The Asheville Marathon at Biltmore Estate was recognized in three categories in 2019 by Bibrave 100! The event was listed as one of the Top 10 Best Weekend Experience in the U.S., one of the Top 20 Half Marathons in the U.S., and one of the Top 20 Marathons in the U.S.
“We are honored!” says Race Director Daphne Kirkwood, who helped start the event 8 years ago with only a full marathon option. After repeatedly selling out the annual event, it quickly expanded to a full weekend of half and full marathon options within the first four years.. The Backyard to Vineyard Challenge introduced a new element to the event in its fifth year, challenging participants to race in the Saturday half and Sunday full. However, runners demanded an even more extreme challenge, so the 6th anniversary brought with it the Backyard to Backyard Challenge, where participants run both the Saturday half and the Sunday half.
The race was nominated thanks to a weekend filled distance challenges, half marathons on both Saturday and Sunday, and the full marathon on Sunday. Runners of the Asheville Marathon love the beautiful backdrop of the Biltmore Estate, and become part of history by running through the historic property built by the Vanderbilts in the late 1800s.
“The weekend event caters to those who want to get away to a beautiful destination, or for the regional runner, a fantastic ‘staycation,” says Daphne. “It is also a unique setting to be part of the beautiful landscape and architecture at Biltmore Estate.”
Runners of the Asheville Marathon and Half also get a peak into exclusive parts of the estate that are not usually open to the public. Other race highlights include:
- Unique runner swag
- Enthusiastic volunteers
- Uniquely crafted “wood-allions” medals
- An array of activities to do in the local Asheville area, such as visiting the many local breweries and restaurants. (BLOG: LADIES WEEKEND IDEAS
- A race surface made up of a mix of road and wide dirt carriage roads
- The ability to upgrade race tickets to tour the Biltmore House and upgrade to an annual pass at a discounted rate
This is the second time the Asheville Marathon has been recognized by BibRave 100. In 2018, the Asheville Marathon was selected as a Top 20th Marathon in America.
About BibRave: The BibRave 100 is THE definitive List of the Best Races in America.To learn more visit their website: https://www.bibrave.com/thebibrave100/2019
