What is included with your race entry:

SHIP MY SWAG

Ship your swag! Have your shirt, race bib and RAD drawstring bag shipped to you before the race for $15. Select this option during registration or click below to purchase it in the Race Store.
Deadline for this option is May 26th at midnight. 

DEADLINES

- Complimentary Dri-fit Tech shirt deadline is May 12th at midnight.

- Beginning May 13th, shirts will be available for purchase in limited quantities and sizes for $20.

- Ship your swag! Have your shirt, number and bag shipped to you before the race for $15. Deadline for this option is May 26th at midnight. 

APPALACHIAN TRILOGY

REGISTER FOR THE APPALACHIAN TRILOGY 

Run THREE iDaph Events Half Marathons in 2024 and get a gorgeous, bonus Appalachian Trilogy medal!

If you register for at least three out of four iDaph Events half marathons in 2024, you’ll get an awesome extra medal after the last one! The deadline to register for at least three of the races is July 7, 2024 at midnight (so we can order your medals!) Medals will be given out at the 2024 Black Bear Half Marathon event.

Here are the four eligible events to choose from. As long as you are registered for at least THREE of them by July 7th at midnight, you’ll get your extra medal!

The Appalachian Trilogy events can be participated in either virtually, in person or a combination of both!

Want to CONNECT with others that are completing the Appalachian Trilogy? Join the Facebook Group!

There are only 200 spots available in the series.

Accept the challenge and earn your bling!

The 3rd Annual RAD Half Marathon & 10K run through the best parts of the City of Asheville, North Carolina. Including downtown city streets, River Arts District, along the French Broad River, and through the park for this city-style, point-to-point race. These fast races are a dream come true for runners looking to get a personal best in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The majority of the miles are downhill from downtown and ‘flat’ running along the river on the greenway and through the city parks. Endurance runners will have an opportunity to ‘break in’ the brand new section of the newly completed greenway section of the French Broad River Greenway on Riverside Drive and Lyman Street. Runners are on mostly paved surfaces throughout the entire event with a few dirt sections within the French Broad River Park. 

The course cutoff time for both races is 10:30 AM.

PLEASE NOTE: Dogs will not be allowed on the race course. USATF sanctioned event policy does not allow animals to participate.

The RAD Half and 10k courses are both USATF sanctioned and courses are certified.

The 10k certfication number is NC22006DF

Half certification number is NC22004DF

USATF Sanction ID: #141911

Ever wonder why your GPS device or ridewithgps course distance measures differently than the USATF certification distance? Click HERE to see why!

2023 RAD Half & 10k Course Preview

Elevation 

We could be wrong… but we believe that this course has to be one of the fastest, flattest half marathon races to ever exist in the notoriously hilly downtown Asheville area. Both courses have a net elevation LOSS! Check out the course maps above for the elevation charts for each race. 

Water Stations

Gatorade, water, energy gels and JAMBARs will be provided on the course. Check the course map for exact water station locations.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE! You’ll have 5 water stations on the half marathon course. Take note of who brings the most energy and excitement and motivates you to keep pushing through! You’ll have the chance to vote for your favorite in the post-race survey that will be emailed to all participants. The winner receives $500 cash for their non-profit!

GET TO KNOW YOUR HALF MARATHON WATER STATIONS:

1. Water Station #1 - Craven Street Bridge – Mile 3.5
2. Water Station #2 - French Broad River Park – Mile 5.2
3. Water Station #3 - Carrier Park Pavilion/Short Michigan Ave – Mile 6.6 
4. Water Station #4 - Hominy Creek Rd Parking Lot – Mile 8
5. Water Station #5 - Carrier Park, near picnic shelter – Mile 10.2

We are thrilled to announce JAMBAR will be the official nutrition/energy bar partner of the races!

JAMBARS were created by the co-founder of the original PowerBar, Jennifer Maxwell. Jennifer worked for four and a half years to create the perfect bar. “Everything in a JAMBAR you could eat off a spoon!” JAMBAR is featured in this month’s Runner’s World magazine as one of the top bars of the year for their Mango flavor! JAMBARS are

• Certified organic & non-GMO
• Crafted in small batches in the company’s own facility
• Vegan
• Gluten-Free
• Made with real fruit and/or fair trade chocolate
• Sweetened with authentic sweeteners from nature
•  Offer 10 grams of protein per bar

JAMBAR also donates 50% of all after-tax profits to qualified nonprofits to support music, active living and community connections! You’ll find JAMBAR at the water stations and the finish line. Be sure to stop by and pick one up! With four delicious flavors to choose from, you’ll definitely “Get your jam on!”

