BLACK BEAR HALF MARATHON & 8K

Presented by Hunter Subaru

An iconic fall race in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains

October 12, 2025

The Black Bear Half Marathon & 8k presented by Hunter Subaru is an exhilarating fall event that beckons both seasoned athletes and recreational runners alike. Nestled within the charm and beauty of Hendersonville, North Carolina, this race offers participants a unique opportunity to challenge their limits while immersing themselves in the splendor of the autumn season. Whether conquering the half marathon's 13.1-mile stretch or embracing the spirited atmosphere of the 8k, participants love supportive community vibe, scenic course, and post-race festivities.

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why you'll love this race:

Commemorative finisher medal for the Half Marathon & 8k participants
Hunter Subaru goody bag
Half Marathon Participants: Long sleeve, RECOVER Brand event shirt - FREE until Sunday, September 14th
8K Participants: Short sleeve, Bella Canvas shirt - FREE until Sunday, September 14th
Professional chip-timing on a USATF-certified course
Very well-marked course on a beautiful greenway!
Prizes for overall and age group winners
An unforgettable pre-event packet pickup Fall experience with Oktoberfest at Oklawaha Brewing!
Enjoy the Fall Market with live music, local artisans and apple cider donuts on race day!
Present your race bib for a free beer at Oklawaha Brewing (just a few blocks from the finish line)

What our runners are saying...

"The route was well marked, people were super nice even after the race. The medals and shirts were incredible, loved them!"

"The course water stops had water, sports drinks, and a nice array of gels. Definitely a recommendable race, very enjoyable."

"We do intend to go back and do this one as often as we can. Highly recommended for the pleasant people, the area and the SWAG!"

"iDaph knows how to put on a race. Customer service and communication is excellent. Can’t recommend iDaph races enough!"

"Thank you for this incredible event! It was super memorable for my family and friends."

"Love your events! Big enough to be fun and feel like part of the excitement but not too big to have to stress pre race!"

The Course

The Black Bear Half Marathon and 8K presented by Hunter Subaru takes participants on a scenic journey through the heart of Hendersonville, NC. They will experience a mix of scenic vistas, forested trails, and rolling hills, making it a truly immersive and rewarding running experience. Both courses start and end in Jackson Park and follow paved roads and forested greenways. There will be 2 water stations providing Gatorade, water, energy gels and Jambars. With less than 400 feet of elevation gain, each course is relatively flat.

Half Marathon | 13.1 Miles

Start Time
8:20AM

Course Cutoff
12:30PM

VIEW GPS ROUTE

8K | 5 Miles

Start Time
8:00AM

Course Cutoff
12:30PM

VIEW GPS ROUTE

Both courses are USATF sanctioned and certified
Sanction Number: #142774
Half Marathon USATF Certification Number – NC22016DF
8k USATF Certification Number – NC22015DF

Post Race Festivities

After you finish, you'll love our post race festivities. This includes live music, recovery services, and vendors offering the best local food and merchandise.

Returning this year: The Black Bear Fall Market!

Get ready to sprint into autumn at the Black Bear Fall Market, Sunday, October 12th from 8:30 am to NOON at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC! This year, we're excited to bring you a vibrant mix of local artisans, live music, mouth-watering food, and tasty fall treats. Whether you're racing to the finish line or cheering from the sidelines, this market is a must-see! Bring some cash, soak up the lively atmosphere, and make your race day even more unforgettable.

The event is open to everyone and will be jam-packed with vendors, food, entertainment, games, and a host of other exciting activities. Admission is free, so there’s no reason to miss out!

If you’re interested in being a vendor at this event, please submit your application. We can’t wait to see what you have in store for the community at the Black Bear Fall Market!

Our Presenting Partner

This event would not be possible without the generous support of Hunter Subaru. Since 1940, the Hunter Automotive Group has been a locally owned and operated business in Western North Carolina. It is their mission to improve the quality of life for their employees, customers, and the surrounding community. We are grateful for their participation and admire the uplifting attitude they bring to our event.

Our Community Partner

All signature iDaph events partner with local organizations to help advance their mission. Supporting these causes strengthens our community bonds by addressing the unique challenges and needs within our area. It ensures that resources are allocated where they can have the most direct and tangible impact, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment among residents.

The Friends of the Oklawaha Greenway continues to keep the Oklawaha Greenway beautiful, clean and maintained. Funds donated will benefit the upkeep and projects of the Greenway.

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

Spend the Weekend

An Authentic Mountain Destination

If you're not from here, you're going to love visiting here. Experience the thrill of running or cycling amidst the breathtaking beauty of Western North Carolina, where the rugged mountains and pristine landscapes set the stage for an unforgettable adventure. We invite you to make our event your ultimate destination race. Our Visitor’s Guide features lodging options, airport info, and the inside scoop on what to see and do while you’re here.

View our Visitor's Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

All event details can be found on our registration page. Simply click "register" on this page and you will be taken to Race Roster, our registration partner.

Once you register, we will remind you about important details prior to the race. We send an email and text message the week before the event. It will contain a link to our interactive event guide that has everything you need to know in one place.

If you have a question and can't find the answer, we are here to help! Send us a message or email us at support@idaph.net.

Did you register to participate in person but can’t make it on race day? You don’t have to miss out! You can transfer your registration to the virtual event at any point before the start of the race. In the virtual event, you’ll run anywhere you like, post your results, and have your swag mailed to you after the event.

TRANSFERS: All participants can transfer into the virtual version of their event up until the start of the event. Send a message to support@idaph.net to request the transfer. There will be no refunds for the price difference between events. Transfers that occur within seven days of the event will cost $10.

Transfers between participants are prohibited. Participants who run with another runner's bib will be automatically disqualified and bandits will be banned from future iDaph events.

REFUNDS: We have a small, but mighty team that is working on all the details to produce this event safely for you and everyone in our community in attendance. We are incurring the expenses for production well before the day of the event, and we will not be able to provide a refund to you should you want to cancel your registration, or if the event itself has to be canceled due to a change in the status of the pandemic, weather, an act of god, or other unforeseen circumstance.

CANCELLATION: In the event of an unforeseen circumstance, such as an emergency, an act of god, not receiving approval of final event permits or a change in public health guidelines that results in the inability to have an in-person event, we reserve the right to cancel the event and automatically convert all in-person registrations to the virtual option. Should this occur, your swag will be mailed to you free of charge.

DEFERRALS: We do not allow deferrals from race to race. If you're unable to make it on race day, you may switch to the virtual option.