New Year’s Ultra 24 Hour | 12 Hour | 6 Hour | Marathon | Half Marathon – December 31, 2012 – January 1, 2013 – Freedom Park, Morganton, NC

This is a meticulously planned and organized event that provides every option imaginable to get in some serious distance while closing out 2012 and dashing your way into 2013. There are 24, 12 and 6 hour ultra options as well as a Marathon and Half Marathon. Everything starts on New Year’s Eve (Monday, December 31, 2012), with the 24 hour race beginning at 8:00 AM and the Marathon/Half Marathon beginning at 10:00 AM. The 6 and 12 hour races begin at 8:00 PM.

All of the racing takes place in Freedom Park in Morganton, NC on a smooth asphalt path that is just shy of a mile in length. Last year the 24 hour ultra was ‘owned’ by Anne Riddle-Lundblad of Swanannoa, NC who ran 142+ laps around the course for a total of more than 140 miles. Word is, Anne is returning for the 2012/2013 race. Happy New Year!

This unique race attracted runners from beyond North Carolina last year, with participants coming from Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Washington DC, Maryland and New Jersey as well.  What’s even more impressive is that a Staff Sergeant in the US Army who could not make it back for the race, ran it simultaneously on a 3.5 mile track on a base in Afghanistan.  Here’s a terrific report from the 2011/2012 event.

I haven’t done this before but I’m thinking about doing the half marathon as a nice way to close off the year and provide some momentum moving into January.

Check out the race website for plenty of details and registration options.