Black Bear Half Marathon & 8k
Presented by Hunter Subaru
EVENT GUIDE
Sunday, October 12, 2025
8:00am
8:00am
ACCOMMODATIONS
Still need accommodations for your trip? Please click HERE for a list of accommodation partners, including pet-friendly options, that are waiting to welcome you to Hendersonville!
PACKET PICKUP
Saturday, October 11th: 1:00pm - 5:00pm**
LOCATION: Oklawaha Brewing Company (147 1st Ave E, Hendersonville, NC 28792) VIEW MAP
We're excited to partner with Oklawaha Brewing and Blue Ridge Artisan Market to host the pre-event packet pickup during their Oktoberfest celebration! 🍂 Join us for a day packed with family-friendly fun, local and regional artisans, delicious food, games, live music, and of course, plenty of BEER, while picking up your race bib and swag!
**We HIGHLY suggest that you attend this session. You're welcome to send someone to pick your packet up for you, if you are unable to attend yourself.
Race Day PARKING
Jackson Park is located at the southeastern city limits of Hendersonville and is approximately 15 miles outside of Asheville, NC. An entrance gate is at the end of Fourth Avenue East. The Glover Street entrance is accessible by turning onto Glover Street from US 176 (Spartanburg Hwy).
GOOGLE MAP DIRECTIONS TO JACKSON PARK
There is ample parking for participants. Please note: There will be foot traffic on the paved roads in and out of the park. Please drive slowly and with caution when entering and leaving the park.
COURSE INFORMATION
The Black Bear Half Marathon & 8k courses are both USATF Sanctioned and Certified.
Sanction Number: #142774
Half Marathon Certification Number: NC22016DF
8K Certification Number: NC22015DF
We recommend utilizing RIDEwithGPS on your phone or downloading these maps to your wearable device for the best race day experience.
Curious why GPS devices often record different distances on USATF Certified Courses? Click HERE to learn why!
RACE INFO:
The Half Marathon Course
START TIME: 8:20am
COURSE CUTOFF: 12:00pm
The Black Bear Half is 13.1 miles of mostly flat and paved path that runs along the beautiful Oklahawa Greenway. With approximately 400 feet of elevation gain, the course starts and ends at the beautiful, Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC. The route runs by the Historic Train Depot, through the revitalized Historic 7th Avenue District, to the Oklawaha Greenway, and back to the park. The course is an out-and-back, lollipop course with two stocked, water stations that will be utilized multiple times during the race. Runners will complete a portion of the Greenway loop twice making it very spectator friendly and exciting!
The 8k Course
START TIME: 8:00am
COURSE CUTOFF: 12:00pm
The Black Bear 8k course coincides with the Half Marathon course and will take place on the same city streets, park pathways and Oklawaha Greenway route. Enjoy the fall scenery without having to run a half marathon!
PLEASE NOTE: Due to limited space on the Greenway and because the roads utilized will be open to traffic, strollers and dogs will not be permitted for the safety of all participants.
RACE RULES
- Timing Mats will be on the course to ensure runners have completed the entire course.
- All participants are expected to display courteous, professional behavior at all times.
- Runners must run facing traffic on roads that do not have sidewalks. If there are sidewalks available, runners should utilize the sidewalks.
- Please be courteous and considerate to other foot traffic along the route and in downtown Hendersonville.
- No dogs or strollers are permitted on the course.
- No rollerblades or bicycles are allowed.
water stations & Restrooms
All water station locations are included on the interactive course maps above. We offer water, Gatorade and JAMBARS. Each water station will have portajons or restrooms nearby.
Water Station #1 –7th Avenue/Greenway (Half Marathon: utilized 3x – mile 1.5, 6.5 and 12 and 8k – 2x on the course!
Water Station #2 – Balfour Rd/Greenway (Half Marathon: utilized 4x – mile 4, 4.3, 9, 9.3) – this station will not be utilized in the 8k.
Restrooms
We will be utilizing the restrooms within the park before and after the race. The restrooms are marked on both course maps.
