Smoky Mountain Relay

Smoky Mountain Relay is a 200-mile, six-person team relay held on April 30, 2027, through the mountains of western North Carolina. The course begins at the Pisgah Forest Visitor Center near Brevard, winds through Pisgah National Forest and finishes at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City.

Splitting 200 mountain miles between six runners means around 33 miles each, broken into several legs with only a few hours of rest in between, so this is a test of teamwork and persistence rather than of single-race speed. Train for repeated efforts rather than one long one: two runs in the same day, on hills, are worth more than a single long flat outing. Sort out van logistics, sleep and food as a team before you travel, since those decisions shape the second half of the relay more than fitness does.