Welcome

About Us

Message Boards

R2B Marathon

Table Rock Ultras

New Year's Ultra

Area Races

Comments and Contact

Welcome to the website for the Brown Mountain Running Club (BMRC.) We are a diverse collection of runners of varying levels of skill, experience, and devotion. Some run to win, some to finish, and some of us are still trying to figure out why we're running in the first place.

Our club currently hosts three major race events: The Ridge To Bridge Marathon (six years) and the Freedom Park New Year's Eve Ultra (entering its fifth year.) In 2011, we've added a pair of races that we think you'll enjoy -- a 50K and 50-miler that run along and around the rim of the Linville Gorge.

Browse through this website and see what we're all about and if you feel like joining, check out the information on

membership on the "About

Us" page.

BMRC Blog-------------------------------October 27, 2011Remember, early registration for the Table Rock Ultras ends October 31st! There's still plenty of room left. As of this morning, we have 37 entrants in the 50-K and 47 in the 50-miler.-------------------------------October 26, 2011Registration for the Freedom Park New Year's Ultra has opened!-------------------------------October 24, 2011Whew! Another Ridge-to-Bridge is in the books. This year saw a new women's course record (Tracy brooks) and a pretty good battle in the men's race with Josh Baker retaining his crown with a 38 second win over William Gelling. 98 out of 309 finishers qualified for Boston - an immpresive 31.7%, under the 2012 standards!But for us the fun is just beginning. We now turn more attention to our next event(s:) The Table Rock Ultras! Oh, and look for registration to open for the Freedom Park New Year's Eve Ultra to open later today!-------------------------------September 20, 2011With about one month to go, preparations for the 2011 Ridge-to-Bridge marathon are well under way. Finisher's medallions and awards are being designed, aid station provisions are on order, the new logo is ready. It's safe to say that stress levels are elevated. For the participants, that's a good thing. it means that the organizers are doing everything possible to make this event special.-------------------------------July 17, 2011Interested in a preview run of the Ridge-to-Bridge course? Head over to the message boards and check out the post about this year's Wild Hare event being planned by some of the participants.-------------------------------June 21, 2011Happy Solstice! Anyone who read the previous post about the 50 miler and 50-K, please note that we had a name change and therefore a domain name change. The new site is here: Table Rock Ultras.-------------------------------June 15, 2011The wait list for this year's marathon is now closed, and wait list entries postmarked after this date cannot be accepted.Entries from past R2BM runners and BMRC members will still be accepted for automatic entry until June 30, so please get your entry in now!------------------------------June 6, 2011Past R2BM runners and BMRC members can still get guaranteed entry in this year's Ridge to Bridge Marathon. For details, click here--------------------------June 1, 2011 (7:30pm)Registration for the 2011 Ridge to Bridge Marathon is now closed. No, we can't believe it either. For more information, including wait list instructions, click here. June 1, 2011 (12:00 noon)Registration for the 2011 Ridge to Bridge Marathon is now open!------------------------------June 1, 2011Registration begins today at noon for the 6th annual Ridge to Bridge Marathon. It's hard to believe it'll be six years already...This year's race will probably fill up pretty quickly, but if your boss pulls you into an unexpected meeting today at 11:30am or you have to go meet with one of your kids' teachers who urgently needs to speak with you -- in person -- you aren't likely to miss out.Our advice: start looking for some hills (or bleachers) to start running, up AND down.--------------------------May 25, 2011No, you're not seeing things: this is a brand, new web site. We hope that it is visually more appealing and easier to use. We also hope to do a better job of keeping it up to date.Here are a few items to which we'd like to call your attention:A new 50 mile/50K is planned for December 2011. Details can be found at the Table Rock Ultras web site. This new event is hosted by the BMRC.Registration opens for the 2011 Ridge to Bridge Marathon on June 1st at 12:00pm.A new half marathon debuts on the upper half of the R2BM course this July. With over 2,000 feet of descent in just 13.1 miles, this one is aptly named The Scream! Registration opened April 1st and only a handful of slots remain.A virtual tidal wave of BMRC ladies have qualified for the Boston Marathon in recent months, including a couple first-time BQers:Kim Hollifield (1st)Heather Hollifield-HoyleRhonda LeeEmma Phillips (1st)Donna ThackwrayUnder the BAA's new qualification & registration rules, getting a qualifying time was probably the easy part. We hope they all make the registration cut and the BMRC is stylishly represented in 2012. We're proud of you, ladies!More on these and other topics soon. Really.

