I ran this marathon in July 2003. The last year the race had results on marathonguide.com was 2021. Perhaps the race did not survive COVID.
Considered one of America’s toughest marathons, the race starts in Kidd Brewer Stadium at Appalachian State University at 3240 feet in Boone, North Carolina. The race was first held in 1969.
Boone was named after Daniel Boone, who camped in the area, and his nephews stayed as the city was formed.
After an initial lap on the university track, the course heads to Route 221. After mile 7, the Blue Ridge Parkway is used for a section until returning to Route 221.
Route 221 crosses the eastern continental divide. While running past that sign, I swear I was running uphill.
After mile 24, we passed the entrance road to Grandfather Mountain State Park. Fortunately, we continued on Route 221 as the mountain peaks out at 5946 feet and is the highest point on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains,
Reaching Mac Rae Meadows at 4400 feet, the race finishes with a lap around the dirt track. Over the marathon distance, there is 2400 feet of elevation gain.
Since 1956, Mac Rae Meadows has been the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games site. The race finished on the Saturday of the games, So the entire infield of the track was lined with spectators as we finished,
As the crow flies, the meadows are 13 miles southwest of Boone.
The Highland Games are scheduled for July 10 to 13, 2025. So, if the race is resurrected, the race date would be July 12. Mountain weather in western North Carolina in July is great for running. In 2003, the temperature at race start was in the low 40s and stayed below 50 most of the morning.
In the past month, Hurricane Helene wreaked destruction in the area due to high winds and feet of rain. Boone and Asheville were cut off from the outside for a time.
Asheville is southwest of Boone on the western side of the divide. It sits at 2134 feet on the confluence of the Swannanona and French Broad Rivers. Though hilly, areas of Asheville were flooded when the French Broad overflowed its banks,