Race for the Grasshopper 5K

Race for the Grasshopper 5K is run at Cowpens Battlefield near Gaffney, South Carolina, on January 9, 2027, starting at 8:30 a.m. The course is a single paved loop, and the name comes from a historic chase for a British cannon after the Battle of Cowpens. Awards go to the top three finishers in the open, masters and grandmasters categories, plus leading runners across age groups from 14 and under to 75 and over.

Paved and looped is a fast combination, and the deep award structure means there is something to race for whatever your age. Runners chasing a time should study the loop early: knowing where the turns come lets you carry speed rather than braking into them. Four to six weeks of consistent running with one weekly session at 5K effort is enough to be sharp for a distance this short.