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Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k) race photo

Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k)

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USAug 14, 202742.195km · 21.1km · 10km

Senior Airman Areca T. Bell · Public domain

Race date in 301 days: Aug 14, 2027 Sat
City · Distance: Mill Spring · 42.195km · 21.1km · 10km
Entry fee: $50Varies by event and entry period
Status: OpenSee how to enter ↗

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 17, 2026

About the race How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

It is held on trails in Mill Spring, North Carolina.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Dark Horse Trail Series

Upstate Race Series

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Marathon

Entry cost $50

until May 1, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Half

Entry cost $45

until May 1, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

10K

Entry cost $30

until May 1, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Your 42.195km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 08:00

START

25 International Blvd, Mill Spring, NC

Start · Google Maps

Show more

The events are the Dark Horse Marathon, Dark Horse Half Marathon, and Dark Horse 10k.

The start is at 25 International Blvd, Mill Spring, NC, at a local time of 8:00 a.m.

The course is a loop course that returns to the starting point.

Typical race-season temperature: around 25°C (76°F): Hot race — plan fluids and electrolytes

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startNo public transit — car required
Transit cardNo dedicated transit card system exists for this rural trail venue near Mill Spring, North Carolina; this…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No public transit — car required

Starts/finishes at Tryon International Equestrian Center, 25 International Blvd, Mill Spring, NC 28756. Rural Polk County equestrian venue with no fixed-route transit agency serving the area.

Getting to the finish

No public transit — car required

Same as start (Tryon Equestrian Center, loop course).

Transit card

No dedicated transit card system exists for this rural trail venue near Mill Spring, North Carolina; this is a car-access race in the Tryon International Equestrian Center area. Runners drive in and park on site, with no relevant public transit.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The race venue at 25 International Blvd, Mill Spring, has no public transport, so you will need to drive.

It is about 50 minutes by car from Asheville.

A loop course on trails near the Tryon International Equestrian Center, it is convenient for spectators travelling with family.

Registration is handled through Upstate Race Series.

Times are local to Mill Spring. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Redesign Wooden Cabin with Jacuzzi and Front Porch in North Carolina

Accommodation · 2.8km

View on Booking.com

Charlotte: Uncover the Queen City's Black Legacy Walking Tour

Queen City Black Heritage Walking Tour · $27

View on GetYourGuide

The Queen City Experience: 90-min Historical City Bus Tour

Charlotte Historical Shuttle Bus City Tour · $41

View on GetYourGuide

The Equestrian Hideaway 8 Minutes From TIEC!

Accommodation · 2.9km

View on Booking.com

Asheville｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service at Asheville Airport

$157

Charlotte's Best Historic City Tour (Eco-Friendly Electric Cart Ride)

$43

Charlotte｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

$82

Hotels that make race morning easy

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Redesign Wooden Cabin with Jacuzzi and Front Porch in North Carolina

Accommodation · 2.8km

View on Booking.com

The Equestrian Hideaway 8 Minutes From TIEC!

Accommodation · 2.9km

View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Time for you, before and after the finish

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

CARB LOADING1LOCAL TRANSIT2TRAIL & OUTDOOR1EASY WALKING1

Charlotte: Uncover the Queen City's Black Legacy Walking Tour

Queen City Black Heritage Walking Tour · $27

View on GetYourGuide

Asheville｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service at Asheville Airport

$157

Charlotte｜Private airport pickup/drop-off service at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

$82

Asheville: Colorful Asheville Electric Bike Tour

$53

View on GetYourGuide

Charlotte: Uptown Charlotte Historian-Guided Tour

Uptown Charlotte Historic Guided Tour · $21

View on GetYourGuide

Seeing Mill Spring with the medal on

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

The Queen City Experience: 90-min Historical City Bus Tour

Charlotte Historical Shuttle Bus City Tour · $41

View on GetYourGuide

Charlotte's Best Historic City Tour (Eco-Friendly Electric Cart Ride)

$43

Charlotte: Bus city tour with a comedian (bring your own drinks)

$41

View on GetYourGuide

Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on map

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

Checklist Local eSIM · Trip.com Flight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelp Pace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Mill Spring runners' room

FAQ

When does Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k) 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sat, August 14, 2027 in Mill Spring, NC, United States.

How much is the Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k) 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $50.

What distances does Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k) 2027 offer?

Marathon · Half · 10K.

What time does Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k) 2027 start?

The race starts at 08:00.

Where does Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k) 2027 start?

25 International Blvd, Mill Spring, NC.

What is the Dark Horse Trail Series (26.2 - 13.1 - 10k) 2027 course like?

The events are the Dark Horse Marathon, Dark Horse Half Marathon, and Dark Horse 10k.

The start is at 25 International Blvd, Mill Spring, NC, at a local time of 8:00 a.m.

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