Land and Lakes Relay

Registration

Online registration for the 2025 Land and Lakes Relay is now open.

Captains should first register their teams and themselves then have the remaining team register under that team name.

Race Capacity

In order to provide the best possible experience, the race will be capped at 60 teams.

Schedule

Friday, February 28 - 4:00-6:00 PM - Mountain Running Company (4 South Tunnel Road, Suite 230, Asheville)

Saturday, March 1 - Packet Pickup - 4:00-5:15 AM - Devries Athletic Center, Warren Wilson College (701 Warren Wilson Road)

Saturday, March 1 - Team Starts - 5:00-6:00 AM - Devries Athletic Center, Warren Wilson College (701 Warren Wilson Road)

Saturday, March 1 - Post Race Party - 3:00-7:00 PM - Fonta Flora Brewery-Whippoorwhill Farm (6751 NC-126, Nebo, NC)

Course

Teams will depart from Warren Wilson College in East Asheville and head east through Swannanoa and into Black Mountain and around Lake Tomahawk before following much of the Geyser Growl Half Marathon course into Old Fort. Once there, teams will go through downtown Marion before reaching the beautiful area around Lake James. The final runners will then finish with their team mates at the rustic Fonta Flora Brewery-Whippoorwhill Farm.

We are redesigning legs 6, 7, and 8 for this year and gone back to the original leg 10 from 2023.

Course Leg Summary

Format

Depending on the size of the team, each runner will run either two or three legs during the relay. They may be follow the usual 1, 2, 3, 4/1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 format or you may structure the legs to fit your team. The only requirement is your team checks in at each transfer point and we identify the person running the next leg.

If someone gets hurt or cannot continue for some reason, other team members can pick up the slack and run extra legs.

Legs will range in distance from 2.7 miles to 8.7 miles.

Four-person teams following the traditional 1, 2, 3, 4 - 1, 2, 3, 4 - 1, 2, 3, 4 format will see each runner complete the following cumulative distance:

Runner 1 - 14.9 miles

Runner 2 - 15.5 miles

Runner 3 - 17.7 miles

Runner 4 - 12.6 miles

Six-person teams following the traditional 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 format will see each runner complete the following cumulative distance:

Runner 1 - 11.0 miles

Runner 2 - 9.2 miles

Runner 3 - 9.1 miles

Runner 4 - 9.8 miles

Runner 5 - 12.5 miles

Runner 6 - 9.1 miles

Official Start Times

Teams will start as early as 5:00 AM with the last teams going out no later than 6:00 AM.The start times will based on the team's estimated per mile pace. Those with the slower times will go in the earlier slots; those with the fastest will go later.

Do not put down a faster time just to start later. This will catch up to you and you might not reach the cut-off time to continue the race.

To estimate an accurate team pace, take the average of each members 10K race pace then add 45 seconds.

Start times will be announced in mid February.

Safety

Your safety is our primary concern. Because all of the roads we will travel on will be open to cars, our requirements for active runners are a little more strict than other relays:

During the hours of 5:00-7:00 AM, all runners must wear reflective vests and head lamps.

We highly recommend every runner wear a flashing light on their front and back during each leg. Some of these roads are twisty and having a flashing light, despite the time of the day, will heighten your visibility.

Teams will be checked for compliance at all Transfer Points and those not meeting these requirements will not be allowed to continue.

Time Limit

All teams must start their final leg by 5:00 PM.

Support

Each team is expected to be self-supporting. There will be restrooms at most Transfer Point but each team is expected to carry their own fluids and food.

There will be event staff and volunteers on the course as well as each Transfer Point. Public safety personnel will be at each busy intersection managing traffic.

Stuff

Each member of each pre-registered team will receive an official race garment and other goodies.

We also have swag highlighting our new logo for sale during registration.

Dogs

Dogs are not permitted on the course or at the Transfer Points.

Post-Race

Once at Fonta Flora Brewery, teams will be able to cross the finish line together and celebrate the accomplishment and journey with their fellow competitors at a post-race party at the outdoor event space, including a free beer for all 21+ participants.

Back for 2025: Each team is invited to submit their Finishing Song to hear as they come across the finish line. Click HERE to submit your song.

Team photos will be taken in front of our special backdrop next to the bar.

Team awards will be handed out throughout the day.

Fonta Flora will have food trucks that day for teams to purchase from on site.

Fonta Flora has requested that teams stay in the post-race area and not the main tap room.

Awards

We will recognize the winning team in the following categories for both four and six-person teams:

Open Male/Female

Open Mixed

Masters Male & Female (all members 40 & Over)

Mixed Masters (all members 40 & Over)

Grandmasters Male & Female (all members 50 & Over)

Mixed Grandmasters (all members 50 & Over)

The winning team in each category will receive our traditional baton awards for each member of the team. Awards will be presented throughout the post-race party as categories become complete.

Timing

The clock will start for each team at your assigned start time and end when you cross the finish line. Each leg will be recorded at each Transfer Point.

Each team will have a bib with a timing chip attached. This bib should be worn by the runner crossing the finish line.

Individual splits will be calculated after the event and emailed to team captains.

Parking

Each team will receive a parking pass that must be visible on the drivers side of the vehicle.

One vehicle per team. Some of our transfer points have a limited capacity for vehicle. No RV’s, campers or trailers are permitted.

Start - Please follow the signs and park in the area around the Chapel just before Devries Athletic Center . Vehicles may not be left overnight or after the start on Saturday.

Transfer Points - Upon arriving at a Transfer Point, find an available spot without blocking other teams or entrances. In some cases there will be volunteers directing you to the next available spot. Be careful to avoid runners coming in and going out. Spaces at some Transfer Points will be at premium so we ask you to collect your runner and be on your way.

Fonta Flora Brewery-Whippoorwhill Farm - Teams will take the second entrance and follow the gravel road to the designated parking areas. It is a short walk from there to the finish and post-race area.