Top To Toe 5K

Top To Toe 5K takes place in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, on October 24, 2026. The 5K run and walk covers 3.1 miles and starts at 9 a.m., with a single format on the schedule so everyone sets off together whether they intend to race it or cover it at walking pace.

Western North Carolina is hilly country, so do not assume a road 5K here will run like a flat city loop. Practice running up and down grades in training rather than only on level ground, and be ready to pace by effort instead of watching your splits. Six to eight weeks of consistent running, with one weekly session on rolling terrain, is a sensible way to prepare. Keep something back for the last mile in case the course finishes on a rise.