Be the Light 5K & Fun Run
Registration:
5K Run/Walk
$25 if registered before November 26th at midnight
$30 November 27th until Race Day
Youth 12 & Under: $15
Fun Run: $15
Schedule:
Sunday – December 10th
5:00pm – 6:00pm: Packet Pick Up and On-site Registration at McNair Stadium
6:30pm: 5K START
6:35pm: Fun Run START
Be the Light 5K
Registration:
5K Run/Walk
$25 if registered before November 28th at midnight
$30 November 29th until Race Day
Youth 12 & Under: $15
Schedule:
Sunday – December 11th
5:00pm – 6:00pm: Packet Pick Up and On-site Registration at McNair Stadium
6:30pm: 5K START
Hot Doggett 100
The famous Hot Doggett 100 features the beauty, challenges, and rewards of our three rides.
DOGGETT MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE: 100 Miles : Start Time 7:30 
This course is one of the toughest you will find east of the Rockies and should not be attempted by inexperienced mountain riders!
The course leaves from Mars Hill and offers rolling hills for the first twenty miles, climbing a total of 2200 feet by mile 20. Then as you roll through the valley in Sandy Mush you will see Doggett Mountain looming in front of you. With an average grade of 7%, the base of the climb is the hardest; then after mile two the grade lessens and you get into a good rhythm to the top. At the top there will be plenty of food and drink to recover! Next is an awesome descent into Spring Creek with great roads all the way to Hot Springs. This is one of the fastest portions of the course, alongside Spring Creek. Once in Hot Springs check out the stores and beware of both the pedestrians attending the Wild Goose Festival and the rail-road tracks!
As you leave Hot Springs there is a three-mile climb that intersects the Appalachian Trail at the top, and offers a spectacular view in either direction. The third rest stop is just beyond the crest. After the descent, the course goes through Shelton Laurel (with rest stop #4 at the fire department) and slowly climbs to the base of Devils Fork.
Then comes a two-mile climb, with one 1/8-mile section attaining a 15% grade! The fifth rest stop is just below the top, just before you cross into Tennessee and descend to Flag Pond.
Click here for printable cue sheet.
Once in Flag Pond, there is a steep climb back up to 4,000 feet to Sams Gap and into North Carolina (and the final rest stop). After a screaming descent comes one last climb over Murray Mountain with another screaming descent bringing us back to Mars Hill. After over 10,000 feet of total elevation gain you’ll be happy to see the finish line. Showers will be available for men and women.
DEVIL’S FORK METRIC: 106 Kilometers : Start Time 8:00 
This is a tough course; we encourage inexperienced distance riders or mountain riders to ride the Big Laurel Grind their first year.
New this year – the course climbs over Grapevine Mountain instead of Walnut Mountain.
The 100 kilometer course begins on Highway 213 and turns onto Gabriel’s Creek Road. The next 10 miles is a series of warm-up hills through the rolling country of southern Madison County. At Silvers Mill Road, the course splits from the 100 mile century, crosses NC 213 in Petersburg and moves directly towards the mountains that will be the challenge for the rest of the course.
The Grapevine Mountain section of the ride starts at a moderate grade but turns steeper for a long climb to the top. A long steep descent leads to a T-junction with Big Laurel Road. The first rest-stop is located at this junction. Here the course splits from the Big Laurel Grind route and turns left and follows the Big Laurel river downstream past the Big Laurel Church.
While in the Big Laurel community you pass through Revere and Spill Corn communities and rejoin the 100 mile Century. In historic Shelton Laurel, after the rest stop at the fire department, the course climbs to the top of Devil’s Fork, including an 1/8-mile section reaching 15% grade. At the top is the Appalachian Trail and a rest stop!
Click here for printable cue sheet.
Descending into Tennessee, there are more great views. Once in Flag Pond you will be faced with a challenging five-mile climb up Sam’s Gap to the final rest stop. A screaming descent back into North Carolina awaits, with one last climb up Murray Mountain and another screaming descent to the finish line in Mars Hill. Once back, enjoy an ice-cold towel, a post-ride meal, and hot showers.
BIG LAUREL GRIND: 50 Kilometers : Start Time 8:30
The Big Laurel Grind is the ride for you if:
- The longer distances of the Devils Fork Metric or the Doggett Mountain Challenge are a bit too much
- You don’t have all day to devote to riding on ride day
- You would like a later start
- You want to avoid riding in the heat of the day
- You want to try a new challenge
- You want to see a new part of Madison County
- You want to be among the first to cross the Hot Doggett finish line
Starting at Mars Hill University, the first 10 miles is a series of warm-up hills through the rolling country of southern Madison County. This section follows the same route as the 100 mile Doggett Mountain Challenge and 100 kilometer Devil’s Fork rides. At Silvers Mill Road you split from the 100 mile century, crossing NC 213 the route moves directly toward the mountains. Starting with a moderate grade, the 7 mile Grapevine Mountain climb turns sharply steeper for the last third of this 1,200 foot ascent. The Grapevine Mountain section of the ride starts at a moderate grade but turns steeper for the top third of the climb to the top. A long steep descent leads to a T-junction with Big Laurel Road. The only rest-stop is located at this junction. Here the course splits from the Devil’s Fork metric route; it turns right and follows the Big Laurel river upstream to the junction with US 23.
You rejoin the course of the other rides Near the Little Creek Cafe at the junction of Big Laurel Road and US 23. The climb continues for almost another 3 miles to the top of Murray Mountain – a total rise of about 1,400 ft over the 13 miles since leaving the rest stop at the top of Walnut Mountain. Here you are only 7 miles from Mars Hill – starting with a much needed screaming descent and only one modest hill between you and the finish line.
Click here for printable cue sheet.
This is not a ride for the faint of heart – riders will cover the 50 kilometer (31.2 mile) course and achieve a total ascent of 3,157 feet. We estimate the fastest riders will cover the course in under 2 hours and those taking it at a more moderate pace will finish within 3 hours.
