On your mark, get set — race! High Country Half Marathon now accepting registrations

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University announces registration is now open for the ninth annual High Country Half Marathon — the second race in the High Country Triple Crown series.

The race, sponsored by Appalachian’s Blue Cross of NC Institute for Health and Human Services (IHHS) in the Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), covers 13.1 miles from Boone to Blowing Rock. All proceeds benefit local children’s organizations, including Girls on the Run of the High Country and AppKIDS.

Of the marathon, Mary Sheryl Horine, race director and associate director of the IHHS, said, “We celebrate the fact that we’ve got a beautiful environment for running in the summertime. Combine that with dedicated volunteers, cool awards and a great cause and you’ve got a race that people travel to from all over the Southeast.”

The High Country Half Marathon debuted in 2011, and past participants have described it as challenging, as it follows the route of the first half of the Grandfather Mountain Marathon.

The race begins on Appalachian’s campus and follows Watauga County roads before ending in Blowing Rock at Davant Field. An awards ceremony following the race will feature overall and age category awards, grandmaster awards for persons age 50 and older, finisher medals and door prizes.

Food and other refreshments will be provided by local brewing companies as well as Hatchet Coffee. Live music will also be staged at the finish area.

Other races in the High Country Triple Crown series include The Cub, also known as the Valle Crucis 7-Miler, which was held over Memorial Day weekend and presented by Mast General Store. Additionally, The Knob, sponsored by Lost Province Brewing Co., will take place in October.

Runners who participate in all three High Country Triple Crown races will be eligible to win $1,500 in cash prizes and a congratulatory award for participating in all three events.

For more information and/or to register for the High Country Half Marathon or The Knob, visit http://www.triplecrown.appstate.edu/ or call 828-262-7557. The registration fee for the marathon is $65 and includes a technical running shirt and a finisher medal.

Aug

24

High Country Half Marathon

Presented by ZAP Fitness as part of the High Country Triple Crown

Aug. 24, 2019

7:30 a.m.

"Half the distance but just as hard." The High Country Half Marathon is roughly the first half of the Grandfather Marathon which is considered one of the toughest marathons in the U.S. We've added some incredibly scenic views and a nice downhill at the end, which varies from the marathon, but make no mistake, the course is challenging! 100% of the proceeds will benefit Girls on the Run of the High Country.

Register now

Oct

5

The Knob

Part of the High Country Triple Crown

Oct. 5, 2019

8 a.m.

The Knob — 2 miles of pure hill! The Knob begins at Lost Province Brewing Co. in historic downtown Boone and climbs nearly 1,000 feet (300 meters) to Howard’s Knob Park. Plan on plenty of merriment during this race as it is the last event in Appalachian's High Country Triple Crown series.

Register now

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High Country Triple Crown

The High Country Triple Crown is celebrating its 15th year of existence as the premier running series in the High Country. Headquartered in Boone and sponsored by the Beaver College of Health Sciences, the Triple Crown consists of three races of varying difficulty and terrain. All races showcase the breathtaking scenery of the North Carolina mountains coupled with the vitality of the local community.

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Girls on the Run of the High Country

Girls on the Run of the High Country (GOTR-HC) inspires girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. Trained coaches lead small teams through a research-based curricula which includes dynamic discussions, activities and running games. Over the course of the ten-week program, girls in 3rd-8th grade develop essential skills to help them recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one-of-a-kind. The program culminates with girls positively impacting their communities through a service project and being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5K event.

Started in 2009, GOTR-HC enthusiastically serves the girls of Watauga, Ashe, Wilkes and Avery counties and is thrilled to have Appalachian State University’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Institute for Health and Human Services, within the Beaver College of Health Sciences, as their affiliate sponsor.

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About the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Institute for Health and Human Services

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Institute for Health and Human Services connects Appalachian State University to the community by supporting health and wellness research, interprofessional clinics and community outreach programs. The institute partners with the community to better prepare students to become exceptional practitioners who will continue to address health issues and disparities throughout the region and beyond. Learn more at https://ihhs.appstate.edu.

About the Beaver College of Health Sciences

Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. BCHS offers nine undergraduate degree programs and seven graduate degree programs, which are organized into six departments: Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health and Exercise Science, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of the Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Blue Cross NC Institute for Health and Human Services and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, the Appalachian Regional Health System and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.