Cape Fear River Run

Here's some notes to clue you in on some Half Marathon specific points that will help you on race weekend. We are an all-volunteer team and are looking forward to putting on a good event for all of you. Our volunteers will be wearing a bright green hat with the word staff on it. 

Saturday 9 Nov from 12-4pm 

• Packet Pick up at Gaston Brewing Taproom. 421 Chicago Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28306
• VIPs will have a separate line and your swag and bib will be in your bag when you get there. In your bag you will have your VIP bracelet that you will need for access to the VIP tent on race day.
• Yummy Hibachi will be serving up some delicious food while at packet pick up. Make sure to grab a bite!
• Race Registration will end on Saturday!! If you have interested friends let them know to sign up ASAP!

Sunday 10 Nov

• Address for the Botanical Garden is 536 N Eastern Blvd, Fayetteville, NC 28301
• 6am Packet Pick up opens. You do not need to be there at that early. Please be mindful that the 10k starts at 7am so be careful arriving around that time. Pick up will close at 745am.
• Parking. We will have volunteers assisting with directing you to the participant parking.
• Bathrooms. Participant bathrooms are in the Main Cape Fear Botanical Garden lobby.
• 815am race starts. If you are a faster runner, please start near the front.
• Finish line!!  We will have snacks, water, and vendors in the finish area. Household 6 will have food for purchase.
• Finisher medals! To keep the finish area clear, we will have a medal tent right after the last timing mat on the left. Look for the bright blue and yellow FRC Tent! All you have to do is walk up to the tent show them your bib (they will mark it) and they will hand you your finisher medal for you to brag about and take all the selfies. Don't leave without your medal!!
• 10am Awards. (If we have the top 4 finishers at that time) We are only doing top 4 male and female overall. Age Group results will be categorized online when uploaded.
• Access to the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Your bib or finisher medal is your ticket to tour the Garden!! If you've not seen how gorgeous it is in there, you're missing out. 

 

Let's talk about the course. The course is not closed for the race. You may encounter normal trail traffic on the route such as other runners, bikes, and families. We have put signs out in the week leading up to the race notifying patrons that we will be hosting a race on Sunday. 
The course will be marked with directional signs with arrows. The Half route is basically an out and back course. Link to the route is below.
The race starts in the Garden driveway. You will run around the parking lot then exit the Garden and turn right. Then follow the road under the overpass and turn right immediately. There will be a volunteer at this turn.  The course is designed for runners to stay to the right on the trail. There will be two-way traffic. Pass other runners carefully and announce that you are passing. After this you will get on the Cape Fear River Trail and then soon cross under your first train trestle. The aid station at Clark Park, (mile 3.1 and again at mile 10.3), will be manned by the Fayetteville Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Inc. and they will be motivating and one of the funnest cheering sections you will see. There will be water/Gatorade and cups, snacks, fruit and GU waffles at this spot. You will continue on the River Trail after the aid station and then the trail follows Eastwood Ave for about two blocks. After the train tracks, look for the trail on your left. Signs and cones will be there to assist. Once back on the trail you will pass through some of the most beautiful parts of the River Trail. Soon you will find yourself passing under your second train trestle and up the hill to the aid station and turn around point manned by the fabulous people from i-FIT!! They will have fruit, water/Gatorade with cups, and more GU Waffles. At this point it's almost all downhill lol. Now just return back the same route you just ran. Make sure to stop and say hi to the Deltas at mile 10.3 aid station again! Follow the River Trail all the way back to the underpass and from there, there will be arrows directing you to the finish line when you get near the Garden. Confused? Don't worry!  Map below!

And of course, always feel free to ask questions!! We are runners too and want us all to have a good experience.