Fonta Flora 50K and Half Marathon
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Event
The Fonta Flora trail races take place at Fonta Flora Brewery's Whippoorwill Farm in Nebo, North Carolina, along the trails and banks of Lake James State Park. The event is scheduled for October 25-26, 2025 and includes a 50 kilometer, a half marathon, and relay options. Portions of proceeds support development of trails around Lake James and the Fonta Flora State Trail.
- Half Marathon - ~13.1 miles
- 50K - ~31.5 miles
- 50K 2-person and 3-person relay options
Course and logistics
Both courses run largely on singletrack trails along the lake with short sections of gravel and pavement. The half marathon has about 12.8 miles of singletrack and roughly 850 feet of elevation gain; the 50K has about 30 miles of singletrack and roughly 2,400 feet of elevation gain. Time limits are listed for each distance.
Aid stations are located along the courses (half: aid at ~7.2 miles; 50K: aids at ~7.1, ~13.8, ~21.7, and ~26.2 miles) and provide at minimum water, sports drink, and assorted packaged snacks and fruit. Relay legs for the 50K are roughly 13.5 and 18.5 miles for the 2-person option, and roughly 13.5, 12.5, and 6 miles for the 3-person option. Awards include handmade local-artist awards and gift certificates for top overall and masters finishers; all finishers receive a handmade pottery finisher medal. Packet pickup is available the evening before at the brewery and on race weekend at the start area. Race rules include staying on marked trails, no cutting switchbacks, no alcohol inside park boundaries, and no littering. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.