Triple D's
Rhonda and Amy
Lance
Group Shot
Emma
Ray
Art

About Us

Since its inception in 2006, the BMRC has seen some big changes. Sure there are quite a few of us by now (60+ spread over four states), and many of us still get together for informal runs, road trips, and lots of post-run meals. By and large, though, our membership is made up of busy folks who can't always commit to a set running schedule, meetings, or other things.

In the meantime, several members have gotten together and focused our energies on organizing running events in our area for all comers, with the proceeds benefitting local programs. It has worked out pretty well. Members benefit from discounted entry fees to these events, and the community benefits from the runners who bring themselves, their families, and friends here to Burke County to participate in BMRC events.

Being a member of the BMRC helps us to help promote running and running events here in the Southern Foothills of North Carolina. Being a part of it all is priceless. And yes, you do get a t-shirt. Check out the pictures of some BMRC runners in action in the photo album below. Just click and drag to turn the pages.

Donna and Amy
Art Dunn
Dr. Bill Johncock
Heather and Chris
David and Rhonda Lee
Lance Foss
Emma Phillips

MEMBERSHIPS

Youth (under 18) $10

Individual $25

Senior ($60+) $20

Family $55

* Youth memberships must be renewed at age 18 unless the member is actively enrolled in school.

Message Boards

Our message boards are hosted on the Lee Timing website. Registration is required to post. Though we've never had a problem, and we know it goes without saying, but we ask that you refrain from profanity and treat other posters with respect. We have the power to ban users and remove posts that are deemed inappropriate.

We think we have a great group of posters and a wonderful message board community and we'd like to keep it that way.

Click here to visit the Brown Mountain Running Club message boards (new window.)

R2B Marathon

Ridge to Bridge Marathon

The 2011 edition of the Ridge to Bridge Marathon officially kicks off as these words are put to page. There is a lot of work to do to get this up to full prep mode, but we'll get there. As in years past, our goal is to make this year's R2BM the best one yet.We unveiled a new course in 2009 (USATF certified) which starts at the old familiar post office in Jonas Ridge, NC (population 1,293 on any day other than the marathon) and finishes at Brown Mountain Beach in Caldwell County. Along the way you'll glimpse a rather unremarkable section of the Blue Ridge Parkway (we won't be running on it, though) before heading back past Christmas tree farms, lazy dogs, and small country churches. If you're lucky, you'll see the guy who walked his dog while relaxing at the wheel of his riding lawnmower last year. Really.Just beyond the aid station at mile 5.7, in front of the old white church, you'll descend into the Pisgah National Forest. Take a deep breath. Take the headphones off for a minute or two. If it's a sunny day, look to your right across the expanse of richly colored hills; yellows, oranges, reds, greens. And if you're running alone, all you'll hear is the sound of the gravel beneath your feet, or the trickle of falling water along the hillside to your left.If your goal is to run fast, enjoy the descent. Nine miles downhill, with a few flats and a few gentle rises to mix things up. Don't overdo it. Your speed can really get away from you on this stretch through the forest, and if you're not mindful there will be a steep price to be paid later, even though the remainder of the course is still essentially flat or descending. You're going to be really sore on Sunday no matter what you do, so you might as well make the best of it for now.If your goal is more, uh, pedestrian, take a moment to wish the more ambitious runners well and then get back to enjoying what you came here for. There is a lot of beauty to take in along the way. If we're lucky Wilson Creek will be swollen from rains passing through before the marathon, as it was last year. And when you finish you can experience its cool water more directly: you won't be the only one taking off your shoes and wading in after the finish. We'll be there to welcome you.David and Rhonda LeeCo-Directors, Ridge to Bridge Marathon
No Frame

The 2011 Ridge to Bridge Marathon is in the books!

Not only did we fill up in record time, we had a record turnout with 309 finishers!

31.7% qualified for Boston (2012 standards) and fifteen broke three hours. A new course record was set for the women's division (Tracy Brooks - 2:53:13) and it all took place under gorgeous weather.

A big shout of appreciation goes out to all of our volunteers, without whom this race could not happen.

And we can't thank the participants enough for joining us in the mountains of North Carolina for a little downhill fun and we invite each of you back next year at (roughly) the same time!

Please mark your calendar for June 1, 2012, when registration for the 7th annual R2BM will open again at noon eastern time. We'll be looking for you.

