Ultimate Runner

Runners of all ages and abilities are invited to escape the ho-hum of ordinary road races.

Five events in one night, four on the track and a 5K cross country. You must complete all five events to get a finishing score and receive the coveted Ultimate Runner t-shirt and a 4.91 Ultimate Runner car decal.  The order of events is 1 mile, 400m, 800m, 100m, 5K XC.  Track events are run in heats based upon submitted seed times.

Click below to download a copy of the 2019 Ultimate Runners results as of 6/30/2019

Online Results - Click Here

Awards Summary - Click Here

Printable Results - Click Here

There are plenty of parking spaces available around the park. Best opportunities for parking are in the Tennis Court parking lot across from the Y or in the reverse diagonal spots along Northwest Blvd.  Parking is also available in the YMCA Parking Lot, the PPS Parking Lot off Northwest Blvd., or street side parking on surrounding roads.  

The final event is a 5K race run on a cross country style course mostly on foot paths and trails.  The race starts and finishes on the track and does a couple of complete lap within the perimeter of Hanes Park and the nearby school grounds of Brunson Elementary School, including a crossing beneath the Glade Street bridge on both sides of Peters Creek.

Here are turn by turn directions.  A downloadable course map can be round at the link below.

1.    Start on the track and run 1.25 laps
2.    Exit the track on the bridge over Peters Creek toward the playground
3.    Turn left after crossing the pedestrian bridge and follow the path along the creek
4.    Turn left on the next pedestrian bridge over the creek
5.    Turn right on the path around the outside of the baseball field
6.    Turn left on the roadway back towards the track
7.    Continue of the roadway past the track and straight onto the path/sidewalk next to the tennis courts
8.    Continue on the path next to the field behind Wiley School to a pedestrian bridge
9.    Cross the bridge and bear left on the path
10.    Continue on the path beneath the Glade Street bridge (creek on your left)
11.    Continue on the path with the creek on the left
12.    Turn left on the 2nd pedestrian bridge toward the main entrance to Brunson School
13.    Turn left after crossing the bridge following the path back toward Hanes Park
14.    Continue on the path beneath the Glade Street bridge (creek on your left)
15.    Continue on the path with the athletic fields on your right
16.    Pass the tennis courts on your right and repeat steps 3-16
17.    On the second loop, turn left on the pedestrian bridge after passing the tennis courts
18.    Follow the sidewalk to the track and turn right running in the outer three lanes
19.    Complete one lap of the track and continue on the inner lanes
20.    Finish at the same finish line of other events

This is the real fun part, normally begins are 8 PM. Spend the evening at the post-race awards ceremony at Joymongers Barrel Hall across the street from Hanes Park. All entrants and volunteers are invited. Guests are also welcome for a nominal fee. Guest tickets are $15 with beer and $5 without beer.  If you have already registered, you can add guest tickets to your registration up through the day before the event. Log into your RunSignUp profile, select Manage Registration and then select Update Add-Ons.  More info here.

NEW FORMAT FOR AWARDS CEREMONY!
In response to participant feedback, the awards ceremony will be condensed this year to recognize participants in groups rather then one at a time.  And t-shirts will be presented at the race as participants finish the 5K rather than at the awards ceremony.

Each finisher of all 5 events will be receive a coveted Ultimate Runner T-shirt and 4.91 decal. As dictated by tradition, all unearned T-shirts will be burned in the parking lot following the Awards Ceremony.

Joymongers Address:
480 W End Blvd.
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

PARTY AND AWARDS CEREMONY This is the real fun part, normally begins are 8 PM. Spend the evening at the post-race awards ceremony at Vintage Sofa Bar  on Burke Street. All entrants and volunteers are invited. Guests are also welcome for a nominal fee. Guest tickets are $15 with beer and $5 without beer.  

If you have already registered, you can add guest tickets to your registration up through the day of the event. Log into your RunSignUp profile, select Manage Registration and then select Update Add-Ons.  More info here.  Guest tickets may also be purchased at the door - cash only.

Each finisher of all 5 events will be recognized individually and presented with the coveted Ultimate Runner T-shirt and 4.91 decal. As dictated by tradition, all unearned T-shirts will be burned in the parking lot following the Awards Ceremony.

Vintage Sofa Bar Address:
1001 Burke St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

End of 2024 Race:

Final Heat Assignments have been published.  Click here to view the heats.
Live Results will be available on race day here: Ultimate Runner Live Race Results
Registration is now closed.
Expedited awards process this year. Shirts will be distributed as participants complete the 5K race. At the post race party, awards will be distributed in groups rather than 1 person at a time. After Party Info Here
Partial refund availability period extended until June 12, 2024.

