Ever have trouble motivating yourself to run or exercise? We found the solution.
Start your run in the most photographed setting in the state, the Babcock State Park’s Glade Creek Gristmill. Fall in love with the beauty of the mill, and your feet will keep bringing you back to it.
Gristmill Grinder Half Marathon
The surrounding area is full of great trails for any trip— a scenic hike, a challenging jog or a quick jaunt for exercise. It’s so ideal, in fact, that it’s the site of an already sold-out for 2013 trail half-marathon race, Babcock Gristmill Grinder.
Perk those ears back up: there’s also a 3-Mile Fun Walk at the event, and registration is still open. (Plus, it’s time to start training for next year, and you can still use the trail any time!)
What’s so compelling about Babcock’s trails? Walk by the free-flowing falls, peer out over the rolling mountains from the cliffsides, and stroll through the soft pink rhododendron tunnels, and you won’t need to ask again.
Not only do you get a great view and workout, you will also be treated at the finish line to fruit and pasta salad, and then a meal ticket for a Fayetteville restaurant.
Fayetteville’s unique eatery options are vast, including dishes like: pizza topped with grapes, black beans and other unique flavors; Cajun and Creole steam pots big enough to share; hand-squeezed jalapeño margaritas, and so much more.
Camping and cabins are available at the park for racers, walkers and spectators, so it’s easy to take a whole weekend away as a reward to yourself for kicking butt in the race.
Ready to get running?