – nobody died.
Final notes: This race has really great potential. I think there was a little higher DNF rate in the 50k due to the heat, difficulty of the run, and logistic issues. I think this race will be a sellout in the future, it is truly a destination race and it is gorge-ous.
At the end of the day, it is the runners responsibility to know where you are supposed to go and to have enough nutrition; so as I tell everyone else “take what you get, and don’t throw a fit”. I would like to see a little better coordination from the race staff, but don’t let that deter you, if you are looking for a beautiful West Virginia run, prepare accordingly and go run this race. Not sure there is any prettier scenery to be found there.
Challenging but Fun Trail Run
This was a more technical trail than I am used to, so that might have been part of my struggle, but I had so much fun. At times the terrain … MORE
This was a more technical trail than I am used to, so that might have been part of my struggle, but I had so much fun. At times the terrain was very rocky, and the last few miles were basically straight uphill. Definitely not a PR type course, but the scenery was beautiful and I stopped for several pictures. This course inspired me to take up trail running, and I will be back for more next year. Well supported and the medals were beautiful. The shirt is also one of my favorite running shirts now.