Cancelled Event
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
2024 Participant Guide
See pdf here.
Packet Pickup and Start
The 2024 race will start at 9:30am.
PACKET PICKUP: There are two options to pick up packets.
Friday, November 1, 3:00 to 6:00PM at Jus Running, 523 Merrimon Ave.
Saturday, November 2, 8:30-9:30 AM at NC Arboretum
Current-Course Records:
Women -Karen Strickland - 3:58:55
Men - Morgan Elliot - 2:55:50
Course Info for 2024
The 2024 course will be the same as 2023. The race start will be 9:30 AM. The cutoff times will be 2:15 at Bent Creek
Road, 4:15 at Hwy 151 and 5:15 at Buck Springs Overlook (these are total elapsed times).
The course changes were implemented in 2023 due to the Blue Ridge Parkway requirement that it or
any other races can no longer finish on the Parkway. The race will start at the NC
Arboretum at the original start and continue on the same course as in the past to the Mt
Pisgah parking area. At this point it will continue one tenth of a mile on the paved road to
the Buck Springs Overlook on the left. Runners will reenter the Mtn to Sea Trail on the
right side of that overlook. Runners never reach the parkway during that one tenth of a
mile paved stretch. Once on the Mtn to Sea Trail, runners will go one half mile to a two
way intersection and will bear left onto the Laurel Mtn Trail. Runners will stay on this
trail for 1 1/2 miles until the next intersection. Runners will take a right onto the Laurel
Mtn Connector Trail for three tenths of a mile until it reaches the next intersection. At this
intersection runners will take a left onto the Pilot Rock Trail and run for 1.85 miles until
they reach Yellow Gap RD(FSR 1206). At Yellow Gap Road they will go right for seven
tenths of a mile until they reach the left that takes them to Wolf Ford Horse Camp. After
that left they will go one tenth of a mile and take a left into the campground and finish
about half of a tenth into the finish line. The new distance for the course will be 22.6
miles. This new 4.8 mile section is EXTREMELY technical and slow except for the last
dirt road section.
Runners support may see the race as in past years until the Buck Spring Overlook just
below the old finish line. After that, they will need to drive down the parkway to Hwy
276 and take a left towards Brevard. Yellow Gap Road (FSR 1206) will be 1-2 miles on
the left down Hwy 276 and is the first possible left that you can take. Once you turn left
you will drive 3.3 miles on Yellow Gap Rd until you take a right into Wolf Ford Horse
Camp. Cars will be waved into the campground and directed where to park. Keep in mind
that Yellow Gap Rd is a narrow dirt road with a number of one car at a time bridges to
cross. Two cars may pass each other along the road but will need to pass slowly and pull
close to the edge of their side of the road. Do NOT SPEED on this road. It can be a
dangerous road if any speed is involved. Be patient.
2023 Course Map:
History
The origins of the Shut In race date back to December 13, 1980, when some 64 intrepid men and women assembled to clamor over rocks, roots, and fallen leaves as they followed the trail of the same name originally blazed by George Vanderbilt that led from his home, Biltmore, to his hunting lodge up on Mount Pisgah. Runners have continued that tradition now for 40 years, making Shut In one of the oldest continuous-running races in the region.
Awards/Swag
POST-RACE CELEBRATION AND AWARDS CEREMONY: Handmade stained glass awards given to Top 20 Women and Top 20 Men. Top 5 Women and Top 5 Men also generally receive cash awards. Awards ceremony location will be announced later.
Our Generous Sponsors
Gold-
Silver -
Running Is Life Coaching
Michigan Bluff Social Club
Hub Multisport
Anti-Fragile PT
Bronze-
Keith Woods
Victor G. Dostrow, MD FAES
Friends of Shut In-
Jim Davis
Cut-Off Times
The cutoff times will be 2:15 at Bent Creek Road, 4:15 at Hwy 151 and 5:15 at Buck Springs Overlook. These are total elapsed times, not time of day.
Registration Cutoff
Registration will close at 11:59 PM on October 27, 2024.
Aid Stations
Aid stations are WATER ONLY (no food). All water stops are listed below. Crew are allowed to help runners with nutrition at the aid stations. There will be more significant food and beverages at the Finish.
Hard Times Road (top)
Walnut Cove Overlook
Sleepy Gap Overlook
Bent Creek Gap
Beaverdam Overlook
Stony Bald Overlook
Big Ridge Overlook
Mills River Valley Overlook
Highway 151 Overlook
Refunds/Cancellation
If you need to cancel your registration you can do so until the end of the day on October 1, for a 100% refund on your entry fee (not including the Ultrasignup fee). There will be no further refunds after that date.
We do not offer bib transfers or deferrals.
To withdraw/cancel: If you would like to withdraw your name from an event, simply log into your account and navigate to your "Registration History" link. You may cancel your order there.
If you did not register when logged in, you can still use the "edit" link on your confirmation email.
Event's current local time: 6:52 AM ET
