Battle at the Border

WRRC Battle at the Border

A cross country style event between the Wilmington Road Runners Club and the Grand Strand Running Club held at Indigo Farms on the border of North Carolina and South Carolina, taking place on the third Saturday in July. The event is organized as a club competition rather than an individual time trial.

The course is a little under 4 miles and routes participants through rugged fields, wooded trails, a bridge, and rocky roads. Much of the route is shaded and it is marked with directional signs, bright tape, and volunteers from each club.

The farm setting includes trees, a lily pond, beehives, crops, chickens, pigs, and occasionally snakes. Each runner receives a numbered popsicle stick at the finish. Men and women are scored separately with an equal number of scorers counted for each gender; the final team score is the sum of both gender scores and the lowest combined score determines the winning team. This format means every runner’s place contributes to the team result.

The event began in 2013 and the two clubs have alternated holding the trophy in subsequent years; the trophy known as Snailey was with the Grand Strand Running Club in 2021. Registration opens June 3, 2026 and closes July 25, 2026 with a fee of $30. Parking will be very limited and carpooling is mandatory. Meeting locations include Whole Foods on Oleander Drive in Wilmington and Port City Java in Brunswick Forest, Leland. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.