FANTASTIC FINISHERS AWARDS: Each entrant who finishes all five events will receive a shirt specially designed for Ultimate Runner. Those that don't will have their shirts burned in the post-race ceremony and deposited on the track before next year's event. Results will be posted on-line.

TOP FINISHERS will be receive gift certificates from Fleet Feet.

SPECIALLY DESIGNED Porcelain Mugs will be presented as follows:

Males
Top 15 Overall plus first finisher in the following age groups:
14 and under
15-19
20-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70 & over

Females
Top 5 Overall plus first finisher in the following age groups:
14 and under
15-19
20-29
30-34
35-39
40-49
50-59
60 & over

All competitors will be scored by place finish in each event with low point total winning. You must complete all five events to score.

Tie-breaker: Only to determine award winners, ties in total points are broken as follows: (1) a tie between two runners -- the higher place goes to the runner who bested the other runner in three events; (2) a tie between more than two runners -- the places are decided by 800m times, except that the places of the final two runners are decided by rule (1) for a tie between two runners.

Updated 6/6/2021

Masks will be optional at the event.  Masks are recommended for anyone who has not been fully vaccinated.

Spectators will be allowed this year with a requirement they follow COVID related requirements specified by North Carolina and the City of Winston-Salem. 

COVID Supplies – Disposable masks will be made available to all participants and volunteers. Hand sanitizing stations will be located in several convenient locations at the race site.

The above guidelines are based upon the latest guidance from the CDC and compliance with local and state regulations.  Plans may be revised if conditions change between now and the day of event.

Hanes Park is located in the West End area of Winston-Salem. The best parking is in the lot next to the tennis courts across the street from the William G. White YMCA located at 775 West End Blvd.  Use your GPS to find the best route for getting to Hanes Park. 

The Post Race Party and Awards ceremony will be held immediately following the race (approx. 8pm) at a separate location.  Click here for After Party information.

Final Race Heats - Updated on 6/23/2025 at 5:00pm

Final heats have been completed and bib numbers assigned.

Heat information is in the attached pdf file below.

We will have live race day results available online.  These results will show the finishing times and placements for each event.  Final scoring will be computed offline and will be be posted on this website later in the evening after the event has completed.

2021 Live Race Day Results Link

Final Scoring and Placement Results Link

Prior Year Overall Winners - Click Here

Ultimate Records by Event - Click Here

For Ultimate Race results prior to 2016 - Click Here

For a pdf file of all Ultimate Participants from 1988 through 2013, click on the icon link below.

The time between events varies depending on the event and what heat you're in. Start to finish it lasts about 3 1/2 hours. We do 8 heats for each event (except for 100 and the 5K). There are 2-3 minutes between each event.  See the RACE DAY SCHEDULE ON THE HOME PAGE HERE.

There are 8-16 people in each heat, fewer in the faster heats, more in the slower heats. The exact number varies from year to year depending on the seed times of those that register. We try to group people so everyone has someone to compete against. The same people will be in each heat of the Mile, 400, and 800. The 100 is run in groups of 6. The 5K is run all at once, with a short break between the start of 5K heats 1 and 2.

No starting blocks, of any type, are allowed in any of the events. Runners may wear spiked shoes in any of the events, but the spikes may not exceed 1/4”.

Any runner who fails to check-in to their assigned heat on time will be disqualified.

All participants will be required to sign a race day waiver when they check-in.  Participants are encouraged to print, read, and sign a copy of the waiver and bring it to check-in to speed up the process.  Please note that participants under the age of 18 must have the signature of a parent or guardian.  Download the pdf file below for a copy of the race day waiver. 

For 2020 only, full refunds will be offered up until 1 week prior to the event.  Participants will be able to defer until 2021 if they withdraw at anytime prior to the event.   Click here to go to the refund page.

THERE IS NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION. Entries must be received by the online registration close, no exceptions. The field is limited in size and typically fills up before registration closes.  Register early to avoid disappointment. Registration opens April 15.  The entry fee is $65 and increases to $75 after May 15. TCTC members pay $60, $70 after May 15.   If you are wait-listed you will not be charged until a spot opens and you accept the spot through RunSignUp. Entry fees are partially refundable up through and June 11.  More information here - Refund Policy.  Entries are not transferable.

