Ice Breaker 8K Run/Walk

Race Day Details

Saturday, January 30, 2027 at Lakeside Park, 1500 Piedmont Hwy, Piedmont, SC 29673. Get directions.

Course or Race Highlight

The Ice Breaker earns its name honestly. It is early in the season, it is cold at the start line, and for a lot of runners it is the first trail race they have ever done. The course was chosen with exactly that in mind — the Every Minute Trail and the All Day, Baby Trail are runnable, forgiving, and free of the technical sections that turn a first trail race into a bad memory.

You start with a short lap around the baseball diamond sidewalk before dropping into the trailhead, which gives the field room to spread out before the singletrack pinches things down. Afterward there is music, post-race refreshments, hot cocoa, and a chance to connect with fellow runners. Every finisher receives a medal, and your entry supports local nonprofits through the Giving Series.

The Course

Single-track trails that are beginner friendly with minimal roots and just a few gradual inclines. The route runs the Every Minute Trail and the All Day, Baby Trail, with several undulations, switchbacks, and a central hub you will pass twice. It opens with a short lap around the baseball diamond sidewalk before entering the trailhead.

Parking

Park at Lakeside Park by the bathrooms just beyond the baseball fields — look for the Green Arch. Parking itself is free, but the county requires a $5 special use permit, which you pay during registration.

Aid Stations

There are no aid stations on the course. Refreshments and hot cocoa are waiting at the finish.

Available snacks

Hydration

What's Included

What You Get

Race Awards

Top 3 Overall (Male & Female)

The fastest three finishers will each receive a trophy to honor their achievement at the front of the pack.

Age Group Awards (Male & Female)

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each of 15 age categories will earn an age group medal — a custom piece to add to your finisher's lanyard at the end of the event.

Series Recognition

This race counts toward season-long age group recognition in this series:

Giving Back

Every Upstate Race Series event is part of the Upstate Giving Series, which connects our 30 races with 30 nonprofit organizations serving communities across the Upstate. Your registration and any donation you add at checkout go to work close to home — you are not just running a race, you are funding the work of a neighbor. Upstate Giving Series.

Groups & Teams

The Upstate Running Club welcomes all local and regional running clubs to our events — the more the merrier. Calling all running clubs and social run groups: Upstate Race Series welcomes crews of all kinds to join the fun. Whether your squad is full of weekend warriors, sunrise chasers, or runners motivated by the promise of a cold drink at the finish, we've got an event for you.

Sign up, share with friends and local running clubs, and cash in on race discounts and refunds when your team, run club, or band of misfits hits 5 runners or more.

Good to Know

Managing Your Registration

Everything about your entry lives in your RunSignUp profile. Sign in, find this race under your upcoming events, and make the change yourself — there is no need to email us first. From there you can: