There’s a run for everyone this weekend in North Carolina: for the novice, the mountain distance runner, the hash harrier — even the runner who doesn’t like to run.

Coast | Coastal Plain

Since the advent of hashing in the ’90s (yes, the concept originated with bored British offers and expats in Kuala Lumpur in the late 1930s),  we’ve been intrigued by how it works to mix running with beer. We’re even more intrigued when the mix is part of a race conducted in temperatures approaching 90.

Thus, we’re most intrigued by Saturday’s Copperhead 20K Relay at the Poplar Grove Plantation in Wilmington. Run a lap on the 5K loop trail, drink a 12-ounce beer (optional, but you get a two-minute time deduction), run another lap. Four laps, four beers. Again, in temperatures warming to 90. Relay teams of up to four are allowed (your baton is your beer).

Why Copperhead? Perhaps because if you get bit with 48 ounces of beer in you, the snake will be more affected than you.

Logistics: Saturday, Aug. 27, 6 p.m., Poplar Grove Historic Plantation, Wilmington. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High in mid 80s under mostly sunny skies.

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Looking ahead: Pier-2-Pier Open Water Swim, Sunday, Sept. 10, Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, Wrightsville Beach. More info here.

Piedmont

The Kirkwood 5K: now, here’s a 5K for all. First, the race is on a “flat course … nestled in the cozy, neighborhood streets of Kirkwood and promises to be a FAST, easy, and refreshing 5K.” If you race a fair amount but haven’t had a PR recently, this race is for you. If you have a disdain for hills, this race is for you. If you want to run with your kids, if you like to check out new neighborhoods, if you don’t like to run, period, this race is for you.

Another reason to run? Proceeds benefit BackPack Beginnings, “a local, 100% volunteer non-profit organization founded to provide children in need with food, comfort items and other basic necessities through the use of backpacks.”

Logistics: Saturday, Aug. 27, 9 a.m., Kirkwood Neighborhood is located in Greensboro between Cornwallis, Lawndale and Cone. $15-$40. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Temperature of 81 under mostly sunny skies at race time.

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Looking ahead: Triathlong at Ramseur Lake, Ramseur, Saturday, Sept. 17. More info here.

Mountains

Saturday, it’s Round 2 of the High Country Triple Crown race series: the High Country Half Marathon. The half begins at Appalachian State University’s Kidd Brewer Stadium and winds its way to Blowing Rock, to the Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve. It’s a winding, up-and-down course that spends a bit of time along Winkler’s Creek. (Spoiler alert: the finish is downhill!)

Aid stations along the way (miles 1.8, 4.5, 8, 10 and 12) with water and Gatorade.

Logistics: Saturday, 7:30 a.m., Kidd Brewer Stadium, Appalachian State University. $75. More info here.

Saturday forecast: 63 under mostly sunny skies at the start.

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Looking ahead: Catawba RiverFest and Triathlon, Saturday, Sept. 17, Lake James State Park, Nebo. More info here.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

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