Sat, Oct 10, 2026

Ache Around the Lake

Tryon, NC

Registration openAnnual since at least 2017

8K2 Miles1 Mile

Entry is $30 now and rises to $35 after Sep 15, 2026, so registering before then saves $5.

About the Ache Around the Lake

The course circles Lake Lanier, crossing between two states along the way. It starts with a descent, then hits a steep climb early that earns its name, and the hills keep coming from there. This is not a course built for fast times; the terrain demands attention the whole way around, and even strong runners find themselves working hard on the climbs.

Packet pickup happens race morning in the parking lot of the start venue, the Tryon Antique Mall on Trade Street. The race starts and finishes there as well. Food is promised after the race, and the organizers are clear they take the post-race spread seriously.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.

8K · 2025 results

65finishers

28:45winner

45:08median

1:37:50cutoff

Top 3: Kevin Codd (28:45) · N. Hammond (31:07) · Jennifer Fisher (31:18)

2 Miles · 2025 results

46finishers

12:55winner

25:37median

49:52cutoff

Top 3: Max Butterfield (12:55) · Alex Chambers (12:55) · Acer Eadus (13:55)

The Ache Around the Lake has been held every year since at least 2017. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 8K results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

8K10/10/2026 08:00$40

2 Miles10/10/2026 08:05$30

1 Mile10/10/2026 08:15Free

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Common Questions About the Ache Around the Lake

Will I finish last at the Ache Around the Lake?

Almost certainly not. Half the 8K field finished slower than 45:08, and the last recorded finisher came in around 1:37:50, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the Ache Around the Lake a good first 8K?

It is a small race (65 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 8K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the Ache Around the Lake?

The 8K winner ran 28:45 while the median finisher took 45:08. That spread points to a mixed field, with a competitive front and a big recreational middle.