The standup paddlers takes to the chilly waters of the Intracoastal Waterway, runners take to the trails of the National Whitewater Center, and nature lovers learn a thing or two at Grandfather Mountain. There may be a little rain in the forecast, but that’s no reason to stay inside on an active North Carolina weekend.

Coast

Think of it as a race and go for the cash prizes, think of it as a tour and get a wintry view of Wrightsville Beach by water.

It’s time again for the Cold Stroke Classic out of the Blockade Runner at Wrightsville Beach. The race begins on the protected waters behind the beachfront Blockade Runner and takes a meandering loop on the Intracoastal Waterway. The Short Course is one lap, the Long, two. There’s a $1,250 cash purse for the Long course, $5,000 in prizes for both the Long and Short. And, this year they’ve added a Run What You Bring (shouldn’t it be “Brung”?) category: “ … surfskis, outrigger canoes, unlimited paddleboards, kayaks, etc. If you can paddle it, you can race it.” Water temperature as of Thursday morning: 54 degrees.

Logistics: Ninth Annual Cold Stroke Classic, Saturday, 10 a.m., Blockade Runner, Wrightsville Beach, $55 Short Course ($25 kids), $75 Long ($25). More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 67, storms developing in the afternoon.

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Looking ahead: N.C. Birding Trail Hike, Feb. 16, Halyburton Park, Wilmington. More info here.

Piedmont

If you’re a runner, it’s nice to establish a baseline at the beginning of the year (translation: your times can only get better from here). We can’t think of a better place to start than the Charlotte Running Company Trail Race Saturday at the National Whitewater Center. Haven’t been running much? Do the 4-mile race. Gotten the year off to a pretty good start, training-wise? Perhaps you’re up to the task of the 9-miler. Feeling particularly bold? There’s a 13-mile option as well. All on the well-groomed, nicely rolling trails at the whitewater center.

Logistics: Charlotte Running Company Trail Race, Saturday, 9 a.m., National Whitewater Center, Charlotte, $50, $55, $65. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 66, 13 percent chance of rain at race time.

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Looking ahead: Cupid’s Undie Run, Saturday, Feb. 11, Uptown Charlotte. More info here.

Mountains

It’s one thing to ID a tree by its distinctive leaves, quite another to identify it by its more subtle bark and limb patterns. That’s why we recommend you head to Grandfather Mountain State Park Sunday for its Winter Tree ID Hike on the Profile Trail. “Participants will learn how to identify local trees without the aid of leaves by learning differences in bark, limb, bud and branching patterns.”

Expect to hike a mile and a half over about two hours.

Logistics: Winter Tree ID Hike, Sunday, 1-3 p.m., Profile Trail, Grandfather Mountain State Park. More info here.

Sunday forecast: High of 52, pretty good chance of rain.

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Looking ahead: Winter Boat Tour, Feb. 4, Lake James State Park, Nemo. More info here.

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

Coast

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Coast: St. Patrick’s Day Lo Tide Run

The 12th annual Steve Haydu St. Patrick’s Day Lo Tide Run on Saturday offers an intriguing twist for both the 5K and 10K: team competition. Each team must have five or more runners, teams will be scored based on their top five runners. The hardest part of this event could be coming up with a worthy team name; teams so far include Shaggers for a Cure, Love is Bald and Fat and Stinky. Registration lasts until the morning of the race, so you’ve got time.

Proceeds benefit people battling cancer who do not have the means to pay medical bills.

Saturday forecast: High of 68, low of 56 and cloudy.

Vital stats: 12th annual Steve Haydu St. Patrick’s Day Lo Tide Run, Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Saturday, March 12, 8 a.m.; $35m $40 race day, $5 discount for students and military. Contact Jasmine McKee at support@lotiderun.org. More info here.

Looking ahead: Little Explorer’s Nature Program, Halyburton Park, Wilmington, March 21-22, $3 registration fee, more info here.

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Piedmont: Color Me Green 5K Color Run at the U.S. National Whitewater Center

The U.S. National Whitewater Center is putting on a 5K with lots of prizes, some a little … unusual! The goal of the untimed race: to either get green, or stay clean. Awards to the top five overall male and female finishers, as well as the runner who manages to dodge the most green color, and the runner who dodges the least. Additionally, raffle prizes will be given to random runners during the race.

Once it’s over, stick around for the food and drinks, and USNWC’s 6th annual Green River Revival.

Saturday forecast: High of 72, low of 54, chance of showers.

Vital stats: Saturday, March 12, 10 a.m.; race day registration of $45, National Whitewater Center, sponsored by Novant Health. More info here.

