Old Fort Strong Endurance Festival

🏞️ Event Overview

The Old Fort Strong Endurance Festival is 3/6/12hr trail run and mountain bike ride on the trails that encompass Camp Grier and the Gateway Trail System, right in the backyard of Old Fort, NC. The weekend will have a festival atmosphere with multiple vendors, live music, and special guest speakers across the trail running and mountain bike world. Full schedule will be sent out soon.

💰 Purpose and Goals

• Awareness: The goal of this event is to raise awareness and funding for the Old Fort Strong Fund, which aims to put money directly into the hands of Old Fort residents and businesses as they rebuild.
• Donations: Over 50 homes in Old Fort were either damaged or completely destroyed, with a goal to raise a minimum of 2 million in donations.
• Current Situation: So far, over $1.6 million has already been distributed to families in Old Fort affected by the storm.
• Community Impact: These payments have provided mortgage relief, new cars, mold remediation, and down payments on new homes across over 100 families.

🚴 Race Details

The race is open to 450 spots (225 runners/225 riders). There will be separate loops, roughly 3.5 miles for runners and 8 miles for mountain bikers with a common start/finish area.

💪 Fundraising Requirements

• Participation Agreement: Runners and riders who sign up also agree to become a fundraiser and seek out donations from their networks.
• Fundraising Goal: Each participant's goal is to raise $100 minimum for the fund.
• Incentives: Prizes packages from our sponsors will be given to those who go above and beyond the minimum fundraising amount.
• Prizes: There will be a prize package given out for those raising $1,000+ and $5,000+.

📅 Weekend Schedule

December 5th, 2025

• 2:00pm: Check-in begins, spectator shuttles begin
• 2:00pm: Live music, vendors open
• 7:00pm: Check-in and vendors close

December 6th, 2025

• 7:00am: Vendors open
• 8:00am: Race check-in begins
• 9:00am: Spectator shuttles begin
• 9:30am: 3/6/12 hour run/ride begins
• 12:30pm: 3 hr ends
• 3:30pm: 6 hr ends
• 9:30pm: 12 hour ends

🎁 Swag, Awards, Raffle

All participants in all distances receive a high quality branded race t-shirt, race sticker, plus other items from our sponsors.

• Awards: First place M/F in all timed events receives a hand-crafted award and swag from our sponsor.
• Raffle Participation: All participants who register will automatically be added to the race raffle.
• Raffle Tickets: Extra tickets can be purchased during registration or afterwards for $25 each.
• Proceeds: All funds raised from the raffle go to the Old Fort Strong Fund.

📦 Packet Pickup

We encourage all participants to join us Friday, Dec 5th to pickup your packet early, socialize with fellow athletes, support our vendors, and enjoy live music under Beech Pavilion. Packet pickup will run from 2pm-7pm on Friday. Check-in on race morning is available as well and will start at 8:00am.

🚗 Extra Information

• Parking: Parking for the event will be held in the upper fields of Camp Grier. Carpooling is highly encouraged.
• Shuttles: Spectator shuttle/festival shuttles will run each day from a TBD location in Old Fort.

🧃 Aid Stations

There will be one aid station near the start finish line and tent village near Camp Grier Lake. Basic race food options will be available, and some heavier items during meal time hours will be prepared. Crews will be able to setup in the tent village area in the fields between the lake and pool adjacent to the start/finish area to support their runners.

📜 Race Rules

• Trail Etiquette: Stay on marked trails, DO NOT CUT SWITCHBACKS!
• Completion Requirement: Must cross the finish line after completing each lap.
• Behavior: Use proper trail etiquette when passing other participants. No littering.
• Official Requests: Obey any race official's request and inform them if you are dropping from the race.

🏕️ Lodging at Camp Grier

Camp Grier can offer lodging from private cabins, bunk beds, and primitive camping. You can register for lodging options during checkout on RunSignup or separately here.