Restrooms 

• Start: Pack Square Park

• Finish: Wedge at Foundation

• On the Course: River Arts District Public Restrooms, Carrier Park Portajon (near the Picnic Shelter and water stations), Hominy Creek River Park Portajon (in parking area), Carrier Park Restrooms (near the Vellondrome), and French Broad River Park Restrooms

Spectators

These races have been designed with your family and friends in mind. They are spectator friendly! We encourage spectators to wear fun costumes, bring quirky signs and lots of energy and enthusiasm.

There are so many great areas to spread out and safely watch the race. Here are several suggestions:

• Aston Park

• Asheville Riverfront Parks - multiple large parking lots and areas and street parking available, here are some of the locations on the new Greenway and on the course:

  • NC Wildlife Resources Commission (this is the start of the new Greenway)

  • Jean Webb Park

  • Wedge at Foundation, 12 Bones and Summit Coffee - great spot to get yummy treats while you cheer on your friends!

  • RiverLink Karen Cragnolian Park

  • Carrier Park

    • Near Carrier Park Shelter

    • Amboy Road/Mellowdrome parking area

    • French Broad River Park

We’re excited to have you and your friends and family members at the finish line, but we want to remind you that the Asheville Waste Paper property (the grass lot with the large graffiti building) is Private Property and there is No Trespassing allowed. This means you should stay within the designated areas and not cross any barriers or fences and pay attention to signage. Let’s all be respectful and enjoy the race! Thanks for your cooperation!

Race Guidelines

• All participants are expected to display courteous, professional behavior at all times.

• No rollerblades allowed.

• Due to the nature of the races, please do not start either race early. Starting earlier, throws off the police, volunteers and all the race timing for the entire event. Any runners that choose not to abide by this rule will be DQd from the event. 

• Runners must run facing traffic on roads that do not have sidewalks. If there are sidewalks available, runners need to utilize the sidewalks. 

• Please be courteous to other foot traffic along the route especially running on the Greenway and through the parks. 

Virtual Event

The virtual events are a great option to train for and compete in from wherever you like! You can run your race from anywhere in the world and submit your results to our official standings.

• Every virtual participant will receive their shirt and finisher medal in the mail FOR FREE until the May 12th deadline! Beginning May 13th, shirts will be available for purchase in limited quantities and sizes for $20.
• Virtual race swag will be mailed after the in-person event on June 9th, 2024.
  
  For instructions on how to transfer your registration into the virtual event, email support@idaph.net. Transfers during the week of the event will cost $10 (starting Monday, June 3rd)

Be sure to read the entire interactive Event Guide and listen to the Pre-Event Podcast to be prepared for race weekend! It will answer ALL of your questions for the weekend!

This is a point-to-point style race, starting at Pack Square Park and ending at Wedge at Foundation (Foundy St location). 

There is a complimentary bag drop at the start line. The bags will be brought from the race start to the finish line during the race and can be picked up by participants after the race.

Shuttles

After the race, take a free participant shuttle from the Wedge at Foundation back to Pack Square Park in Downtown Asheville, NC. There is also parking at the Wedge, so participants can always be picked up by a friend or family member after the race and be driven back downtown. You can also drop a car off at the Wedge beforehand and carpool to the start.

Parking

Parking garages and street parking are available near the start/finish area in Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. Participants can park in any of the available parking decks in downtown and will have a short walk to the start line. Click here for a list of all available parking locations in downtown AVL.

Closest parking garages to the start area at Pack Square Park, Downtown Asheville:

• Rankin 
• College Street

Directions

Race Start line: Pack Square Park in Downtown Asheville - 80 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801

Finish: The Wedge at Foundation on Foundy Street in the River Arts District

Don’t forget! You can choose to have your shirt and bib to you before the race for $15. This option is available up until May 26th at midnight either during registration or from the Race Store.

Pre-event Packet Pickup:

• Saturday, June 8th: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Asheville - Biltmore (115 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803)

We highly suggest you attend this pre-event packet pickup session to save yourself time and avoid the stress of lines on race morning.

There will be LIMITED/EMERGENCY bib pickup service available on race day for race bibs ONLY. Shirts and goody bags must be picked up after the race at the Merchandise Tent. We will not have these items available on race morning.

LIMITED/EMERGENCY Race-day Packet Pickup:

• Sunday, June 9th // 5:45 - 6:30 AM - Race bibs ONLY
• Pack Square Park (80 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801)

IN-PERSON EVENT AWARDS (Half Marathon & 10k)

Local Glass Artist Kathryn Adams will be making our custom awards for the Overall winners. (Details coming soon!)

Fleet Feet Asheville will provide Gift Certificates to the Overall and Masters winners.

Age Group winners will receive a custom RAD award!

There will be cash prizes for the overall top three male and female winners of the 10k!

We’ve upped the ante and increased the payouts! Challenge yourself and see if you can break the 10k course record!

Male course record: 34:10 | Female course record: 38:03

• 1st place - $150 + an additional $50 if you break the course record!!
• 2nd place - $100
• 3rd place - $75

Must be present at the awards ceremony to accept your cash prize!

