Both races start and finish in Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville, NC at 10:00am. The address is 80 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801. The race start is on Spruce Street. The finish line is beside Pack Square Park and Packs Tavern.
Packet Pickup
We have two options for you to get your race number and goodies!
Pre-event Packet Pickup
Date/time: Dec 31st from 1:00 - 3:00pm
Location: Pack Square Pavilion (121 College Street, Asheville, NC 28801)
Day-of Packet Pickup
Date/Time: Jan 1st from 8:30 - 9:30AM
Location: Pack Square Pavilion (121 College Street, Asheville, NC 28801)
No packet pickup will be available after 9:30am.
VERY IMPORTANT: Have your race number pinned on the FRONT of your shirt/outer layer! We must be able to see your race number at all times. If your race number is underneath a jacket, your time may not register on our timing system.
If you had your race number and shirt shipped, you don’t need to check in at packet pickup. If you would like to get a goody bag, stop by the Merchandise tent after the race and grab one.
There is plenty of available parking at nearby parking garages. You can also find metered street parking and parking at several nearby parking decks.
Race Route & Course Info
It is up to you to know the course and follow the course markings and signs along the route. We will have colored route arrows on the sidewalks and roads, and spray paint, tall directional signs and yard signs with arrows. In addition, volunteers, security personnel and police officers will be on the course. Please stay on the sidewalks when they are available to you. If there is not a sidewalk please run facing traffic on the left side of the road. Do not run in the middle of the road.
The Course time limit is NOON.
Both the 5k and 10k courses are the same as 2022.
10k Participants:
If you are participating in the 10k race, you will split from the 5k course at the 1.7 mile mark (at the water station) and continue straight ahead onto Kimberly Ave. This course split from the 5k race is at the intersection of Evelyn Pl, Kimberly Ave, and Edwin Pl.
The 10K Course starts on Spruce Street by Pack’s Tavern and makes a right on College Street and then a left on Oak Street. From there you’ll run on various streets through downtown Asheville, including Central Avenue, Charlotte Street, Kimberly Avenue and Country Club Road. You’ll pass through the beautiful Grove Park neighborhood and then make your way back via North Market Street and then to Spruce Street for the GRAND FINISH! For turn by turn directions, click on the GPS Route.
You will split from the 10k runners at mile 1.7 (at the water station). Watch for signage and course markings.
5K and 10k courses start together on Spruce Street, make a right onto College Street and wind through Oak Street, Central Avenue, Charlotte Street and Evelyn Place. You’ll head back on North Market Street and finish back at Spruce Street for the GRAND FINISH! For turn by turn directions, click on the GPS Route.
Water Station - provided by Green Moose Fuel and Fleet Feet Asheville, with water and of course, Green Moose fuel! Located at Kimberly Avenue/Evelyn Place/Edwin Place intersection. 5k and 10k runners will pass this station at mile 1.7. 10k runners will utilize this water station 2x.
‘Confession Booth’ & Reveal Your Resolution Photo Contest!
Express how you plan to show up heading into the new year and you could win a FREE ENTRY for yourself and a friend for the 2024 New Year’s Resolution Run! For more information, CLICK HERE!
Also be on the lookout for the white backdrop. Grab a Sharpie marker and finish the sentence, “THIS YEAR, I WILL…” Share your dreams and goals for 2023!
Post Race Festivities
Your super cool, 2023 Resolution Run finisher medal will be waiting for you at the finish line!
Enjoy a delicious mini cupcake from Smallcakes!
Grab hot coffee and drinks from Bare Bones Brew Haus and brunch or lunch from Tahini Jar Food Truck. Please bring cash and help support these awesome local businesses!
Stop by and visit Yoga and Massage for a post-race massage.
Vitalee PT will be onsite performing injury screenings.
YogaSix will have yoga mats out for post-race stretching, weather-pending.
Stop by the Merchandise tent and shop for all your new favorites, including the new Run Local hoodies, long sleeve RUN AVL shirts and other Free to Run shirts, water bottles, magnets and decals, and much more!
