The Maggie Valley Moonlight 8K and 5K—Natural Beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains and Terrific Organization
This is a true destination race, a terrific opportunity for a vacation in one of America’s most scenic regions. Run this race, enjoy the panoramic majesty of the Great Smoky Mountains, and hit the trails and the whitewater. This one is unique, and located in a stunningly beautiful location.

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By Skip Cleaver
Posted Monday, 16 July, 2007

What a location for a race—the Great Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina! You can enjoy the sunset over the mountain peaks—there are 18 mountains in Haywood County over 6,000 feet—then run the Maggie Valley Moonlight 8K or 5K in the twilight on Saturday, August 18. Runners from all over the country have been enjoying this unique event and awesome location for 29 years. They built it, and runners come. And for good reason--the organization and hospitality, the venue and the scenery, the Expo and the party are top notch. And in this region, they know about notches.

The race has an entirely new organization, with the establishment of the non-profit Maggie Valley Moonlight Race, Inc. And it is professionally managed by Motion Sports Management of St. Pete Beach, Florida, and Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Motion Sports Management is highly respected and famous for the incredible St. Pete Beach Classic 10K and 5K (January), and the popular Bay to Bay 12K in St. Petersburg (March).

When you go to Maggie Valley you must experience more running opportunities and more scenic tours than just the race itself. Please allow time to run a warm-up the day before and then ease through a relaxing run the day following, at the very least. Quiet trails invite morning runs in the beautiful mountains and valleys—you must experience the sunrise on these trails with morning mists shrouding the blue-green mountains, or a beautiful sunset over the highest peaks east of the Rockies. For example, just five east of town there is a three-mile path around Junaluska Lake, with other path and trail options--scenic spot with a serene mountain backdrop. The quiet and awesome beauty and power of these mountains, the scenery, easygoing lifestyle, and the abundant wildlife present an inviting and relaxing experience that will recharge and invigorate you to the core. Take an extra day or two and enjoy this gem of a region.

Things will get underway at noon on Friday, August 17 with the opening of the Health, Fitness and Outdoor Expo, which will run until 6:00 p.m., The race headquarters, Expo, and site of the start and finish of all races will be at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds right on US Route 19 at the edge of town—easy to get to with plenty of parking. Registration for latecomers and number/packet pickup will open again at noon on race day with a 7:00 p.m. start time for the 5K run and walk, and an 8:00 p.m. blast off for the 8K race. Kids races will kick off at 6:15, with the one-mile fun run at 6:30—nice warm-up. The Health, Fitness and Outdoor Expo will remain open from noon to 8:00 p.m. on race day.

Both the 8K and 5K are certified, and they will be using the ChampionChip computer timing system for accurate results. There are no processing fees for on-line registration. Register before August 4 and save some money.

The twenty-ninth annual Maggie Valley Moonlight Run has it all, with the 8K and 5K, as well as a 5K walk, one-mile fun run, and kids’ races—something for the entire family, an option for everyone. They have great sponsorship, terrific organization, community backing, a generous prize structure, tremendous give-away prizes for drawings, a health and fitness expo with health screenings, a wealth of information, and samples, and a variety of food and beverage offerings for an enjoyable and tasty post race party. The party is free to participants, and others may purchase an entry wristband for only $5.00; and what a deal for such a party.

The Maggie Valley Moonlight Run 8K is the 2007 RRCA Regional Championship this year, with additional prizes for RRCA Champions in the open, masters, and grand masters categories. And it is the USATF-North Carolina 8K Championship, with $2,800 designated for USATF-NC members. It is also a Running Journal Grand Prix, a Blue Ridge Cup Race Series event, and an Asheville Track Club Grand Prix. This is the premier running event in western North Carolina. This is an event for all runners (and walkers) regardless of pace or affiliation.

Post Race Party and Entertainment
There will be a terrific post race party and awards ceremony at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, with a variety of delicious food offerings, as well as beverages to quench a running and party thirst. There will be live music to entertain, both during the race and at the post race party. And you will have a good chance of winning some great raffle prizes, including valuable gift certificates from some of their very generous sponsors, along with weekend getaways. Enjoy the hospitality, and experience a well planned event from beginning to end.

Health and Fitness—and the Outdoors
Please allow some time to visit the Health, Fitness and Outdoor Expo and you will find it very worthwhile. This event—indeed the entire region--is dedicated to a healthy lifestyle and prevention, and the many screenings will be very helpful in that regard. Additionally, there will be a variety of health and fitness and outdoor and running gear vendors, and many products to sample.

