Donations through Upstate Race Series Supports 30 local non profits through the Giving Series
Ice Breaker 8K Run
62 spots left. Price increases after January 5, 2027 at 11:59pm EST
Ice Breaker 8k
Lakeside Park
Slip, Slide, and Shuffle your way
to an 8k Trail Race
Ice Breaker 8K Run/Walk
Slip, slide, and shuffle your way to an 8K trail race ❄️
Eight kilometers of beginner-friendly singletrack at the end of January, when the trail is quiet and the air still has teeth in it. Minimal roots, a few gradual inclines, several undulations and switchbacks, and a central hub you pass twice. If you have been meaning to try a trail race and keep talking yourself out of it, this is the one that was built for you.
The Ice Breaker earns its name honestly. It is early in the season, it is cold at the start line, and for a lot of runners it is the first trail race they have ever done. The course was chosen with exactly that in mind — the Every Minute Trail and the All Day, Baby Trail are runnable, forgiving, and free of the technical sections that turn a first trail race into a bad memory.
You start with a short lap around the baseball diamond sidewalk before dropping into the trailhead, which gives the field room to spread out before the singletrack pinches things down. Afterward there is music, post-race refreshments, hot cocoa, and a chance to connect with fellow runners. Every finisher receives a medal, and your entry supports local nonprofits through the Giving Series.
Race Day Details
| What | Ice Breaker 8K Run/Walk |
| When | Saturday, January 30, 2027 — 9:00 AM start |
| Where | Lakeside Park, Piedmont, SC |
| Address | 1500 Piedmont Hwy, Piedmont, SC 29673 |
| Packet Pickup | One hour prior to race start near the starting line, at Lakeside Park adjacent to the bathrooms beyond the baseball fields — between the baseball diamonds and the football field on the east side. Look for the Green Arch. |
| Time Limit | 90 minutes. |
Course
Single-track trails that are beginner friendly with minimal roots and just a few gradual inclines. The route runs the Every Minute Trail and the All Day, Baby Trail, with several undulations, switchbacks, and a central hub you will pass twice. It opens with a short lap around the baseball diamond sidewalk before entering the trailhead.
View Course Map →Parking
Park at Lakeside Park by the bathrooms just beyond the baseball fields — look for the Green Arch. Parking itself is free, but the county requires a $5 special use permit, which you pay during registration.
Aid Stations
Two aid stations on the course, located at two separate mile markers, plus refreshments and hot cocoa waiting at the finish.
Available snacks:
Hydration:
What's Included
Complimentary professional race photos capture the grit and the glory — hang around at the finish line and celebrate.
Race Awards
Every Upstate Race Series event is part of the Upstate Giving Series, which connects our 30 races with 30 nonprofit organizations serving communities across the Upstate. Your registration and any donation you add at checkout go to work close to home — you are not just running a race, you are funding the work of a neighbor.
Groups & Teams
$5 Discount & Refund for Groups with 5+ Members
The Upstate Running Club welcomes all local and regional running clubs to our events — the more the merrier. Calling all running clubs and social run groups: Upstate Race Series welcomes crews of all kinds to join the fun. Whether your squad is full of weekend warriors, sunrise chasers, or runners motivated by the promise of a cold drink at the finish, we've got an event for you.
Sign up, share with friends and local running clubs, and cash in on race discounts and refunds when your team, run club, or band of misfits hits 5 runners or more.
Good to Know
Managing Your Registration
Everything about your entry lives in your RunSignUp profile. Sign in, find this race under your upcoming events, and make the change yourself — there is no need to email us first. From there you can:
| • | Transfer your entry to another runner |
| • | Switch to a different distance at this race |
| • | Transfer your entry to a different Upstate Race Series event |
| • | Update your personal details — name, address, emergency contact, shirt size |
| • | Manage add-ons, store items, and apparel purchases |
All entries are final. We do not offer refunds or deferrals — but every option above stays open to you right up to race day, so a change of plans does not have to mean a wasted entry.
Let's Stay Connected
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Contact Form
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Event Location
Lakeside Park
1500 Piedmont Hwy
Piedmont, SC 29673 US
View Location on Map
Yes
90 Minutes
Yes
No
Lakeside Park adjacent to the bathrooms leading to the trail head. Just beyond the baseball fields
Yes you can register using your mobile device up until the race starts
Lakeside Park by the bathrooms just beyond the baseball fields. Look for the Green Arch
Yes but you will pay a $5 special use permit fee during registration enforced by the county.
Same place as packet pickup. Look for the green arch and green tent when you arrive.
No but your car will be parked very close to the action so you will have easy acccess
Not on the course but we will have refreshments at the finish with hot cocoa
There are bathrooms at the start/finish line
Yes all finsihers will recieve a medal.
You will have an opporutnity to purchase a shirt during regsitration or visit our apparel now store and have one shipped directly to you
