Coast / Coastal Plain

If you’ve vowed to do at least one race this summer and have procrastinated, you have no excuse not to do Sunday’s Summer Sizzler at Wilmington’s Greenfield Lake.
A 10K? you whine. That’s too far in this summer heat.
There’s also a 5K.
My hip flexor has been acting up. I don’t think I can hold back my competitive nature — I’ll re-injure myself.
There’s a 1-mile fun run.
Oh … .
Another reason you can’t refuse? It’s the first in a three-race series that includes the First Bank Octoberfest 15K at Brunswick Forest on Sept. 25 and the Battleship Half Marathon Nov. 6. Start building your endurance on Sunday.

Vital stats: Simmer Sizzler 10K, 5K & 1-miler, Sunday, 7:30 a.m., Greenfield Lake, Wilmington. Fee: $25 – $40; register by Aug. 5, here.

Sunday forecast: Racetime temperature of 79, chance of thunderstorms.

* * *

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

Piedmont

Sometimes, we’re not sure what to make of an event, which makes it all the more intriguing. Witness our Piedmont recommendation … .

Sunday afternoon, Charlotte’s Reedy Creek Nature Center & Preserve sponsors the Reedy Creek Olympians. “In honor of the Summer 2016 Olympics this year,” explains the center, “Reedy Creek will be hosting its very own games. What animals are the best of the best? Who can jump the highest, run the fastest, or hide the best? Come find out and test your own skills and reflexes against your friends.”

So … standing long jump vs. a frog? Fifty-meter freestyle against a fish? 800 meter relay against raccoons?

Come and find out.

Vital stats: Reedy Creek Olympians, Sunday, 2-3 p.m., Reedy Creek Nature Center & Preserve. Free, but preregistration required, by calling 980.314.1119.

Sunday forecast: High of 89, chance of showers.

* * *

Looking ahead: Family Hike & Stream Stomp, Aug. 17, 9:30 a.m., McDowell Nature Center & Preserve. More info here.

Mountains

Most trail races are on single-track or double-wide trail with little to look at but the trail itself. Not the Richard’s Run 5K Fun Run for Brain Cancer at Cataloochee. Say race organizers: “The race will begin at the gate above the Chestnut Orchard at Cataloochee Ranch. From there, the route will lead into The Bowl, an expansive bowl-shaped open meadow with dramatic long-range mountain views. The trail will lead runners around the perimeter, following the shape of the bowl, before plunging into a thick rhododendron tunnel that opens back into The Bowl.”

It continues, but you get the notion — the notion of one scenic 5K, not to mention the opportunity to benefit the Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University.

Vital stats: Richard’s Run 5K, Saturday, 10 a.m., Cataloochee Ranch, Maggie Valley. $10 online, $15 day of race. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Race time temperature of 74, mostly sunny skies.

* * *

Looking ahead: Blue Ridge Breakaway, 100-, 75- and 30-mile rides on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Aug. 20, Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center. More info here.

* * *

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

* * *
GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too

The post This weekend: No excuses! appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

Distance runners, sprinters, fun runners — Saturday’s 4th Annual Quintiles Wrightsville Beach Marathon has ‘em all covered: full and half marathons, marathon relay, 5K, 1-mile fun run for kids. Racing starts on Wrightsville Beach, then, depending how far you’re going, heads into the nearby The Landfall Community (perhaps you’ve seen the walls and gates surrounding it on the drive to Wrightsville Beach).

Logistics: Saturday, March 16. Fees range from $35 to $55, more information here.

Saturday forecast: Partly cloudy, high of 73.

Piedmont

What could be more aptly named as warm weather and waters return than Saturday’s Welcome Back Spring Paddle at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area? Saturday’s adventure finds Ranger Steve McMurray leading a two-hour paddle of the Beaver Creek area, putting in at the Ebenezer Boat Ramp.

Logistics: Saturday, March 16, 1-3 p.m. Equipment provided (feel free to bring your own if you have it). Free, but reservations required: 919.362.0586, ext 219 or steve.mcmurray@ncparks.gov

Saturday forecast: Partly cloudy, high of 69.

Mountains

Love getting in on an inaugural race? Especially one sponsored by a brewery? Then check out Sunday’s Oskar Blues 4-mile Road Race in Brevard. Your host: Oskar Blues Brewery. And there’s a fun run for the kids.

Logistics: Sunday, March 19, 9 a.m., in Brevard. $25, $30 race day (includes T-shirt). More info here.

Sunday forecast: 66, “a few showers likely.”

* * *

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.

* * *
Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too
 

The post This weekend: Keep running, start paddling appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

A run with romance! A walk/run/bike for a cause, a wild hike for wildflowers highlight the action in North Carolina this weekend.

Coast

Did you know that before Nicholas Sparks was making women and girls misty-eyed with his tales of romance he ran track at Notre Dame? Surprised by that plot twist? That being the case, though, it shouldn’t surprise you that a 5K and 1-mile Fun Run are part of his Nicholas Sparks Celebrity Family Weekend starting Friday in New Bern? The 5K travels through roadkill-flat New Bern and ends on the state-of-the art track Sparks donated to New Bern High School. The 1-mile Fun Run is entirely on the track.

Logistics: $40 for the 5K, $30 for the fun run (procrastinators are dinged a $10 late-filing fee). Race day registration is from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the Nicholas Sparks Track at the New Bern High School located at 4200 Academic Drive in New Bern. 5K is at 9 a.m., fun run at 10:15. More info here.

Weather forecast: High of 77, 60 percent chance of rain.

Piedmont

Imagine being able to walk or run or bike as a way to support your favorite park or forest. Imagine this Saturday’s Walk/Run/Bike for Umstead. This annual fund raiser for Umstead State Park in Raleigh includes a run/walk component on four miles of park trail and two bike tours, both lead by the Triangle Off-Road Cyclists, one four miles for beginners, the other 12 miles for more experienced riders. Rides begin at 9:30 a.m., the runs at 9:45. Trail is finely crushed, foot and tire friendly gravel roadbed.

Logistics: $15 for kids 12 and under, $35 for adults. Online registration through Thursday, April 19 at noon, in person registration at certain locations which you can learn more about here.

Weather forecast: High of 79 with a chance of thunderstorms.

Mountains

The wildflowers are blooming in the high country — you just need to know where to look for them. That’s why you should follow the folks who’ve been following them for years; in the case of Sunday’s Hawkbill Flower Hike, that would be the Carolina Mountain Club. They know, for instance, that the vivid display of wildflowers peaks in this nook of the Craggy Mountains in late April. They also want you to know that the 8.4-mile route they’ll be taking is not for everyone: “This great wildflower hike follows a rough trail up alongside Hawkbill Creek to the top of the cove, then a very steep 400 ft bushwhack up to Hawkbill Rock. …” They also want you to know that it’s worth it: ““The wildflowers and ramps have been spectacular every time CMC has done this hike.”

Logistics: Sunday at 8 a.m. is when the hike will gather. For info on where they’ll gather and to sign up, contact Carroll Koepplinger at 828-667-0723 or CarrolKoepp@bellsouth.net. You can find a description of the hike here.

Weather forecast: High of 65, 70 percent chance of rain (at nearby Mount Mitchell).

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Todd’s Calendar

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

* * *

 
Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too

The post This weekend: run, hike, walk/run/bike appeared first on GetGoing NC!.