Welcome to the website of The Bear Race held each year during the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, one of the largest Scottish Games in the world.
Registration for the 2020 Bear Race to be held on July 9th will open Tuesday, February 4th at 7am.
We ask that you read through this website before entering so you are aware of the challenge of the race as well as the challenges of race logistics, including lodging and parking.
The Bear Race proceeds will go to various charities in the area and the ASU Track Program. Thank you and on behalf of our sponsor Zap Endurance, we look forward to seeing you up at the top after a Bear of a run!
ZAP Fitness Foundation (ZAP), founded in 2001, is a non-profit training center for post-collegiate, Olympic hopeful distance runners. Its founders Andy Palmer and his wife Zika developed the program as a way to give back to the sport of distance running, a sport that played a significant role in both their lives.
Learn more about ZAP Endurance.
The Bear race begins in Linville, NC at the corner of Hwy 105 and 221. The race turns right off Highway 221 and winds up steep climbs to McRae Meadows, where the Games are held. It cuts across Highway 221 and up the backside of the Highland Games Track to the Grandfather Road where you run the final 2 miles up 1000 feet of elevation gain.
Your views are breathtaking, especially as you round the famous “Forrest Gump” hairpin turn. You will finish at the top of Grandfather Mountain (over 5000 foot elevation) where you will be greeted by hundreds of fans who are waiting anxiously for their runner and the last runner.
This unique 5-mile race will provide challenges that are overcome by the rewards. It is not a race for individuals planning to walk the entire course. We must have everyone off the finish line area by 9:00 pm so we encourage and expect running and maybe some walking! We will pick you up from the course if you are projected to finish after 8:30 pm.
Are you interested in running? Registration for the 2020 Bear Race to be held on July 9th will open Tuesday, February 4th at 7:00 am (EST). Please do not try to access registration before 7:00 am. If there is an error with the registration system, please restart the registration process. You may need to clear your web browser cache.
We can’t run a race without volunteers. Find out how you can help us before, during and after the race by contacting John Weaver at weaverjt@appstate.edu.
Registration for the 2020 Bear Race is closed. If you wish to be placed on the waiting list, please see the following page.
Registration for the 2020 Bear Race to be held on July 9th will open Tuesday, February 4th at 7:00 am (EST). The registration link will be published on the following page. This race is limited to the first 800 entries and fills up quickly (in less than 20 minutes last year!)
