Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K
- Date
- April 3, 2027
- Distance
- 5K · Half Marathon
From the Organizer
The 2027 Catamount Climb Half Marathon and 5K will be hosted on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC along the banks of the Tuckasegee River. The 5K course is completely on campus and navigates through the heart of campus with moderate elevation change. The half marathon course starts on campus, and then heads off campus for a few miles before returning back to campus for the finish line.
The Catamount Climb Half Marathon and 5K (formerly known as Valley of the Lilies) is hosted by the Western Carolina University School of Health Sciences and the Department of Campus Recreation & Wellness. All race proceeds go to support student professional development and academic scholarships.
Race Packets
Each registered participant will receive a race packet that includes a race t-shirt, a race bib, and various coupons and other sponsorship materials. Finisher Medals will be given to all half-marathon finishers as well.
Packet Pick Up will occur the day before the race on April 2nd, 2027 3pm-7pm at the WCU Campus Recreation Center, and the morning of the race on April 3rd, 2027 6:30am - 7:30am at the WCU Campus Recreation Center.
Awards
Each registered participant will receive a race packet that includes a race t-shirt, a race bib, and various coupons and other sponsorship materials.
Half Marathon
Finisher medals are awarded to all half marathon finishers. Awards, which are custom placing medals, are given to the overall male and female winner, overall master's male and female winner, as well as the top three male and female in each age group: 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.
5K
Awards, which are custom medals, are given to the overall male and female winner, overall master's male and female winner, as well as the top three male and female in each age group: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.
Distances & Pricing
Race Location
About This Sport
From Endurance Grid's Founder
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
The half marathon is the distance where you find out what you're actually made of. Long enough to demand real preparation. Short enough that it doesn't consume your life to train for it. Most people who run their first half describe it as the race that changed their relationship with what they're capable of. Once you cross this finish line, the bar moves. That's not a warning — that's the point.
Race day energy varies by event size, but the finish line feeling is the same regardless. Big races keep the noise going the whole way. Smaller races give you stretches where it's just you and the miles — and that solitude becomes its own kind of fuel.
The half marathon rewards people who show up for the boring training miles.
How long to train: 10–14 weeks. If you're already running consistently, 10 weeks of structured buildup is enough. If you're building from a casual base, give yourself 14.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Coming Up
More running races in NC
Five Points 5k
5K
Run Wild 5K at the North Carolina Zoo
5K
Lighthouse 5k Series July 8, 2026
5K
Medal Madness 5K, 10K & 13.1M at Concord, NC (35)
Half Marathon · 10K · 5K
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K?
- Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K is a running event held in Cullowhee, NC. Learn more about the different endurance sports here.
- When and where is the Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K?
- Saturday, April 3, 2027 in Cullowhee, NC at 379 Memorial Drive, Cullowhee, NC. Check the official event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K?
- Registration is handled through their official registration page. Confirm pricing, distances available, and sign up there.
Catamount Climb Half Marathon & 5K
Apr 3, 2027