Firecracker 5k Weaverville, North Carolina, July 4, 2009 – New Course

So there’s a new course for the Weaverville Firecracker 5k and there’s obviously some concern regarding how this will impact turnout for the race.  The race will start and finish at North Buncombe High School and the course is rolling, paved country roads.  That’s a big change from running through downtown Weaverville.  I suspect this was an inevitable change considering the growth of this race over the past several years.  But I think it will suppress turnout for several reasons:

• It’s a longer drive for folks coming from Asheville.  It’s exit number 17 off 19-23/Future I 26.
• Running a rural road is not the same as running through a nice little town like Weaverville.  On the old course, there are lots of people all over town out to cheer runners on.  I don’t think we’ll see quite as much of that on this new course.

But we need turn out for this.  The cause behind the race is a good one — to provide student scholarships.  And it’s still the closest July 4th race for Asheville residents.

The race starts at 8:30 AM on July 4, 2009.  Here are directions …

From North of Weaverville:
Take 19-23 South/Future I-26 East to Exit 17. Turn right at the top of exit ramp onto Old Mars Hill Highway. Go 0.5 miles and bear left onto Salem Hill Road, then go 0.2 miles and turn left into the high school parking lot.

From South of Weaverville:
Take 19-23 North/Future I-26 West to Exit 17. Turn left at stoplight onto Old Mars Hill Highway. Go 0.7 miles and bear left onto Salem Hill Road, then go 0.2 miles and turn left into the high school parking lot.

Here are some helpful links …

• Register at Active.com.  Here is a link directly to the race page –  Firecracker 5k
• Get the registration form from the North Buncombe Kiwanis website —The Form
• Visit the race section of the Kiwanis website —Website