King of the Mountain

🏔️ Race Start Location

• Start Point: Race start is at North Trailhead

🏃‍♂️ Race Course Overview

• Initial Phase: Beginning with a short service road start, runners will quickly sort themselves before entering the single track of Blue Trail.
• Challenging Climb: After some rolling uphill, you will take a hard left up one of Oak Mountain's gnarliest climbs, and my favorite training hill, Outback Highway!
• Rugged Terrain: Once summitted, good news, the most grueling stretch is behind you. But you still have 2.5 miles of rugged Alabama terrain.
• Course Features: After the next, shorter, and gentler hill, you will crest over onto one of my favorite top-outs with boulders towards a slippery pine straw downhill.

💧 Midway & Water Station

• Halfway Point: Next is a walk-worthy climb to your halfway point, your water station, and the crown of this race: King's Chair!
• Final Climb: After a quarter mile of mostly runnable trail, you will come to your second toughest, but final climb to Eagles Nest.
• Technical Descent: From there, it’s about a half mile of technical downhill till you get back to Red Road for a fast finish.
• Final Reminder: But make sure you watch your ankles here!

🔥 Race Challenge

• Test Your Grit: So, come test your grit with the Southeast’s toughest 5k.
• Elevation Gain: ~1,100 feet of climbing, and descending over only 3.1 miles, on Oak Mountain's rugged terrain.

🔗 Additional Resources

• Race Website: Website
• Trail Map: AllTrails
• Strava Route: Strava