The Golden Hour
Date and time
Sunday, November 28, 2027
Location
220 Lakewood Drive, Greenville, SC
Date and time
Sunday, November 28, 2027
Location
220 Lakewood Drive, Greenville, SC
Date and time
Sunday, November 28, 2027
Location
220 Lakewood Drive, Greenville, SC
Upstate Race Series / Upstate Trail Series
The Golden Hour
1 HR
Morning · Evening · Golden Double
Sunrise. Sunset. Everything In Between.
Sun, Nov 28
2027
7:16 AM
first start
Lakewood Nature Preserve
Greenville, SC
Register
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Race Day Details
Sunday, November 28, 2027 at Lakewood Nature Preserve, 220 Lakewood Drive, Greenville, SC 29607. Get directions.
7:16 AM
Morning Golden Hour
We'll start as the sun comes up. You have 60 minutes. The course is a one-mile loop. Your mission is simple: complete as many full one-mile laps as you want before the Golden Hour expires.
8:16 AM
Pancakes
When the hour is over, stick around — we'll have free pancakes waiting for our morning runners as the Golden Hour Festival gets underway.
Midday
The Golden Hours Festival
Between our sunrise and sunset races, we'll turn the venue into a fall festival for runners, families, kids, and anyone who wants to spend a beautiful fall afternoon outside.
4:19 PM
Evening Golden Hour
As the day begins to fade, we'll line up and do it all over again. One mile. One hour. As many complete laps as your legs will give you.
5:19 PM
S'mores
Race through sunset before gathering around the fire for free s'mores and the final celebration of The Golden Hour.
After
Results and photos
Live results post to the RunSignUp results page as each runner finishes. Free event photos are usually up within 48–72 hours on our Facebook page — we'll tag the album so it's easy to find.
The Golden Hour
An all-day fall running festival featuring two completely different one-hour races — connected by four hours of food, music, games, and fall festivities.
There are two Golden Hours. One arrives as the sun rises. The other appears just before it disappears. The Golden Hour celebrates both.
1 Mile Loop × 60 Minutes
Run it. Walk it. Race it. Just make sure you're across the line before the clock hits 1:00:00.
The Rules
Only completed laps count — no partial-lap credit.
Morning and Evening participants each receive their respective finisher medal.
Overall awards are reserved exclusively for participants completing both Golden Hours, determined by combined mileage from the two races.
The Morning Golden Hour
We'll start as the sun comes up. You have 60 minutes. The course is a one-mile loop. Your mission is simple: complete as many full one-mile laps as you want before the Golden Hour expires.
Every lap must be completed before the 60-minute mark to count. Partial laps don't count.
When the hour is over, stick around — we'll have free pancakes waiting for our morning runners as the Golden Hour Festival gets underway.
The Golden Hours Festival
The race may stop. The energy doesn't.
Between our sunrise and sunset races, we'll turn the venue into a fall festival for runners, families, kids, and anyone who wants to spend a beautiful fall afternoon outside. Run in the morning. Bring the family. Grab some food. Play some games. Hang out with friends. Then get ready to race again.
The Family Zone
Pumpkin PaintingFall Face PaintingInflatable Obstacle CourseYard GamesKids' Scavenger HuntHay-Bale Play AreaTemporary TattoosFriendship-Bracelet StationMini Kids' DashCostume ContestPumpkin Rolling RaceFamily RelayCornholeGiant Jenga & Connect FourGolden Mile Kids Challenge
Plus local food vendors and a small makers market running all afternoon — jump in, jump out, no rigid schedule required.
The Social Scene (20s & up)
MusicCornhole TournamentSpikeballPop-Up PickleballFood TrucksLocal Brewery & Cider VendorsTriviaTeam Relay CompetitionsBest Fall Outfit ContestPhoto BoothCollege Football on the Big ScreenRecovery & Stretching Area
The Golden Games
A ridiculous mid-festival competition: beer-stein hold, pumpkin carry, partner wheelbarrow race, and the 100-meter costume dash.
