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Happy Valley Humdinger

calendar_today 24 Oct, 2026

directions_run Running

language Official Website

sell $5.00 – $30.00

Happy Valley Humdinger

About the Event

*Register for all 5 FRS events at once during the month of April and receive an additional 10% off the lowest price PLUS the limited edition FRS performance shirt!  Use the FRS April Bundle tab on any event registration page.  Your shirt will be the style specific to your gender and in the same size as the event t-shirts you selected UNLESS you contact the race director with different style / size choices.  This moisture wicking shirt  will be waiting for you at the packet pickup of the first race (Sunset River Run) just in time for your hot runs!

Join us for a Fall morning run in beautiful Happy Valley, NC.  This 5k course is a point to point that cuts through the scenic valley and meanders along the Yadkin River before finishing at Happy Valley Filling Station.  Considered the "country cousin" to Southern Sundown 4 Miler, this race is more rural, flatter and faster than SS4M but shares the same fun vibe and celebration of the running community.  Feel free to don your Halloween costume and get an early start celebrating this spooky, fun, beautiful season.  You will want to be a part of this growing event!

Note to participants:  The course is 90% hardtop and 10% natural surface.  The majority of the race is on a public, yet low traffic hard top secondary road but the route does traverse a mowed grass field.

*Every registered runner (21+) for the Happy Valley Humdinger receives a full pour of a Happy Valley Filling Station craft beer after the race!

New this year:  Costume contest for runners, walkers, bystanders, all ages!  Best costume awards for Adults (Winner & Runner Up) and Kids (Winner & Runner Up)

 

*Register by October 12 @ Midnight to guarantee your size in the Fifth Annual Happy Valley Humdinger Official Event Shirt!  (Design coming soon!)

 

Event Schedule

Friday (10/23) - Pre Race Packet Pick Up (5:00 pm - 8:00 pm); Happy Valley Filling Station (1275 NC-268, Lenoir, NC)

Saturday (10/24) - On Site Registration & Packet Pick Up (9:30 am - 10:45 am); Starting Line at Lapaz / Marshallberg Farm (3232 Indian Grave Rd, Lenoir, NC)

*Hang around The Happy Filling Station enjoying good music, amazing wood fired pizza and cold beer for as long as you would like.  The Fall colors in the valley will be at their peak! We will have shuttles available to get runners and their guests back to their vehicles at the starting line parking area.

 

PARKING

 

*Runners are required to park at the starting line area ( Lapaz / Marshallberg Farm (3232 Indian Grave Rd, Lenoir, NC)
*Families of runners, friends, guests, spectators and the general public are welcome to park at Happy Valley Filling Station (1275 NC-268, Lenoir, NC) or at the starting line area ( Lapaz / Marshallberg Farm (3232 Indian Grave Rd, Lenoir, NC)


SHUTTLE    

  
A prerace courtesy shuttle will run from the start line area to the Happy Valley Filling Station at 1045 am and 11:05 am for those wishing to park there and get to the finish line before the first runners cross.  Return shuttle service from the finish line at Happy Valley Filling Station to the start line area will begin at 11:30 am to return runners and their guests back to their vehicles.  The shuttle will make the trip between the two points approximately every 20 minutes until 2:30 pm


GEARCHECK


A gear check service will be available for runners to check items they wish to have transferred to the finish line area such as warm clothing. Please no high value items!
 
The Fifth Annual Happy Valley Humdinger Individual Awards


* Top 3 Overall Male / Female (Winner - Custom Trophy + $45  Mountain Running Company Gift Certificate , 2nd - Custom Trophy + $35 Mountain Running Company Gift Certificate ,  3rd - Custom Trophy + $25 Mountain Running Company Gift Certificate)
* Top 2 Male / Female Master (40 & Over) (Winner - Custom Trophy + $25 Mountain Running Company Gift Certificate, 2nd - Custom Trophy + $20 Mountain Running Company Gift Certificate)
*Top 3 Male / Female Age Groups (Winner - Custom Gold Finished Medal, 2nd - Custom Silver Finished Medal, 3rd - Custom Bronze Finished Medal)  14 and under; 15 - 19; 20 -24; 25 - 29; 30 - 34; 35 - 39; 40 - 44; 45 - 49; 50 - 54; 55 - 59; 60 - 64; 65 - 69, 70 - 74, 75+
 
The Kids Fun Run Presented by Quest 4 Life is for kids age 12 and younger.  The race is a 1/2 mile course that begins and ends at the Sunset River Run Finish Line (At the Happy Valley Filling Station).  Cost for the race is $5 in advance and $10 on raceday.  Every participant receives a medal as they cross the finish line and a custom bib.  This non-timed event will begin after the 5k at 12:00pm.

 

Races Offered

5K

Oct 24, 2026

straighten

Distance — 5K

terrain

Type — Running

timer

11:00

sell

$30.00

Kids Fun Run Presented By UNC Ortho

Oct 24, 2026

straighten

Distance — Kids Fun Run Presented By UNC Ortho

terrain

Type — Running

timer

12:00

sell

$5.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for October in Lenoir.

thermostat Temperature
12.3° / 22.5°
wb_sunny Feels like
10.3° / 20.9°
light_mode Avg sunshine hours
9h 8m
water_drop Avg rainfall
1.2 mm
ac_unit Avg snowfall
air Avg wind speed
11.2 km/h (Light breeze)
opacity Sweat loss rate
Moderate
terrain Course conditions
Firm and slightly soft
sunny Max UV Index
Moderate (4.0)
humidity_mid Humidity
72.0%
wb_twilight Sunrise
07:17
nightlight Sunset
18:34

About Lenoir

Learn more about the host city, Lenoir.

Scenic view of

Lenoir is a city in and the county seat of Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,263 at the 2020 census. Lenoir is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. To the northeast are the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hibriten Mountain, located just east of the city limits, marks the western end of the Brushy Mountains range.

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Hotels & Places to Stay

Race Results

Official finishing times from previous editions of Happy Valley Humdinger.

Place Name Time
🥇 Sam Bloodworth 16:58.5
🥈 Brian Ulrich 19:02.6
🥉 Mitch Adams 20:21.9
4 Tory Haas 20:22.6
5 Toby Haas 21:06.8

Runner Reviews

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