April 5, 2020

50k start @ 7:00am | 12-mile start @ 8:00am

2020 RACE CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19. ALL REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL WITH DETAILS AND FURTHER INFORMATION SHORTLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING.

Join us for the 11th annual MST 12M & 50K Challenge! The race course will follow beautiful single track of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) as it winds through the woods around Falls Lake in Raleigh, NC. The 50Km starts at 7AM and the 12M starts at 8AM.

The 12-mile course will be a point-to-point run starting at the end of Bayleaf Church Rd. and finishing at the Falls Lake dam. The 50-km course will be an out-and-back run starting and finishing at Blue Jay Point Park and turning around at the Falls Lake dam (same location as 12-m finish).

The MST, part of the NC State Park system, stretches 1175-miles across North Carolina from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smokies to Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks. More than 500 miles of the official trail are now complete, and with temporary connectors on back roads people can now hike across the state.

Race proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail who, with the help of dedicated volunteers, build and maintain the MST trail throughout the state as well as advocate and educate the importance of maintaining and securing our natural resources.

The MST 50-Km Challenge (7:00 AM START) is an out-and-back run starting and finishing at Blue Jay Point Park in Raleigh. Parking will be available at the park for 50K participants and spectators. The run will turnaround at the Falls Lake Dam (same location as the 12M finish). There is an 8-hour time limit for the 50K event.

The MST 12-Mile Challenge (8:00 AM START) is a point-to-point run starting at the trailhead at the end of Bayleaf Church Rd. and finishing at Falls Lake Dam. Shuttle vans will transport you from Falls Pointe Plaza (shuttle pick up is in front of KOHL’S) to the start area and from the finish line back to your vehicle.

First, a lot of fun! You can expect that we will setup a great course, provide a well marked course, stocked water stops, and accurate results. We will do our best to make sure you enjoy your experience. If you have a suggestion please email it to us…we love to hear from participants and spectators.

This is a trail race…very different than a road race. You will be exposed to many obstacles you would not normally see in a road race. The course is a single-track hiking trail, so there are roots, rocks, quick turns, logs, woodland critters, and possibly water to avoid. There are plenty of aid stations and volunteers on the course, but if it’s a hot day or if you think you need more fluids, we highly recommend carrying your own.

We ask that you do not run with your dog, run with an unregistered pacer, run with headphones, run with a jog stroller, and, of course, do not litter on the trail.