Under consideration: an AM-vs-PM festival competition, where morning and evening runners earn points throughout the afternoon — stay tuned for details.
The Evening Golden Hour
As the day begins to fade, we'll line up and do it all over again. One mile. One hour. As many complete laps as your legs will give you.
Race through sunset before gathering around the fire for free s'mores and the final celebration of The Golden Hour.
The Golden Double
Want the full experience? Run both Golden Hours. Complete your morning race, enjoy the festival, then return to the starting line as the sun begins to fall.
Your mileage from both races combines to determine our Golden Hour Overall Champions — overall awards are based only on combined AM + PM results.
How many miles can you complete between sunrise and sunset?
Three Ways to Experience It
Sign Up for Morning
One-hour sunrise race
Free post-race pancakes
Morning Golden Hour finisher medal
Sign Up for Night
One-hour sunset race
Free post-race s'mores
Evening Golden Hour finisher medal
The Golden Double
Race the sunrise
Spend the afternoon at the festival
Race the sunset
Complete the full Golden Hour experience
Eligible for Overall Golden Hour Awards
What's Included
✓
Golden Hour Gear Every registrant earns a custom Golden Hour finisher medal — and Golden Hour tees and socks are available in the apparel store.
Race Awards
Overall — Golden Hour Champions
Reserved for Golden Double finishers. The top three men and top three women by combined AM + PM mileage each take home a Golden Hour trophy.
Age Group Awards
Awarded separately for the Morning and Evening races, based on laps completed in that race. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each of the 15 age groups above earn a Golden Hour age group medal.
Series Recognition
The Golden Hour also counts toward the Upstate Trail Series — every lap here adds to your series standing alongside every other Trail Series race this year.
Upstate Trail Series
Age Group Categories
0–9
10–12
13–16
17–19
20–29
30–34
35–39
40–44
45–49
50–54
55–59
60–64
65–69
70–79
80+
Golden Double runners are scored for age group medals in both races and remain eligible for Overall honors.
Giving Back
This race supports
Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas
Pays for travel, lodging and meals so Carolina families can get their child to cancer treatment. They host their own race too: Upstate Strut.
Visit Children's Cancer Partners of the CarolinasUpstate StrutDonate Every Upstate Race Series event is part of the Upstate Giving Series, which connects our 30 races with 30 nonprofit organizations serving communities across the Upstate. Your registration and any donation you add at checkout go to work close to home — you are not just running a race, you are funding the work of a neighbor. Upstate Giving Series.
Groups & Teams
$5 Discount & Refund for Groups with 5+ Members
Running with a crew? Groups of 5 or more registrants receive a $5 discount and refund per person. The Upstate Running Club welcomes all local and regional running clubs to race with us.
Create or join a race group
Good to Know
What does the Fair Pass include?
The Fair Pass is general festival admission for anyone who wants to spend the day without racing — it gets you into the Family Zone, the Social Scene, and the Golden Games from 7:00AM to 6:00PM, no bib required.
What should I bring?
Late-November mornings and evenings run cold even when the afternoon warms up — layers you can shed are your friend for both Golden Hours. If you're going for Best Fall Outfit or the Costume Contest, wear it to the start line.
Can spectators come watch?
Spectators are welcome. Runner parking fills up race morning — if you're only here to cheer, plan for overflow parking nearby. You'll see your runner pass by every lap.
When will results and photos be available?
Live results post to the RunSignUp results page as each runner finishes. Free event photos are usually up within 48–72 hours on our Facebook page — we'll tag the album so it's easy to find.
Are kids and strollers welcome?
Yes — the mid-day Golden Hours Festival between the sunrise and sunset races is built for families.
Managing Your Registration
Head to your RunSignUp profile any time before race day to:
✓
Transfer your entry to another runner
✓
Switch between Morning, Evening, or the Golden Double
✓
Transfer to a different Upstate Race Series event
✓
Edit your personal details
✓
Manage add-ons, store, and apparel purchases
All entries are final — no refunds and no deferrals.
Manage my registration
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Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas
Upstate Strut
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