Looking ahead: The Great Amazing Race Charlotte Adventure/Obstacle Course, $50 entry fee, March 19, more info here.

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Mountains: Waterfowl Boat Tour

Join Ranger Earl Weaver, renowned waterfowl expert aboard the Lake James State Park patrol boat to catch some feathered flyers as they migrate north for the spring breeding season. You will have the opportunity to see many ducks, loons, grebes, and other migratory birds as they flock overhead, enjoying some time in the park before they continue on their way. You might even see some otters or an eagle. Bringing binoculars wouldn’t be a bad idea if you have your own.

Friday forecast: High of 70, low of 53. Chance of showers.

Vital stats: Friday, March 11, 1:50 p.m., Lake James State Park, Nebo. Free. Starts from the Paddy’s Creek Area East Picnic Shelter. Contact: lake.james@ncparks.gov or call 828.584.7728 to make a reservation (trip is limited to eight participants). More info here.

Looking ahead: Meltdown Games, Appalachian Ski Mountain, March 28-29. More info here.

The post Your Weekend: Team run, color run, look — up in the sky! appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

Looking for incentive to start moving? How about a distraction, in the form of a historic carrot? Saturday, exert your independence from a sedentary lifestyle by signing up for one of two Guided Walking Tours of Wilmington: through the Forest Hills neighborhood (Wilmington’s first car-oriented suburb) and the Streetcar Suburbs of Carolina Place and Carolina Heights, the city’s first two suburbs. Sponsored by the Historic Wilmington Foundation, the tour is one of a series telling the story of Wilmington’s architectural, social and cultural history by examining its architecture. The morning tours last about an hour and a half each.

Logistics: Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m. $5 for Historic Wilmington Foundation members, $10 for nonmembers. For meeting places and to register, call 910.762.2511.

Saturday forecast: High of 90, chance of thunderstorms.

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Planning ahead: Next Saturday is the 33rd Annual Tri-Span 10K and 5K in Wilmington. $30 if you register now, $35 if you dawdle. More info here.

Piedmont

Picture spending the day Saturday white water rafting, climbing, mountain biking, hiking, zip lining — all to the backdrop of live music. Then, without having to go anywhere, enjoy a cold one and fireworks.
Some July Fourth celebration, no?
That’s the plan this weekend at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte. The festivities start at 3:30 p.m. Friday — including live music and fireworks — and resume at 3 p.m. Saturday, again, concluding with a fireworks extravaganza.

Logistics: Friday, July 3, 3:30-10 p.m.; Saturday, July 4, 3-10 p.m. Call 704.391.3900 for pricing, or visit the center’s website.

Friday, Saturday forecast: Highs in the upper 80s, chance of thunderstorms.

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Planning ahead: Saturday, July 11: BioDiversity Hike at Mount Mitchell State Park. True, this isn’t in the Charlotte area, but it originates in Charlotte, at the Reedy Creek Nature Center & Preserve. $12, call 704.432.6460 for information.

Mountains

Planning to spend the Fourth of July weekend in the mountains and got a hankerin’ to run a 5K?
You’re in luck, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times: seven races are slated for Saturday, from the Brevard Rotary Club Firecracker 5K and 10K to the Weaverville Kiwanis Club of North Buncombe’s Firecracker 5K. Freedom to choose a course, baby! That’s what it’s about.

Logistics: For a rundown of July 4 5K options, check out the Asheville Citizen-Times, here.

Saturday mountain forecast: A typical summertime mountain forecast, according to Ray (of Ray’s Weather, for the uninitiated): highs in the low 80s with a chance of thunderstorms.

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Looking ahead: Perhaps you’ve found yourself sitting around lately saying, “Gee, it’s been a while since I’ve done a mud run.” Remedy that situation on Sept. 12 at the Mountaineer Mud Run in Boone. Details here.

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

The post This weekend: Be free (to choose from some great adventures) appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Today’s 90-Second Escape: Whitewater rafting

Our wistfulness for warm — nay, hot — weather, our wondering if it will every come, again has us digging into the archives for sweaty relief. We find it today in the form of a whitewater rafting trip from a couple years back at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte.

Watch and imagine it’s 90 degrees as our guide Natalie deftly maneuvers us through Class III rapids, the cool water slapping our parched skin. Forget for the moment you’re wearing a winter sweater that should have been retired for the season a month ago, and picture yourself in river shorts and sandals, laughing with glee on a classic summer adventure. For 90 seconds, at least, it’s summer.

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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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