Mount Mitchell Challenge and Black Mountain Marathon

02/08/2026

2026 Update

Because of the ongoing Blue Ridge Parkway construction and closure, brought on by Hurricane Helene, we have been unable to obtain the needed permits to hold the 2026 races. We are working hard on the 2027 event and hope to have some BIG news to announce soon! The Mount Mitchell Challenge and Black Mountain Marathon have been a hallmark of the trail race calendar for 26 years. With the addition of other high quality events and the rise of trail racing on the international stage, the MMC and BMM need to evolve and grow with the sport - while retaining the community focus and feeling of family that has made the event beloved in the local running community.
Stay tuned for information on the race to the highest point in eastern North America!

12/28/2024

It is with a heavy heart that we are cancelling the 2025 edition of the Mount Mitchell Challenge and Black Mountain Marathon. On September 27th, hurricane Helene blew through Western North Carolina and wreaked an unprecedented level of damage. Black Mountain and the surrounding area became ground zero. The damage to much of the course is not going to be addressed before February and the State Park & Parkway will not open before March. All this effectively means we have no access to the trails that make this event so special. We have explored all options to keep this year's event and the conditions are untenable for an event of this type so soon. All registered runners have received an email that outlines runner options - 1. Donate your 2025 entry $ to the hurricane relief. We have selected the Black Mountain Fire/Rescue crew and the Swannanoa Valley Museum as certified non-profits actively working in the relief system. Runners choosing this option can rest easy knowing your entry fee will be split evenly between these important local non-profits. 2. Defer to 2026. We are very optimistic on bringing the race back in 2026! 3. Full refund. This will be issued by Bill Pay and come as a paper check.

10/09/2024

Thank you Jennifer Pharr Davis and Sawyer Products! We were able to obtain some personal filters to include with the donation supplies that are going to folks in need all over the region!

10/03/2024

One of the organizations doing an absolutely heroic job here in WNC. Thank you

A community deeply rooted in Love and Justice! We create innovative solutions to some of the toughest challenges we face as a community. https://venmo.com/BeLoved-Asheville
https://www.paypal.me/BeLovedAsheville
https://www.belovedasheville.com/

10/01/2024

Hello from WNC! We are still struggling to get basic services back up and running. Asheville & Black Mountain do not have power, water or cell service at the moment - Rural communities are even worse off. Our hearts are breaking for those that lost homes and lives. There are plenty of damage pics and videos online. Rest assured that the reports are largely understated. This is a huge disaster. In the coming weeks, we will be able to start thinking about things like the races in February. For now, we are in an active search & rescue situation - and focused on regaining critical services. Thanks to everyone that has been sending messages of support. We will recover!

This video contains no sound.Drone footage captured the impact of flooding Asheville's Biltmore Village as well as in Black Mountain ahead of critical Lake L...

07/01/2024

Early registration for the 2025 Black Mountain Marathon and Mt Mitchell Challenge is open!
After much debate, we are keeping the same date!
Last Saturday in February!
Dress warm!
We have a hard field size cap and expect to sell out the 27th edition! See you in 2025!

Register Now!

06/06/2024

Mitchell runners - Please read and comment with a vote!!!!

We are looking at a date change for the 2025 edition of the Marathon and the Challenge! Because of Parkway access tightening during winter months in the last few years, we have been unable to access the Summit - and more importantly, getting support crews into the backcountry has gotten increasingly problematic.
This event was originally conceived as a race that included the winter elements, but it is clear that access issues will not let that be possible in the foreseeable future.

So, we are left with staying as is - and likely continuing only to see a Summit run on rare warm days. Or move the date into April, where we will see much more mild conditions. With the move, we would go back to two separate events - a Marathon and a 40 mile Challenge.

This race was built for the runners, and we want your voice to be driving force in any action. So please vote here! Drop a note in the comments and indicate "Stay" for keeping the February date or "Move" to indicate a later date to allow more certainty in a Summit run.

Thank you all for making this such an awesome event for 26 years!

02/25/2024

Thanks to our Parkway aid station crew! Check out these shots from the day!

It was cool and windy at the bottom. It was cold and snowy at the top. Due to the closure of the Parkway, runners were limited to only 26 miles of fun.

02/25/2024

Full 2024 results.

02/24/2024

The Black Mountain & Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce finish food crew would like to thank all the runners for sharing their stories today! Such fun and inspiration! We’ll see you in 2025!

02/24/2024

The snow has started here at the finish line, and we are welcoming our only 26 time finisher! Guido Ferrari has made it to the line every single year! Congrats! (If you look closely, he’s wearing the finishers fleece from the 1998 inaugural Challenge!)