Giving Series, Upcoming Races, Youth Team, Awards Night

Spring is in the air!

Alright y’all, quick Upstate Race Series podcast update. We’ve got a lot moving, and it’s all the good stuff. First up, our Giving Series. Through the first two months of 2026, we’ve raised $1,537 directly through the Giving Series program, and we’ve also helped our nonprofit partners bring in over $92,000 in registrations and local support. That’s a big start to the year. Our goal is simple but ambitious: help 30 nonprofits raise a million dollars by the end of the year, and right now… we’re tracking right where we need to be. Thank you for showing up, donating, volunteering, and making “local impact” more than just a slogan. Now, Greenville Half Marathon. What an incredible weekend. Nearly 4,000 runners storming down the Swamp Rabbit Trail, chasing PRs, and collecting first-time half marathon finishes. I’ve been part of this event since the very beginning, and I’ll just say it: watching the growth has been unreal. I even won the half back in 2014, so I’ve had a front row seat to what this race has become. It’s not just a big event, it’s an engine for confidence. You can feel the momentum in the community. And there’s no rest for the wicked, because March is coming in hot. Between March 7th and March 14th, we’ve got 10+ events across the trail, road, and brew series to choose from. If you’re itching to pin a bib again, go check the schedule and jump in. For me personally, I’ll be out at Table Rock State Park with about 300 runners for our annual 25K and 50K, and yes, it’s the one that climbs close to 15,000 feet of elevation. It’s gritty. It’s beautiful. It’s the kind of race that makes your legs file a formal complaint. Then we switch gears and go full festive mode on March 14th at BridgeWay Station for Chase the Rainbow, with over 500 runners celebrating St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Same community, totally different vibe, and I love that we can offer both. Next, mark your calendars for our Club Social and Awards Night. We’re hosting the 2025 Upstate Race Series Age Group Award Night at Lakewood Nature Preserve on Saturday, March 21st. We kick things off at 4:00 PM and we’ll wrap up at 10:00 PM, and you can roll in anytime. This is our chance to celebrate the year: the miles, the muddy shoes, the finish-line photos, and the people that keep this community moving. We’re recognizing our Age Group award winners, giving real appreciation to our volunteers, and honestly just enjoying a night together. Because races don’t happen without runners, but they also don’t happen without the folks showing up early, staying late, filling cups, directing traffic, and somehow still smiling at the end of it. It’s potluck-style, we’ll have drinks and finger food to help fill the gaps, we’ve got an optional group run, awards, volunteer recognition, and we’ll finish with a raffle that’s absolutely worth sticking around for. And yes, the first 100 registered are getting a custom Award Night koozie, bib number, and commemorative sticker. Also: bring a chair. I’m not asking. I’m telling you. Bring a chair. Quick reminder on club member perks: as a club member, you get discounts on 150+ races listed on our site at UpstateRaceSeries.com. And on the club member page, you’ll also find local store discounts at places like Run In, GUTS, Swamp Rabbit Physio, and more. Volunteer program: y’all already know our weekends are full speed. But the truth is, the nonprofits we support are out there Monday through Friday doing the heavy lifting for our communities, whether that’s supporting veterans, caring for animals, or creating structure and opportunity for kids and young adults with special needs. When race day comes around, they need our help to keep the mission rolling. So stay tuned, because we’re working on bringing on a dedicated Upstate Running Club board member to lead the volunteer program and really take it to the next level.

Awards Night, Greenville 13.1, Youth Program, Super Cannoli

Welcome to the Upstate Race Series Podcast. I’m Matthew Hammersmith, and this is your trailhead for running in the Upstate of South Carolina. Here, we talk races, training, community, and the stories that happen in the miles between the start line and the finish line. Whether you’re chasing a PR, chasing a sunrise, or just chasing your friends down the trail, you’re in the right place. Alright. Let’s jump in. First up: results. We had a lovely Valentine’s Day weekend with three events across the Upstate, Cupid Chase, Cupid Shuffle, and our very own Lovers Lane 2 Mile. Lots of fast feet, lots of heart, and at least a few runners who treated “date night” like it was a qualifying race. As always, results are posted on our website, and they’re live on race day. Because nothing keeps a runner humble like refreshing results and realizing someone just passed you… from their couch. We’ve got overall and age group awards on the line, plus the real prizes: Strava kudos, local legend battles, and that one burrito segment somebody takes personally. And hey, if you’re not racing for the podium, that’s still a win. If you’re chasing a personal best, running your first race, or just showing up and getting it done, we’re putting you in the winner’s circle too. Grit counts. Consistency counts. You count. And if you had no dog in the fight, we still saw over 400 of you out at the Super Cannoli Bowl 5K on Super Bowl Sunday at Bridgeway Station, knocking out a quick 5K before kickoff. Consider this one officially on the calendar. Annual event. Same pregame energy, same game face, hopefully fewer nacho-related regrets. Now, speaking of results… let’s talk Awards Night. We have finalized our 2025 Age Group Series for Trail, Road, Brew, and Ultra, and we’ve got the big celebration locked in. Our in-person awards ceremony and member celebration is set for Saturday, March 21st, 2026 at Lakewood Nature Preserve in Greenville. If you need the exact address for your GPS: 220 Lakewood Drive, Greenville, South Carolina, 29607. And let me set the tone here. This isn’t just an awards ceremony. This is our chance to take a breath after an awesome 2025 season and celebrate the people who made it happen: award winners, members, and especially the volunteers who kept showing up weekend after weekend and kept this whole race series rolling. Who’s invited? Pretty much everyone in our orbit. If you’re an Upstate Running Club member, bring your people. If you’re an age group winner, you definitely need to be there. If you volunteered at any Upstate Race Series event, this night is for you. And if you ran even one event in the series, you’re part of the story. We’d love to see you. So again: Saturday, March 21st. Lakewood Nature Preserve. Greenville. Come celebrate the season, the community, and the people who showed up and made 2025 what it was. Alright, moving on to upcoming races. This weekend, our crew heads down to Columbia for the annual Sandhills Trail and Ultra Series at Sesqui State Park. Warm temperatures, early morning dew, and that classic pine-needle trail feel. It’s a whole vibe. If you’re racing, settle in. Be smart. Manage the effort early. Respect the loop. Eat before you’re hungry, drink before you’re thirsty, and don’t wait until you’re in a dark place to remember you own electrolytes. Enjoy the long dance. And a quick shoutout to everyone heading to the sold-out Greenville Half Marathon and 5K. Over 3,000 participants toeing the line for one of the fastest races in South Carolina, with runners coming in from more than 20 different states. Our team will be out there helping as pacers and managing finish line volunteers to make sure every runner gets a strong welcome home. Join us for the Chase the Rainbow 5K at Bridgeway Station on March 14th. Fun, festive, and fully St. Patrick’s Day flavored, with 600 of your closest running friends and a free beer at the finish. Come for the miles, stay for the post-race “I wasn’t even tired” lies.

