MAY 7, 2009 ISSUE
Beech Mountain Opens Registration for Cycling and Running Events
Think you’ve got what it takes to bike and run the slopes of Beech Mountain? A pair of upcoming events take place at the highest spot in the High Country will put your endurance to the test as Beech Mountain plays host to The Beest Cycling Time Trial and A Cool Five race and fun run. Registration for both events is now open.
The Beest Cycling Time Trial May 23 and 24
On Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, Beech Mountain will host its inaugural Beest Cycling Time Trial Weekend. The event includes a host of activities for participants and their families, highlighted by Saturday’s time trial from Banner Elk up Highway 184 to the top of Beech Mountain.
The Beest was created by David Klein of Charlotte, a 42-year-old cyclist who also owns Charlotte Health & Fitness Magazine.
“It is geared toward all avid cyclists,” Klein said. “We welcome racers, but it is not necessarily for racers. It’s for working guys like me who like to get out and stay athletic. We might not fly up the mountain, but we’ll get up there.”
Klein has put together a weekend agenda that includes a post-ride dinner and awards ceremony on Saturday evening at the new Beech Mountain Recreation Center, followed by several road rides and a variety of family activities on Sunday. Discount lodging is available for the weekend at several places on Beech Mountain.
“Endurance athletic events don’t always have a family component. We specifically designed this for families—spouses and children,” said Klein. “There are so many amenities on Beech Mountain for family members to enjoy. And for the cyclists, it’s pretty cool to be able to ride the same road that motivated Lance Armstrong’s comeback.”
Registration is $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event. The entry fee includes a goody bag, t-shirt and dinner. Awards will be presented to the top three finishers in each age group, male and female. All participants are entered into a drawing for door prizes.
For information on the time trial weekend, call 704-333-5697 or click to www.CHFMag.com.
The 2nd Annual Cool 5 Race and Fun Run
Cool temperatures and a warm welcome await runners this June as the Town of Beech Mountain hosts its 2nd annual Cool 5 road race.
The five-mile race and 1.5-mile fun run are Saturday, June 6, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The town embraced last year’s debut as more than 150 runners participated and more than $20,000 was raised through sponsorships and entry fees for a community playground.
The entire route of the race is above 5,000 feet in elevation, with moderate climbs to around 5,400 feet. The course traverses the top of Beech Mountain, crosses the slopes of Ski Beech and features views of Grandfather Mountain and Mount Mitchell.
The race is open to runners of all ages and abilities. Included in last year’s race was octogenarian Margaret Hagerty of Concord. Hagerty, in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest woman to run marathons on all continents, will compete again this year at age 86. Hagerty will also speak at Friday evening’s pasta dinner.
Entry fee is $25 through May 15, and $30 afterward. All participants receive a t-shirt and performance socks. Friday’s pasta dinner is $5. Participants and their families are encouraged to take advantage of special lodging rates available throughout the weekend.
Registration forms and additional information are available by calling the Beech Mountain Parks & Recreation Department at 828-387-3003, or click to www.ACool5.com.
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