POST RACE PARTY
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. Don't forget to visit the Bright Branch Farms booth for your free apple cider donut, and after you've enjoyed the Fall Market, head over to Oklawaha Brewing to redeem the beer ticket on your race bib for a free beer!
Returning this year: The Black Bear Fall Market!
Get ready to sprint into autumn at the Black Bear Fall Market, Sunday, October 12th from 8:30am to 11:30am at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC! We're excited to bring you a vibrant mix of local artisans, live DJs, 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!
Black Bear Fall Market Vendors
- Hunter Subaru
- Angy's Sourdough
- Appalachian Chainsaw Carving
- View live demonstrations at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30!
- Appalachian Chic's Food Truck
- Aw Shucks Gourmet Popcorn
- Bacchus's Garden and Glass
- Black Dog Flowers
- Pick up a beautiful bouquet to surprise your runner!
- Blue Mountain Maker
- Bright Branch Farms
- Show your race bib and get your FREE apple cider donut
- Darly's Power Bites
- Pick up a protein donuts, power shake, donut parfaits, cookie, or muffin - all protein packed and gluten free!
- DJ's Pickles LLC
- Ginger Sapp Jewelry
- Hendersonville Community Co-op
- Refuel with post-race snacks and drinks!
- Highland Tallow Co
- iDaph Events Race Store & Merch Tent
- Pre-order all your Black Bear and RUN WNC Merch HERE!
- Pre-order all your Black Bear and RUN WNC Merch HERE!
- JAMBAR
- Jitter Buggy Coffee & Silly Willie's Hot Dog Cart
- Littauer Strength Training
- Receive $5 off/month on group coaching programs using code BB5
- Receive 10% off the first month of any remote personal training package
- LMS Creations
- Powers Impressions
- RECOVER
- Run2Run LLC
- Run Slower
- Taylor Farms
- The Mancave
- Wanderlust Cowgirl Art
Awards
The Awards Ceremony will be held near the finish line.
8k Awards: 9:45 AM | Half-Marathon Awards: 11:00 AM
The Overall Male/Female winner of both the Half Marathon and the 8k receive one of these beautiful bears, carved by local chainsaw artist, Appalachian Chainsaw Carving!
- The Overall top 3 male/female, Overall top 1 Masters male/female, and first place age group winners will be awarded a GORGEOUS, locally made, custom Black Bear Half Marathon & 8k pottery mug!
- Fleet Feet Asheville will also provide Gift Certificates to the overall and masters winners.
- 2nd & 3rd Place Age Group winners will receive a locally made ceramic bear ornament!
Cash prizes will be awarded to the overall top three male and female winners of the 8k! You MUST be present at the awards ceremony to accept your cash prize!
More information on awards can be viewed HERE.
PHOTOS & Results
Photographers will be capturing runners along the course and at the finish line. While we strive to capture as many runner photos as possible, we can't guarantee that we'll get a photo of every runner. If you would like to have photos taken of yourself throughout the race, please ask a friend or family member to take some of you on the course. Photos will be posted HERE the week after the race and will be available to download free of charge.
Race results are posted in real time and can be viewed HERE
APPALACHIAN TRILOGY
The Black Bear Half Marathon is the fourth and final race in the Appalachian Trilogy series! Complete 3 of the 4 iDaph Half Marathons and you’ll conquer this series and earn a commemorative medal!
Appalachian Trilogy medals will be handed out at the Merchandise Tent after the race! We will be doing a group photo of the App Trilogy runners at the half marathon awards ceremony, so don't miss it!
For more information about the Appalachian Trilogy, click HERE
CHARITY PARTNERS
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.
Jackson Park Greenway Flooding Clean-up Project
The Jackson Park Greenway Flooding Clean-up fund directly benefits the project to improve the Jackson Park connector path to 7th Avenue that floods frequently during intense rain storms.
SPONSORS
These are real businesses whose generosity and support make this event possible. Please take a moment to thank them on race day and consider supporting their businesses.
