The Golden Hour

Upstate Race Series  /  Upstate Trail Series The Golden Hour 1 HR Morning · Evening · Golden Double Sunrise. Sunset. Everything In Between.

Sun, Nov 28 2027

7:16 AM first start

Lakewood Nature Preserve Greenville, SC

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Race Day Details

Sunday, November 28, 2027 at Lakewood Nature Preserve, 220 Lakewood Drive, Greenville, SC 29607. Get directions.

7:16 AM

Morning Golden Hour We'll start as the sun comes up. You have 60 minutes. The course is a one-mile loop. Your mission is simple: complete as many full one-mile laps as you want before the Golden Hour expires.

8:16 AM

Pancakes When the hour is over, stick around — we'll have free pancakes waiting for our morning runners as the Golden Hour Festival gets underway.

Midday

The Golden Hours Festival Between our sunrise and sunset races, we'll turn the venue into a fall festival for runners, families, kids, and anyone who wants to spend a beautiful fall afternoon outside.

4:19 PM

Evening Golden Hour As the day begins to fade, we'll line up and do it all over again. One mile. One hour. As many complete laps as your legs will give you.

5:19 PM

S'mores Race through sunset before gathering around the fire for free s'mores and the final celebration of The Golden Hour.

After

Results and photos Live results post to the RunSignUp results page as each runner finishes. Free event photos are usually up within 48–72 hours on our Facebook page — we'll tag the album so it's easy to find.

 

The Golden Hour

An all-day fall running festival featuring two completely different one-hour races — connected by four hours of food, music, games, and fall festivities.

There are two Golden Hours. One arrives as the sun rises. The other appears just before it disappears. The Golden Hour celebrates both.

1 Mile Loop × 60 Minutes

Run it. Walk it. Race it. Just make sure you're across the line before the clock hits 1:00:00.

 

The Rules

Only completed laps count — no partial-lap credit.

Morning and Evening participants each receive their respective finisher medal.

Overall awards are reserved exclusively for participants completing both Golden Hours, determined by combined mileage from the two races.

 

The Morning Golden Hour

We'll start as the sun comes up. You have 60 minutes. The course is a one-mile loop. Your mission is simple: complete as many full one-mile laps as you want before the Golden Hour expires.

Every lap must be completed before the 60-minute mark to count. Partial laps don't count.

When the hour is over, stick around — we'll have free pancakes waiting for our morning runners as the Golden Hour Festival gets underway.

 

The Golden Hours Festival

The race may stop. The energy doesn't.

Between our sunrise and sunset races, we'll turn the venue into a fall festival for runners, families, kids, and anyone who wants to spend a beautiful fall afternoon outside. Run in the morning. Bring the family. Grab some food. Play some games. Hang out with friends. Then get ready to race again.

The Family Zone

Pumpkin PaintingFall Face PaintingInflatable Obstacle CourseYard GamesKids' Scavenger HuntHay-Bale Play AreaTemporary TattoosFriendship-Bracelet StationMini Kids' DashCostume ContestPumpkin Rolling RaceFamily RelayCornholeGiant Jenga & Connect FourGolden Mile Kids Challenge

Plus local food vendors and a small makers market running all afternoon — jump in, jump out, no rigid schedule required.

The Social Scene (20s & up)

MusicCornhole TournamentSpikeballPop-Up PickleballFood TrucksLocal Brewery & Cider VendorsTriviaTeam Relay CompetitionsBest Fall Outfit ContestPhoto BoothCollege Football on the Big ScreenRecovery & Stretching Area

The Golden Games

A ridiculous mid-festival competition: beer-stein hold, pumpkin carry, partner wheelbarrow race, and the 100-meter costume dash.

Under consideration: an AM-vs-PM festival competition, where morning and evening runners earn points throughout the afternoon — stay tuned for details.

 

The Evening Golden Hour

As the day begins to fade, we'll line up and do it all over again. One mile. One hour. As many complete laps as your legs will give you.

Race through sunset before gathering around the fire for free s'mores and the final celebration of The Golden Hour.

 

The Golden Double

Want the full experience? Run both Golden Hours. Complete your morning race, enjoy the festival, then return to the starting line as the sun begins to fall.

Your mileage from both races combines to determine our Golden Hour Overall Champions — overall awards are based only on combined AM + PM results.