VERY IMPORTANT Runner Check-In: All runners must check in at the Hanes Park Track by 4:00 p.m. to receive their number. Unclaimed bibs will be discarded after 4:00 to expedite scoring, so be prompt. Check-In begins at 3:00 p.m. First event at 4:30 p.m. sharp. Seeding information will be posted on-line prior to the event. Runners will receive several emails in advance of the event confirming their information and seed time, seeding changes are available up until the Sunday before the event. It is important that participants look for these confirmation emails and notify us of changes. Make sure email from twincitytc.org or online registration is not screened by spam filters. Seeding and registration questions are handled ONLY by sending an email to the race director.

Version 1 of mile seed times are now posted.  Click on the pdf file link below to see the current seed times for all participants.

All participants are required to enter an estimate 1 mile race time when registering.  Your estimated mile time will be used for seeding in all events.  Please be realistic --- you don't want to be placed in a heat that is too fast or too slow for you.  If you decide to change your mile seed time after registering, you can self manage this change up until 2 weeks before the race.  Log into your RunSignUp profile, select Manage Registration and then select Update Question Responses.  More info here.

Or you can send an email to ultimate@twincitytc.org and we will change the time for you.

Things will be a little bit different this year.  But we are racing!

Online registration will open at 5:30am on August 1st. A wait list will go into effect after the first 75 people have registered.
Registration will be capped at 75 people, with three groups of 25 runners that will be kept separate at the event.
Participants are expected to practice safe social distancing, especially in between events when not on the track.  Participants should try to maintain 6 feet of distance from others.  Masks are encouraged when in close proximity to others when off the track. 

The event will be conducted without spectators to reduce the size of the event.  Please do not bring family or friends that are not participating in the event.

Water will not be provided, please bring your own. Ice will be available.
Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the event.
The 5k will have a staggered start. 
Post race, there will be no awards ceremony or food provided. T-shirts will be distributed immediately following the 5k. Results will be published online, and awards will be mailed.

Of note, registration was unintentionally open for a few hours on May 15 and a  few people registered during this time period.

The Summer Track Series leading up to the Ultimate Runner will be held August 5th, 12th, and 19th at the Hanes Park Track.

• 2025 Results Link here!

• 2025 Awards here!

• 2025 Printable Results here!

• Live Results by Event here!

• The 40th Annual Ultimate Runner will be held on June 27, 2026!

3:00 PM             Runner Check-In/Bib Pickup Opens
4:00 PM             Deadline For Bib Pickup (NO EXCEPTIONS)
4:20 PM             Race Announcements
4:30PM              Mile Heats Begin
5:30PM (est.)     400m Heats Begin*
5:50PM (est.)     800m Heats Begin*
6:30 PM (est.)    100m Heats Begin*
7:15 PM (est.)    5K Begins*
8:00 PM (est.)    Post Race Party and Awards

*Note:  We’ll move things along as quickly as possible.  If we get ahead of schedule, then heats will begin earlier than the estimated times shown above.  Keep alert.  Any runner who fails to check-in to their assigned heat on time will be disqualified.

We will not delay the start, and you must check in by 4:00 in order to participate. There are lots of places to park around Hanes Park. Please allow plenty of time for any driving and parking issues.

The TCTC Summer Track Series is a great tune-up for the Ultimate Runner Event.  The Summer Track Series (4 meets) is held at the Bob Sosnik Track at Hanes Park, near the R.J. Reynolds High School gym in Winston-Salem. For 2025, the first meet is on Wednesday, May 28 and continues on June 4, 11 and 18.  All of the meets start at 6:00 PM. There is no entry fee. You may run as many events as you like. These events are for runners of all abilities and ages. We will have a digital clock set up, but there will be no official timekeeping or records kept.

Click here for more details about the Summer Track Series.

When registering for the race, participants will be given the opportunity to purchase race insurance in the event they are unable to attend the event due to injury, illness, family emergencies, work travel conflicts and more.  See more info about insurance cost by clicking here.

Got some used running shoes you need to get get rid of?  Bring them to the race.  We will be collecting gently worn, used sneakers and running shoes and sending them to Sneakers4Good.  Their sneaker reuse and recycling program helps keep your running shoes out of landfills while supporting local causes and families all over the world. 

Ultimate Runner was featured in the April 1997 edition of Runner’s World magazine. Race Director Sandy Wetherhold convinced Runner's World contributing author, Don Kardong, to participate in the 1996 Ultimate Runner competition. The 8-page article was published the next spring.  Kardong was an outstanding runner himself, finishing a close fourth in the marathon at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, just three seconds behind the bronze medal winner.

Click on the pdf icon beneath this image to view the full article.