Mountains: 4th Annual Polar Plunge

One of the iconic winter sporting events that might be on a bucket list or two is the polar plunge. If you find the prospect of immersing your already cold body into cold water intriguing, check out this weekend’s 4th Annual Polar Plunge Benefit-t-t-t-ing Kids in the Creek and Youth Education at Lake Junaluska benefitting Kids in the Creek and Environmental Education.

Participants get a free t-shirt to boast of their bracing bravado for all of eternity. Plungers will have two options: a spotlight solo plunge off the dock, or to be part of a group run into the beach. Costumes are encouraged, with prizes for best costume as well as for top fundraisers. Indoor changing and eating facilities will be available, as well as a bonfire!

Vital stats: 4th Annual Polar Plunge, Saturday, Feb. 6, 11:30 a.m., Lake Junaluska Aquatic Center, Lake Junaluska. $25, $10 ages 18 and under. More info: 828.476.4667, info@haywoodwaterways.org or go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 44 degrees and mostly sunny. Event happens rain or shine.

Looking Ahead: Valentine 5K and Kids Fun Run on Feb. 13. in Black Mountain. More info here.

Piedmont: Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail Annual Meeting

Somehow, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail remains one of North Carolina’s best-kept secrets. Surprising, considering the trail runs more than 1,000 miles, linking Clingman’s dome on the Tennessee line with Jockey’s Ridge at the coast.

A good way to acquaint yourself with the MST is at this Saturday’s annual meeting of the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Learn about the trail first hand, from keynote speaker Sharon “Mama Goose” Smith, who thru-hiked the trail in 2014. There also will be workshops on how to hike the trail, the trail’s marketing plan and trail work, and a panel discussion on how the trail can be used for education. Lunch included with reservation fee.

Vital stats: Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail Annual Meeting, Saturday, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m., Elon Univeristy, Elon. $25 for members, $15 for students, $50 for non members (includes discounted membership). More info: 919.518.1713 or go here.

Saturday forecast: A guaranteed 70 degrees and well-lit (since it’s indoors)

Looking ahead: Umstead Trail Marathon, March 5, Umstead State Park, Raleigh. More info here.

Coast: Carolina Chocolate Festival (and 5K)

We run 5Ks for various reasons. For some, it’s a carrot justifying the drudgery of daily training runs. Others are drawn by the pageantry of the event and, in most cases, the opportunity to help out a good cause.

And this Saturday, there is perhaps the best reason of all to race: a finish line dipped in chocolate. Chocolate cakes, tortes, bars, ice cream, pudding  — everything chocolate, at the Cocoa 5K/Fun Run, part of the Carolina Chocolate Festival, two days of chocolate-coated fun at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City. Check the web site below for a complete rundown of events.

Vital stats: Cocoa 5K/Fun Run, Saturday, 7 a.m., Carteret County Community College, Morehead City. $25, $45 for a family of four. More info: 252.393.2011, or go here.

Saturday forecast: Mostly sunny, high of 38 at race time.

Looking ahead: Bird Hike, Feb. 8, Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach. More info here.

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Water is the theme this Labor Day weekend, with a 5K you can jump into a lake after finishing, a festival that lets you take your chances on Class III water in a boat you build, and a triathlon that kicks off with a swim in a 72-degree mountain lake.

Coast

Go Jump in the Lake 5K isn’t a derisive suggestion; rather, it’s a thought on what you might do following a 3.1-mile run on a hot, humid August morning. This 5K starts and ends along the banks of Spring Lake in Boiling Springs: at the finish, runners are encouraged to keep going and take a refreshing dip. Includes a fun run, with a fun follow-up dip as well. Added incentive: the course is flat ‘n’ fast.

Logistics: Saturday, Aug. 31, 8 a.m., Spring Lake Park, Boiling Springs. $10 to $35. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 82, 40 percent chance of rain.

Piedmont

The ideal Labor Day celebration, in or book, is one where you essentially stay put and all the fun comes to you. Building a raft and sailing it down Class III water, running a 5K or 15K trail race, live music from three bands, fireworks and food — all in one place. This Sunday, that place would be the U.S. National Whitewater Center, home of all of the above. The day begins with the trail races at 9 a.m. and ends after the 9:30 a.m. fireworks show.

Logistics: Sunday, Sept. 1, U.S. National Whitewater Center, Charlotte. Free. More info here.

Sunday forecast: High of 91, 50 percent chance of rain.

Mountains

Looking to capitalize on your summer triathlon training? Check out Saturday’s King of the Smokies Triathlon at Lake Junaluska.  Two tris, in fact. The sprint is a half-mile swim, 17.3-mile bike and 3.77-mile run, while the international is a one-mile swim, 25.76-mile bike, 7.37-mile run. Word is the lake will be cool enough to allow wet suits.

Logistics: Saturday, Aug. 31, 7:30 a.m. Lake Junaluska. $65 for the sprint, $180 for the international. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 79, 50 percent chance of rain.

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

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Coast

It’s been a long week, so we’re going to invoke playlay — sorta like the pirate’s parlay — which allows us to begin the weekend a little early, say, Friday afternoon at 3 p.m.? Which is convenient because that’s when a ranger will be leading a guided canoe trip on the coastal plain’s Jones Lake at the state park of the same name. You have to be able to swim; otherwise, no experience necessary. Canoes and equipment provided.

Logistics: 3 p.m., free but because of limited space preregistration is required, by calling 910.588.4550.

Saturday forecast: High of 90, 20 percent chance of rain.

Piedmont

Pressed for time on the weekend? Got some stuff around the house you really need to get done? Then do it, and afterward head up to Haw River State Park for Bats at Dusk, an evening program that involves hanging out on a boardwalk as daylight begins to wane and watching the bats come out. Learn about bats and get a hike in down to the Haw. And if you get there before the program, you can check out this, one of the state’s newest state parks, which includes a semi-rustic conference facility, which includes an outdoor pool.

Logistics: Starts at 7 p.m., meets at the main lodge. 336.342.6163 or here for more info on the park.

Saturday forecast: High of 81 with a 60 percent chance of rain.

Mountains

I like a good mountain event that embraces all levels of cyclist, from the casual recreational greenway rider to the aspiring George Hincapies. Which is what we have in Saturday’s Blue Ridge Breakaway, a ride out of the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center in Haywood County that offers a 105-mile century-plus, a 65-mile metric century, a 40-mile ride and a 24-mile ride.

Logistics: All rides commence at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, onsite registration runs from 6-6:30 a.m., $54 for the 105-, 65- and 40-mile events, $35 for the 24-miler. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 75 with a 60 percent chance of rain.

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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.

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.
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