SPRUCE PINE — It's not just sweat you'll see dripping down the runners as they cross the finish line at the Springmaid Splash trail run on Saturday.
It will also be a little leftover river water from the four crossings through the Toe River in Spruce Pine, making the unique 10K a difficult yet irresistible race for local runners.
"Trail running is catching on, plus it's a little bit different with the water crossings," race director Matt Hollifield said. "That kind of intrigues people."
The race, now in its third year, takes place at Springmaid Mountain, a 400-acre retreat on the North Toe River in Mitchell County. The course includes two river crossings in the first mile, a lot of mountain running and two more river crossings in the last mile.
With about 5oo runners expected to toe the line, Hollifield admits the race, which benefits Hospice of Mitchell County, has become a success with participation more than doubling since its inception.
And in that crowd of runners are perennial favorites, including Asheville top runners Will Harlan and Anne Riddle Lundblad, who each won in last year's race and will be back Saturday.
"I'm just tickled," Hollifield said. "I'm amazed (these top runners) like it so well. They have really complimented the race."
Lundblad, an ultrarunner training for the World Cup 100K in South Korea, will run Saturday for a "speed workout," she said.
She loves the course but also loves the cause, she said, especially after she and her husband — ultrarunner Mark Lundblad — spent so much time at the hospice in Asheville, where Mark's mother spent time before dying from cancer.
"And there are not many shorter, faster trail races around," said Lundblad, 40, who is running 85 to 95 miles a week. "There's Shut-In (an 18-mile run to Mount Pisgah), Mount Mitchell (a 40-mile up Mitchell). It's fun to do something that's not an epic race but still an adventure and still tests your toughness. It's the hardest 10K I've ever done in my life."
Along with the 6.2-mile race, the event also offers a three-mile run/walk, called Peace Like a River Memorial Trail Walk, for those looking for something shorter or for those wanting to walk in memory of someone. Spectators also have the opportunity to be "Proud in the Crowd," where they can donate $20 to hospice and receive a T-shirt and goodie bag. There is no cost to watch the race.
Hollifield, a runner and hospice board member, can't help but be excited about the buzz around his race.
"I did a Google search on it the other night just to see — it was kind of neat where I saw all the mentions of it. There were a lot of blogs. I saw a lot of different comments," he said.
IF YOU GO:
• What: Springmaid Splash & Hospice Extreme Challenge 10K trail race and 5K run/walk.
• When: 8:30 a.m. Racers should arrive at least an hour early to take a shuttle to the race site.
• Cost: $20 on Active.com through today and $25 on Friday or race day on location.
• Directions: Springmaid Mountain is a little more than an hour from Asheville. Take Interstate 40 east toward Statesville. Take Exit 85 toward Marion onto U.S. 221. From the intersection of U.S. 221 and N.C. 226, go north at stop light on U.S. 221/N.C. 226. Continue until third stoplight, turning left onto N.C. 226 and following it up a steep mountain ascent, where you will cross under the Blue Ridge Parkway. Turn right onto Halltown Road and then right onto Altapass Highway. Turn left onto Humpback Mountain Road just beyond the Altapass Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station. Continue straight on Henredon Road.