Beer City 20k Relay Races

About the Event

The Beer City 20k Relay Races 2026 is a high-energy celebration of Asheville’s famous craft beer culture, held during the annual Asheville Beer Week. Scheduled for Saturday, May 23, 2026, the event takes place at the iconic New Belgium Brewing Company along the French Broad River. This race is designed for social fitness, offering a team-based relay format alongside individual distance options, all culminating in a vibrant after-party at the brewery.

Race Category	Format	Distance per Runner
Team of 4 Relay	20k Total Relay	One 5k lap each
Team of 2 Relay	20k Total Relay	Two 5k laps each
Single Runner	Individual 5k or 10k	Entire distance
Virtual Runner	Remote Participation	Choice of 5k or 10k

Event Logistics and Participant Information:

-- Venue and Atmosphere: The race starts and finishes at New Belgium Brewing on Craven Street. The course follows the river, providing a scenic backdrop for the relay transitions. The event is a core part of the "Chasing Pints" running series.
-- What’s Included: All registered participants receive a technical race t-shirt, a commemorative bib, a finisher medal, and a chip-timed result. Most notably, every runner (21+) is treated to a post-race beer or beverage at the brewery after-party.
-- Team Coordination: For relay entries, all members must register under the same chosen team name to ensure correct timing and relay transition assignments.
-- Charity Contribution: The event maintains a community focus, with $2 from every registration fee being donated to a local non-profit partner.
-- Event Schedule:
- -- Early Packet Pick-Up: Friday, May 22, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at New Belgium Brewing.
- -- Race Day Pick-Up: Saturday, May 23, starting at 7:30 AM.
- -- Race Start: 9:00 AM for the first relay leg and individual runners.
- -- Awards Ceremony: Tentatively scheduled for 10:00 AM (5k), 10:30 AM (10k), and 11:00 AM (Relay).
-- Virtual Option: Runners who cannot attend in person can participate virtually. Swag kits for virtual runners are mailed out the week following the event.
-- Support and Safety: The course is professionally marked and chip-timed by Race Roster, ensuring accurate splits for relay teams as they complete their 5k loops.
-- Contact: Managed by Leslie Grotenhuis. For inquiries regarding team registration or sponsorship opportunities, participants can reach out through the official Race Roster portal.

The Beer City 20k Relay 2026 offers a perfect blend of competitive spirit and communal celebration, making it a highlight for the Asheville running community and craft beer enthusiasts alike.

Races Offered

Single 10k runner

May 23, 2026

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Distance — 10km

terrain

Type — Running

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09:00

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$60.83

Single 5k runner

May 23, 2026

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Distance — 5km

terrain

Type — Running

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09:00

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$55.49

Team of 2 ~ team member

May 23, 2026

straighten

Distance — 10km

terrain

Type — Running

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09:00

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$60.83

Team of 4 ~ team member

May 23, 2026

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Distance — 5km

terrain

Type — Running

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09:00

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$50.14

Virtual Runner

May 23, 2026

straighten

Distance — 5km

terrain

Type — Running

timer

09:00

sell

$71.53

Weather Overview

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for May in Asheville.

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

thermostat 11.4° / 22.8°

wb_sunny 10.5° / 21.2°

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

air 8.6 /

water_drop 74.3%

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

thermostat 11.4° / 22.8°

wb_sunny 10.5° / 21.2°

air 8.6 km/h

water_drop 74.3%

About Asheville

Learn more about the host city, Asheville.

The city of Asheville is a liberal, artsy community nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. A popular tourist destination, this "Paris of the South," has one of the most impressive, comprehensive collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States. In 2011 Asheville was picked as one of the “10 Most Beautiful Places in America” by Good Morning America.