Part of a series of races that are run throughout the year here along the woodland trails at the U.S. National Whitewater Center just outside Charlotte, N.C., the Wine Vine Trail Race makes its annual running in early November with a half marathon and a 5K that include stretches through the woods here along the Catawba River.

The race follows an out-and-back course that starts and finishes at the center’s headquarters, and from there heads out onto the trails just north of the center, on the land between the Catawba and Long Creek.

Runners in the half marathon and 5K share the same course for the first half-mile or so, then split off as they near Long Creek.

The opening stretches of the race take runners around the whitewater training areas, the man-made rapids that also serve as the official Olympic training center for whitewater slalom racing.

After that, the half marathon keeps heading south along the river and then deeper into the woods as runners head back toward the center, with stretches around lakes, ponds, and through the wilderness here.

11-05-2022, 08:00 am - 02:00 pm