Results
Results will be posted online HERE as soon as they are available throughout the race. If you notice a discrepancy in your race results while you are at the race, please go to the timing tent at the finish line before the awards ceremony. If you have questions about your results, reach out to support@idaph.net.
Awards Ceremony/Prize Pickup
We will have an award ceremony at approximately 11am after the race (on stage in Pack Square). You can also pick up your award after January 3 at Fleet Feet Asheville in Biltmore Park.
In-Person Event Awards
We have some awesome awards for this event, including custom campfire mugs and pint glasses! Fleet Feet Asheville will also provide Gift Certificates to the overall and masters winners.
5K AND 10K AWARD CATEGORIES: Overall (Top 3 in each gender) Masters (Top 1 in each gender) Age Groups (Overall winner (first place) in each gender) 12 and under 13-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 (top 3) 80+ (top 3)
Cash prizes for the 10k!
Cash prizes for the overall top three male and female winners of the 10k!
1st place - $100
2nd place - $75
3rd place - $50
Must be present at the awards ceremony to accept your cash prize!
Holiday Hustle Series
The Resolution Run is the final race of the Holiday Hustle Series! If you completed in all three races to complete the series, don’t forget to stay til the awards ceremony to get your Holiday Hustle bonus medal!
Post Race Photos
You can find post race photos here in the photo gallery.
Accommodations
If you or a friend or family member is in need of a place to stay while in town for the event, be sure to check out Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins!
BOOKING Phone: 828-585-7747
Reservation Link: CLICK HERE and use code NEWYEARSRACE when booking your stay.
This is a mass start race, not a rolling start. We cannot accommodate late starts for this event.
Here’s all your need to know event info:
Video podcast posted above. Want to listen to all the important race info? Listen to the iDaph events podcast on your favorite listening app HERE.
The start and finish line are both at the Riveter, at the same location. Both races start together at the same time promptly at 8:30am. The turnaround for the 10k (to go do the second loop) is between the parking lot and the Riveter main entrance. Please familiarize yourself with this spot before you start the race and pay attention to the volunteers.
The course cut off for both races is 10am.
To switch from the 10k to the 5k or vice versa please email support@idaph.net.
Due to the nature of this course being open to vehicular traffic and the off-pavement terrain - strollers are not recommended. We love our furry friends, but dogs are NOT allowed.
Be SOCIAL with us!
Follow the Ugly Sweater Run FACEBOOK pagefor all the race updates. On race day share your race day photos and videos with us for a re-share on our Instagram page! Tag us at @idaphevents and use hashtag #uglysweaterrun.
Packet Pick-up
1. Pre-event packet pick-up will be at Hunter Subaru, 220 Hunter Airport Drive, Fletcher, NC 28732 on Friday, December 2nd from 3 - 5PM. We highly suggest you pick up your packet early for a less hectic experience on race day.
2. Race Day packet pickup - 7am - 8am inside the Riveter.
Location: 701 Old Fanning Bridge Rd, Fletcher, NC 28732
Parking
The parking lot is next to the Riveter’s main entrance. To avoid congestion, we suggest coming off of Hwy 280, on Ferncliff Park Drive. You will come to a roundabout and go around the roundabout. Then you’ll see the sign for the Riveter on Old Fanning Bridge Road. Go past the main entrance and you’ll see the gravel/grass parking lot which is right next to the Riveter. Please drive SLOW when you when you leave the race, and watch for runners on the road. The parking lot exit is on the race route.
Once you park your vehicle, there is a footpath bridge between the parking lot and the Riveter you can use to get to the start line. Restrooms are inside the Riveter building. There are changing rooms also!
Race Route
PLEASE NOTE: A portion of the Ugly Sweater Run is on NC State University Research private property. We have gained special permission for use of this area for race day only. There is no pre-course training allowed on these parts of the course.
Runners on roads with vehicular traffic (Old Fanning Bridge Road) need to run facing TOWARDS traffic on the LEFT side of the road. Please run single file on the side of the road. Do not take up an entire lane with your running friends and buddies!