Organization and Charities
This wonderful series of events is brought to the running community by the Maggie Valley Area Visitors Bureau, and Motion Sports Management, with help from the Haywood County Tourism and Development Authority. It is also brought to you by the entire community of Maggie Valley and Haywood County. Charities benefiting from the race will address the issue of childhood obesity and health care in the community generally, so that all residents may live a healthy lifestyle.

Lynn Collins is the Executive Director of the Maggie Valley Area Visitors Bureau; Sue Knapko is the Chair of Maggie Valley Moonlight Race, Inc.; and Wendy and Al Johnson, Motion Sports Management, are the Race Directors. They all do a terrific job.

For additional information on the race or the organization, go to raceinfo@maggievalley.com, www.maggievalleymoonlight race.org. Additional information regarding the area, including lodging and restaurants is available at www.maggievalley.org, or www.smokymountains.net. Call the visitors Center at (800) 624-4431 or the Visitors Bureau at (800) 334-9036. Race information is available at (828) 926-2402.

Maggie Valley
This is a spectacularly beautiful mountain getaway—a true destination race in fabulously scenic western North Carolina. Maggie Valley is a small town with only about 600 permanent residents, but has terrific facilities for a mountain vacation, and the natural setting and resources to make your stay unforgettable. It is a year-round resort town. Small town charm and hospitality will nicely complement the opportunities to hike in the Great Smokies, go whitewater rafting, visit shops, artisans, and crafts people, or take advantage of some of the best mountain biking in the country--Tsali is just west, and Bent Creek is east near Asheville; and there are many incredible spots to bike in the nearby Pisgah National Forest. Maggie Valley is 40 miles west of Asheville, North Carolina ("funkiest small city") via Interstate 40 and US Route 19.

It has stunning small town character, but yet many unique shops where artisans and crafts specialists display their wares, along with independent restaurants.

Although the town of Maggie Valley is at 3,047 feet elevation, it is indeed a valley with the Cataloochie Ridge (and Cataloochie Ski Area) just to the north, anchored by Little Bald Knob at 5,440 feet. The Eaglenest Ridge to the south rises even higher, with Waterrock Knob (6,400 feet) to the southwest and Mount Lynn Lowry (6,280 feet) just south.

Maggie Valley is only four miles east of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which has its terminus in the town of Cherokee 12 miles west. The border of the largest of the Eastern Cherokee Nation Reservations is just three miles west. The border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is only three miles north of Maggie Valley, which is further surrounded by the Pisgah National Forest both north and south, as well as the Nantahala National Forest to the southwest. Haywood County has the highest average elevation of any county in the east.

Waynesville, the County Seat, is only eight miles away and has terrific shopping, restaurants, and bed and breakfast opportunities.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
One of the most visited yet isolated of our national parks, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to elk, deer, Black Bears, and a host of other wildlife. It is only three miles from Maggie Valley. There are over 700 miles of mountain streams, with 850 miles of wonderful hiking and running trails (including many miles of the Appalachian Trail), and another 146 miles of gravel roads. It is 53 miles in length, and 18 miles wide, straddling the North Carolina and Tennessee border. Of its 520,000 acres (800 square miles), over 120,000 acres are true virgin forest. There are 120 different species of trees, and thousands of other species in one of the most ecologically rich areas in the USA. The highest point in the park is Clingmans Dome (6,643 feet), which is also the third highest point east of the Mississippi after Mount Mitchell (6,684) and Mount Craig (6,647 feet), both of which are just off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a spectacular 469-mile ridge-hugging parkway between the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Shenandoah National Park, Cherokee, North Carolina to Front Royal, Virginia. There are miles and miles of trails either directly along the parkway or very close to it. It ranges up to 6,047 feet at the highest point, and passes within a few miles of Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the east (6,684 feet). There is an auto road to the summit from the parkway (mile post 355).

Additionally there are many spectacular observation overlooks and points of interest along this wonderful byway. The parkway is only a few miles west and south of Maggie Valley. Take in some or all of it; it is worth the time with awe-inspiring views.

Run in the Moonlight, and Enjoy the Mountain Air
This is your opportunity for a vacation in a quiet mountain village. Yes, there is spectacular scenery, but the entire town and region have become among the best in catering to the needs of visitors. They provide everything necessary to enjoy the outdoors in a region ideal for a relaxing getaway. In addition to the race you will want to put in miles along the mountain trails and tumbling trout streams, and the many scenic locations found everywhere in the region. Whether your hobbies include mountain biking, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, museums, crafts, collecting, shopping or other—this is the destination for you. Plan your trip around this excellent race, and do plan to visit these beautiful mountains. It is a region worth exploring and experiencing.

Related info:
Event Website

Event Registration

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