Thomas Wolfe 8K, Asheville oldest race, returns Oct. 7

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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My favorite race of the year! Here’s the press release:

The​ ​41st​ ​Annual​ ​Thomas​ ​Wolfe​ ​8k​ ​is​ ​quickly​ ​approaching​ ​on​ ​Saturday,​ ​Oct.​ ​7.​ ​

As Asheville’s​ ​oldest​ ​race,​ ​the​ ​TW8K​ ​takes​ ​runners​ ​through​ ​the​ ​Montford​ ​neighborhood, through​ ​the​ ​historic​ ​cemetery​ ​where​ ​the​ ​author​ ​is​ ​buried​ ​and​ ​back​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Thomas​ ​Wolfe House​ ​at​ ​52​ ​N.​ ​Market​ ​Street​ ​for​ ​a​ ​big​ ​party. This​ ​year’s​ ​race​ ​happens​ ​just​ ​four​ ​days​ ​after​ ​the​ ​famous​ ​author’s​ ​birthday.

“This​ ​race​ ​has​ ​been​ ​a​ ​well-loved​ ​community​ ​event​ ​for​ ​more​ ​than​ ​four​ ​decades​ ​that centers​ ​around​ ​an​ ​author​ ​that​ ​helped​ ​put​ ​Asheville​ ​on​ ​the​ ​map.​ ​It’s​ ​fitting​ ​that​ ​we​ ​honor him​ ​with​ ​a​ ​proper​ ​party,”​ ​said​ ​race​ ​director​ ​Stephanie​ ​Carson.

Runners​ ​will​ ​enjoy​ ​birthday​ ​cake​ ​provided​ ​by​ ​Harris​ ​Teeter​ ​on​ ​Merrimon,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as healthy​ ​snacks​ ​and​ ​water​ ​from​ ​Trader​ ​Joe’s.​ ​In​ ​addition,​ ​Catawba​ ​Brewing​ ​has​ ​donated a​ ​keg​ ​of​ ​beer​ ​for​ ​runners​ ​to​ ​enjoy​ ​and​ ​Barnes​ ​&​ ​Noble​ ​is​ ​holding​ ​a​ ​book​ ​fair​ ​for​ ​the second​ ​year​ ​on​ ​a​ ​row.​ ​

A​ ​portion​ ​of​ ​proceeds​ ​from​ ​the​ ​book​ ​fair​ ​and​ ​the​ ​race​ ​will​ ​benefit Read​ ​2​ ​Succeed​ ​of​ ​Buncombe​ ​County. Prizes​ ​for​ ​the​ ​fastest​ ​runners​ ​include​ ​gift​ ​cards​ ​from​ ​Jus’​ ​Running,​ ​cakes​ ​from​ ​Fletcher Village​ ​Bakery,​ ​one​ ​month​ ​passes​ ​to​ ​Underground​ ​Fitness​ ​and​ ​more. Thanks​ ​to​ ​our​ ​sponsors​ ​Ahiflower,​ ​Runner’s​ ​Mechanic,​ ​Blue​ ​Ridge​ ​Orthodontics,​ ​Cake Websites,​ ​Carolina​ ​Hand​ ​&​ ​Sports​ ​Medicine,​ ​and​ ​Victor​ ​G.​ ​Dostrow​ ​MD.

More​ ​information​ ​on​ ​the​ ​race​ ​and​ ​registration​ ​can​ ​be​ ​found​ ​at​ ​www.thomaswolfe8k.com.