Coast

As daylight continues to dwindle, so, we assume, do our opportunities for outdoor adventure, especially during the work week. But did you know that not all of the natural world goes to sleep when the sun goes down? In fact, for some, sunset means it’s time to rise and shine.

Learn to make the most of the coming dark by signing up for Friday’s Night Hike at Halyburton Park in Wilmington. N.C. Wildlife Educator Beck Skiba leads a two-hour exploration of who’s up after dark in the park, explaining the adaptations that make it possible and why the night shift is preferred by some critters. (She’ll do some fun stuff, too.)

Logistics: Friday, 6-8 p.m., Halyburton Park, 4099 S. 17th St., Wilmington. Free, but pre-registration is required, by calling 910.341.0075.

Friday evening forecast: 70 degrees and darkening (sunset is at 6:22 p.m.)

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Looking ahead: North Carolina Birding Trail Hike, Dec. 15, Halyburton Park. More info here.

Piedmont

A lot of people run who don’t like running. So why do they run? Because of an add-on, usually something completely unrelated that makes running seem … not like running.

Add-on? you inquire.

Yes, such as Saturday’s Queen City Costume Dash 5K. Thousands of costumed folks will queue up at 5:30 p.m. for a dash through town; for some, the goal will not be to win their age category (of which there are seven) but to win the coveted costume contest.

Some will also show up for another popular non-running reason to run: beer. There’s a pub crawl as well.

Logistics: Saturday, 5:30 p.m., Inside-Out Sports, 1514 S. Church St., Charlotte. $45. More info and to register, here.

Saturday forecast: High of 80 at race time under sunny skies.

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Looking ahead: Battle of the Beasts Competition, Nov. 12, Randolph-Asheboro YMCA, Asheboro. More info here.

Mountains

On most bike rides, you ride with some pretty good cyclists. Or at least you see them at the start. In this Saturday’s Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo, those “pretty good cyclists” are actually some of the best pros around. For starters, there’s Brent Bookwalter of Asheville, a four-time Tour de France veteran and 2016 Rio Summer Games Olympian (he created the race with wife Jamie). There’s also Asheville-based Rio Olympian Rushlee Buchanan, along with Jonny Clarke, John Murphy, Matthew Busche, Adrian Hegvary, Ty Magner of Team UnitedHealthcare; Joey Rosskopf of BMC Pro Cycling; and, Lauren Komanski of Twenty16 Pro Cycling.

“Our event is unique in the number of professional riders we bring in to ride with our participants,” Jamie Bookwalter told the Asheville Citizen-Times. “These guys and gals spend the year racing around the world on numerous continents, so it’s such a treat that they give up a precious off-season weekend to support us and our charity, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.”

The ride has course options of 82, 63, and 30 miles, starting from Pisgah Brewing Co. and winding through scenic roads of Black Mountain and Swannanoa Valley.

Logistics: Saturday, 9 a.m., Pisgah Brewing Co., Asheville’s River Arts District. Fees vary. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 78 and sunny.

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Looking ahead: Noland Creek guided hike, Nov. 1, led by Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. $20 members. $35 for new and renewing members. Visit www.Hike.FriendsoftheSmokies.org to register.

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

Coast

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