Run Course
The Ugly Sweater 5K & 10K are 3.1 & 6.2 miles of festive awesomeness. You’ll start at the Riveter and run along rural paved roads, scenic farm roads, and return to the Riveter for even more merriment. While we expect little traffic on the rural roads and course, it is open to vehicular traffic, this is not a closed course. The 10K will do the same loop from the Riveter twice, twice the miles, twice the beautiful scenery!
Green Moose Fuel is hosting this year’s water station on the course!
5k: mile 1.5
10k: mile 1.5 and 4.5
Fun post race activities at the Riveter!
Your festive, commemorative finisher ornament is waiting for you at the finish!
Bring some cash! Grab a delicious Pumpkin Freeze smoothie or panini from the Spotted Banana food truck, and a delicious hot beverage from Bare Bones Brew Haus.
We’ll have some awesome music with a DJ in the race hub!
The Riveter has a variety of activities for you and your family.
You can check out the climbing wall or the bike park and make a day out of it! Passes available for purchase on the Riveter website here.
The Riveter will have beer service at the Libation station and they will have local beers on tap.
The exclusive Ugly Sweater Run drink special is the yummy “Merry Mimosa” - Cranberry + champagne!
Costume Contest!
This year we’re taking the costume contest to the next level. We’re in search of jolly old St. Nick! Dust off your Santa suit, comb out that long white beard, put your reading glasses on, and practice your best “Ho, Ho, Ho!” The top three Best Dressed Santas will win an awesome prize from The Riveter!
Don’t have a Santa suit? Wear your UGLIEST sweater and you still have a chance to win! The BEST ugly sweater outfit for male, female, kid and group categories will also win prizes from The Riveter!
We will award Ugly Sweater Run contest winners at the awards ceremony!
All finishers receive a commemorative Ugly Sweater Finisher ornament!
IN-PERSON EVENT AWARDS (BOTH 5k & 10k):
Top 3 overall finishers (male/female) will receive a mug + a Fleet Feet gift certificate!
First place masters finishers (male/female) will receive a mug + a Fleet Feet gift certificate!
Top 3 in the following Age Group categories will receive mugs:
12 and under
13 - 19
20 - 29
30 - 39
40 - 49
50 - 59
60 - 69
70 + up
Award Ceremony
5k Awards will be handed out at approximately 9:45am and 10k awards will be handed out afterwards.
Not able to hang out and wait for your award? You can pick yours up the week after the event at Fleet Feet Asheville, beginning Tuesday at 3pm, or have it shipped for $10 by purchasing the option in the Race Store.
Run Local Accessories
After you check out the Riveter, you can also SHOP!! If you’re looking for a great way to celebrate all things running or gift idea for your runner friends and family members, be sure to check out our Merchandise area! We’ll have the new Run Local hoodies, the awesome new RUN AVL long sleeve shirts, Free to Run tank tops and shirts, water bottles, decals, magnets and so much more! Bring some cash or a credit card and start checking off your gift list! Race entries also make FANTASTIC gifts for your runner friends and family members. When you register for an event you can buy a registration as a gift for someone else, too, when you register! While supplies last. Purchase yours online HERE before race day to guarantee your size!
Holiday Hustle Series!
The Ugly Sweater Run is the 2nd event in the Holiday Hustle series! The deadline to join the series has been extended to December 1st! It’s not too late to join in!
Need a little extra motivation to keep running during the holiday season? Join us for our newest running series: the Holiday Hustle!
Participants can join us either in-person or virtually (or a combo of both) for these three races:
And will get an awesome ‘Holiday Hustle’ medal on New Year’s Day! To enter the Holiday Hustle series, just sign up for each of the three events listed above and you will be automatically added. The deadline to register for the three races in the series to get the medal has been extended to December 1st, 2022. There’s no better way to get through the holidays than crushing goals and winning extra bling!
Stay connected by joining the Holiday Hustle Facebook GroupHERE!
