Perennial: a Time Based Endurance Run

Perennial: A Time Based Endurance Run

Perennial is a time based running event held on March 7, 2026 at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina. Participants choose a 3 Hour, 6 Hour, or 10 Hour category and run repeated laps on a looped course. Each lap is about 5K and follows waterfront trails on the conservancy grounds, with roughly 95% trails and crushed gravel.

The course starts and finishes at a central Race HQ that includes an aid station at the start and finish of each lap. Water, Tailwind, and soda are provided at Race HQ; participants are expected to be largely self sufficient for their main nutrition. Bathrooms are nearby but not inside Race HQ. The event is cup free and safety pin free.

Runners are ranked by total laps completed, then by elapsed time within their chosen category. Mid-race breaks are allowed and any distance covered after a category’s time concludes does not count toward standings. Prizes escalate with accumulated distance and certain lap counts are noted as approximate equivalents to standard distances.

The event limits registration to 150 entrants total and directs additional donor funds to Daniel Stowe Conservancy. The organizer also collects used shirts, sneakers, and medals for recycling and works with local partners and sponsors. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.