Click here for R2BM FAQs

2006_rtb_overall.pdf

2007_rtb_overall.pdf

2008_rtb_overall.pdf

2009_rtb_marathon_overall.pdf

R2BM2010_OA.pdf

2011_r2b_marathon_overall.pdf

r2b_marathon_course_records.pdf

Course

Records

Results

Table Rock Ultras

In its inaugural year, the 2011, takes runners along the rim of the Linville Gorge, one of the most scenic spots in western North Carolina. Both races start and finish at the new Paddy Creek section of Lake James State Park and run up Old Highway 105 to Wiseman's View (view pictured below.) The 50-K turns around at Wiseman's View while the 50-miler (technically 54 miles) continues up Old 105 and around the Gorge, highlighted by a trip to the top of Table Rock Mountain with views like the one pictured to the right--weather permitting.Make no mistake, these are challenging courses with a lot of steep climb, but our aim is to make them as first-timer friendly as possible. The only true technical section of either course is the trail up Table Rock Mountain--about two miles, round-trip.Full details are available when you visit www.tablerockultras.com by clicking the logo in the bottom right of this page.

Table Rock Ultras

December 10, 2011

7:00 a.m. Start

12-hour time limit

Click the above logo to visit the

website for Table Rock Ultras.

New Year's Ultra

Freedom Park New Year's Ultra

Registration is now open...Favorable weather, lots of helpful volunteers, and satisfied runners combined to make the 2010-2011 Freedom Park New Year's Ultra Run a pretty good event. After two years of less-than-optimal weather conditions, mild temperatures and negligible participation were welcome, indeed.The highlight of last year's event was Jerry Johncock (82) of Shelbyville, MI, who established a new American record for males aged 80-84 in the 50K - 5:54:59.Will the weather hold this year? Late December in the southern foothills of North Carolina can bring just about anything. We'll have the big tent and a powerful heater, just in case.For more details and registration information, click HERE for the race web page. We look forward to seeing you for the holidays!

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24/12/6 Hour Ultra Runs

Sticky Note

2008_fpnyu.pdf

2009_fpnyu_overall.pdf

FPNYU10-11FINAL.pdf

Click to Register

FOR ALL PHOTOS, CLICK HERE

Results

Area Races

Below are some area races, most of which are not BMRC-sponsored but are often attended by BMRC members. Except as noted, all races are in North Carolina. Since dates change each year, they are categorized by month. Click on a race to visit it's website. All are in within an hour or three drive from Burke County.

For more comprehensive calendars of races throughout western North Carolina and beyond, follow the links below:

JANUARYSalem Lake Frosty Fifty -- 50K -- Winston-SalemFEBRUARYChase For Cupid's Arrow 5K -- Rutherford CollegeBlack Mountain Marathon / Mount Mitchell Challenge -- Marathon / 40 Miler -- Black MountainMARCHAlston & Bird Corporate Cup -- 5K / Half Marathon -- CharlotteLeprechaun Leap -- LenoirLeprechaun Leap -- 5K / 10K -- HickoryAPRILCharlotte RaceFest -- 10K / Half Marathon -- Charlotte (web site)DuPont Half Marathon -- In DuPont State Forest, near BravardValdese Sprint Triathlon -- ValdeseMAYMay Day Biathlon -- 5K or 5K & 30K Bike -- Morganton (web site)Hearts for Heroes 5K -- ValdeseLake James Triathlon -- Lake James State ParkJUNEHickory Charity Chase -- Half Marathon -- HickoryThe Cub -- 7 Miler -- Valle CrucisThe Boogie -- Marathon / 50 Miler -- EllerbeeJULYThe Bear -- 5 Miler -- LinvilleGrandfather Mountain Marathon -- BooneThe Scream Half-Marathon -- Jonas Ridge/MortimerStreetlight 5K -- MorgantonAUGUSTGreat Waldensian Footrace -- 5K / 10K -- ValdeseHickory Knights 5K -- HickorySEPTEMBERThe Sunrise Run -- 5K / 10K -- Morganton (web site)Salem Lake -- 10K / 30K -- Winston-SalemOCTOBERHoward's Knob -- 5K -- BooneHOP Races -- 5K/ 10K -- Morganton (web site)Ridge-To-Bridge Marathon -- Marathon -- Jonas RidgePoint Lookout Lightning 5K -- Old Fort, NC (web site)NOVEMBERFlapjack -- 5K -- MorgantonThunder Road Marathon -- 5K / Half Marathon / Marathon -- Charlotte (web site)DECEMBERTable Rock Ultras -- 50 (54) Miler & 50K -- Lake James State Park (web site)Freedom Park New Year's Eve Ultra -- 6 / 12 / 24 Hour Event -- Morganton

Comments and Contact

We'd love to hear from you. If you have any questions about our organization or any of the races we host, please complete the contact form below. If you would just like to leave a comment, use the comments window.

50 States