AWARD CATEGORIES

• Top three finishers, Overall (male and female)
• Top overall 1st place finishers, Masters (male and female)
• Age group awards (top three overall male and female for each)
  • 19 and under
  • 20 - 24
  • 25 - 29
  • 30 - 34
  • 35 - 39
  • 40 - 44
  • 45 - 49
  • 50 - 54
  • 55 - 59
  • 60 - 64
  • 65 - 69
  • 70 - 74
  • 75 - 79
  • 80+ 

Age group awards are sponsored in part by Wayne Boynton.

We will have an on-site awards ceremony at the event near the finish line for both races. The 10k award ceremony will be at 8:45am and the half marathon ceremony will be at 9:30am.

Awards ceremonies are only for the top 3 overall. Age group awards can be picked up beside the merchandise tent after each of the overall award ceremonies concludes. 

Prizes and Awards can also be picked up the week after the event at Fleet Feet Asheville, Tuesday after 3pm, or shipped for $15 (if you don’t want to hang out at the finish line.)

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

This historic, riverside neighborhood is a mecca for artists, outdoor enthusiasts, and craft beverage lovers — there’s also plenty of vintage shopping, coffee shops, and creative eateries. Be sure to check out the Neighborhood Guide to the River Arts District, by Avl Today!

And don’t miss this awesome post from Avl Today detailing the history of RAD! They also created this awesome map of the area for you to use as you peruse.

FOUNDY STREET

Foundy Street is a collective of variously talented misfits who came together into a central location of abandoned property that had been home to Asheville’s underground gala. We cleaned up and turned the lights back on, and invited our friends to call the space home to their studios, passions and crafts. Today, Foundy Street is home to Asheville’s River Arts District central community, filled with an abundance of things to do.

Our Post Race Party will be at the Wedge at the Foundation! 

See More of what Foundy Street has to offer

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Outstanding scenery and recreational opportunities make the Blue Ridge Parkway one of the most popular sections of the National Park System. Named “America’s Favorite Drive,” the 469-mile scenic road, offers stunning vistas, hiking and cycling opportunities. Split-rail fences, old farmsteads, mountain meadows and scenic overlooks with endless vistas make the Blue Ridge Parkway a popular attraction. The Parkway incorporates numerous campgrounds, picnic areas and trails.

Looking Glass Rock, less than an hour from Asheville, is probably the best-known rock climbing area in the state. It offers friction and face climbing of a 500-foot rocky face mountain. No permit required.

There are a few places in the world that still stand apart from the ordinary. Rising more than a mile high, Mount Mitchell State Park is one of these extraordinary places. In the crest of the Black Mountains lies the summit of Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi.

BILTMORE ESTATE

There is plenty to explore at Biltmore Estate! Take a tour of the House, stroll through the gardens, explore the trails, hang out in Antler Hill Village, or even check out the winery for a wine tasting.

SHOPPING

Historic Biltmore Village today is truly one of the South’s most unique touring and shopping environments. Because of its history, its range of unique independent, locally-owned retailers, and its fine restaurants, Historic Biltmore Village has an international reputation.

Asheville’s Grove Arcade offers boutique shopping, unique dining and regional crafts in a downtown architectural wonder. The building is open daily and features an outdoor portico market. A downloadable building tour is available on the website. Each of these offers a uniquely Asheville experience.

THE ARTS

There are several art districts in Asheville, and each provides visitors with richly diverse experiences. In the Downtown Asheville Art District, for example, more than 20 galleries within easy walking distance of one another feature a wide variety of fine art and studio crafts created by local, regional, national and international artists. The River Arts District, filled with dozens of working art studios, is one of Asheville’s unique arts neighborhoods. Asheville’s performing arts alliance also thrives.

DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE

The Asheville Urban Trail has often been called Asheville’s “museum without walls.” Started by a small group of citizens interested in helping revitalize downtown, the Urban Trail consists of thirty stations of bronze sculpture around downtown. Each station has a plaque illuminating some of the very interesting history of downtown’s development and the various notable people who once lived here. Mostly local artists helped to create the whimsical bronze sculptures and other art works that are found at each station. The tour is a 1.7 mile walk that begins and ends at Pack Place and takes about two hours to complete in its entirety. 

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. Email support@idaph.net to request the transfer. There will be no refunds for the price difference between events. Transfers during the week of the event will cost $10 (starting Monday, June 3rd)

Transfers between participants are prohibited. Participants who run with another runner’s bib will be automatically DQd 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 cancelled due to a change in the status of the pandemic, weather, an act of god, or other unforeseen circumstance.

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.

CANCELLATION: In the event of an unforeseen circumstance, such as an emergency, an act of god, not receiving approval of final event permits, or change in pandemic status resulting in the inability to have the 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 for free.