How many miles can you complete between sunrise and sunset?  

Three Ways to Experience It

Sign Up for Morning

One-hour sunrise race

Free post-race pancakes

Morning Golden Hour finisher medal

Sign Up for Night

One-hour sunset race

Free post-race s'mores

Evening Golden Hour finisher medal

The Golden Double

Race the sunrise

Spend the afternoon at the festival

Race the sunset

Complete the full Golden Hour experience

Eligible for Overall Golden Hour Awards

 

What's Included

✓	Golden Hour Gear Every registrant earns a custom Golden Hour finisher medal — and Golden Hour tees and socks are available in the apparel store.

 

Race Awards

Overall — Golden Hour Champions

Reserved for Golden Double finishers. The top three men and top three women by combined AM + PM mileage each take home a Golden Hour trophy.

Age Group Awards

Awarded separately for the Morning and Evening races, based on laps completed in that race. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each of the 15 age groups above earn a Golden Hour age group medal.

Series Recognition

The Golden Hour also counts toward the Upstate Trail Series — every lap here adds to your series standing alongside every other Trail Series race this year.

Upstate Trail Series Age Group Categories

0–9 10–12 13–16 17–19 20–29 30–34 35–39 40–44

45–49 50–54 55–59 60–64 65–69 70–79 80+

Golden Double runners are scored for age group medals in both races and remain eligible for Overall honors.

 

Giving Back

This race supports Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas Pays for travel, lodging and meals so Carolina families can get their child to cancer treatment. They host their own race too: Upstate Strut. Visit Children's Cancer Partners of the CarolinasUpstate StrutDonate

Every Upstate Race Series event is part of the Upstate Giving Series, which connects our 30 races with 30 nonprofit organizations serving communities across the Upstate. Your registration and any donation you add at checkout go to work close to home — you are not just running a race, you are funding the work of a neighbor. Upstate Giving Series.

 

Groups & Teams

SAVE $5 GROUPS OF 5+ RUN CLUBS & CREWS Run it with your crew. Your club is probably already here. Join it when you register and save when your group hits 5. 1 Find your club 50+ Upstate run clubs are preloaded. 2 Join at sign-up Pick it during registration, or start your own crew. 3 Hit 5 runners Everyone in the group saves $5. Early sign-ups get it back automatically. ALREADY ON THE LIST Upstate Running ClubRockers Run ClubWR@DRunning for BrewsSwamp CommonersHub City RunnersDouble Stamp Run Club+ 44 more Find your clubRegister with your crew

Running with a crew? Groups of 5 or more registrants receive a $5 discount and refund per person. The Upstate Running Club welcomes all local and regional running clubs to race with us.

 

Good to Know

What does the Fair Pass include? The Fair Pass is general festival admission for anyone who wants to spend the day without racing — it gets you into the Family Zone, the Social Scene, and the Golden Games from 7:00AM to 6:00PM, no bib required. What should I bring? Late-November mornings and evenings run cold even when the afternoon warms up — layers you can shed are your friend for both Golden Hours. If you're going for Best Fall Outfit or the Costume Contest, wear it to the start line. Can spectators come watch? Spectators are welcome. Runner parking fills up race morning — if you're only here to cheer, plan for overflow parking nearby. You'll see your runner pass by every lap. When will results and photos be available? Live results post to the RunSignUp results page as each runner finishes. Free event photos are usually up within 48–72 hours on our Facebook page — we'll tag the album so it's easy to find. Are kids and strollers welcome? Yes — the mid-day Golden Hours Festival between the sunrise and sunset races is built for families.  

Managing Your Registration

Head to your RunSignUp profile any time before race day to:

✓	Transfer your entry to another runner

✓	Switch between Morning, Evening, or the Golden Double

✓	Transfer to a different Upstate Race Series event

✓	Edit your personal details

✓	Manage add-ons, store, and apparel purchases

All entries are final — no refunds and no deferrals. Manage my registration

Let's Stay Connected

Follow along, gear up, and keep up with everything Upstate Race Series

This race Register Directions Race groups Results Race photos Race apparel Manage my registration Series & giving Upstate Trail Series Upstate Giving Series Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas Upstate Strut Donate Upstate Race Series UpstateRaceSeries.com Info@UpstateRaceSeries.com Instagram @upstateraceseries Facebook: Upstate Event Management Apparel store