Giving Series, Upcoming Races, Youth Team, Awards Night

Alright, quick Giving Series update to kick us off. Through the first month of 2026, our Giving Series has raised $516 for our local nonprofit partners. That might sound like a small number on paper, but I want you to remember what it represents: runners showing up, people choosing to add a donation, and local races powering local impact. We’ll keep updating that total each month as we advocate for the events and organizations doing the hard work right here in our community. So thank you for donating, thank you for toeing the line, and thank you for running your own journey. The finish line of this mission isn’t close, but the vision is long, and we’re in it for the miles. Now, speaking of winter miles, I’ve got to give you a weather update. Unfortunately, we did have to cancel two of our annual events for 2026, the Snowbird Challenge and the Ice Breaker 8K. That decision is never fun, but safety has to win. All participants have been deferred to 2027, and for our other events affected by snow, we’ve established make-up dates. We’ll be sending updated details as soon as the snow melts and we can get eyes on the course conditions next week. Alright, shifting gears from weather to people, because I want to give a big shoutout where it’s due. Huge thanks to Josh and Samantha Snyder for their continued support of the Upstate Running Club, our members, the races we support, and especially our competitive youth team. Alright, let’s look ahead, because February is coming in hot, even if the weather isn’t. We’ve got a mix of make-up races and some marquee events that always pull a big crowd. Next weekend we’ll be making up some snow-canceled events with the Battle of the Run Club Trail Series down in Aiken, plus the Cocoa for Children Foundation 5K in Anderson. And on my end, my boots will be on the ground at the Pink 5K, benefiting the Play for Kay cancer foundation. Then as we get closer to Valentine’s Day, you’ve got options. Three solid ones locally: the Cupid Shuffle 5K, the Cupid Chase 5K at Unity Park, and the Lovers Lane 2 Mile at Bridgeway Station. So whether you’re racing, jogging, walking, or just there for the vibes, there’s a start line with your name on it. And then we roll straight into Super Bowl Sunday with one of my favorites, the Super Cannoli 5K. This one finishes with a free beer and a free cannoli, which honestly feels like the most honest type of race award. Registration stays open through race day, and it’ll be held at Bridgeway Station, so come run hard and then celebrate properly. Now if that’s still not enough miles under your feet, let’s talk about the big one. The Greenville Half Marathon and 5K is one of the Upstate’s premier events, and it brings out thousands of runners. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s a great day to PR or just soak up the energy. We’ll have Upstate Running Club pacers leading pace groups down the Swamp Rabbit Trail, and I’ll be at the finish handing out cheers, beers, water, and finisher medals. I can’t wait to see you out there. Alright, one more key date to put on your calendar, because this one’s been a long time coming. Awards Night is back on for March 21st. This is a completely free event that will celebrate our 2025 award winners, but it’s also a thank-you to every club member, volunteer, and person behind the scenes who keeps this thing moving. Join us at the Nature Preserve on March 21st for a few laughs, some stories, and a little celebration of the miles and memories that got us from the start line to the finish.

Weekly Update: Youth, Awards, Oh My

Updates on: * Local Races * Youth Team * Upcoming Events * Awards Night Welcome to the Upstate Race Series Podcast. I’m Matthew Hammersmith, and this is your trailhead for running in the Upstate of South Carolina. Here we talk races, training, community, and the stories that happen between the start and the finish lines. Whether you’re chasing a PR, chasing a sunrise, or just chasing your friends down the trail, you’re in the right place. Let’s get into it. First up, congrats to everyone who showed up and threw down at the Downtown News 5K this past weekend. That race is special to me because it was my very first race in Greenville about thirteen years ago when I moved here. Getting to be out there again with roughly 800 running friends felt like a full-circle moment. And yes, I’m making a slow return to running. Still “retired,” technically. But I laced them up and remembered something important. It felt good to hurt. Now if you’re like most of us, you’re probably still playing catch up after the holidays. The calendar flips, goals come back online, and suddenly the easy pace feels a little less easy. But here’s the good news. The Upstate doesn’t really do an off season. Even with winter sitting on our shoulders, there are plenty of chances to race, train, and build momentum heading into spring. Speaking of chances, this weekend is loaded. We’ve got three local opportunities worth talking about. First is the annual Snowbird Challenge. This one is for the folks who like to go long, or for the people who want to team up and share the load in a relay. If the forecast does what January forecasts do, the relay might be the move. Find a fellow snowbird, huddle up for warmth, and take turns chipping away at the distance. Next is the Cocoa 5K, and this one matters for a couple reasons. One, it’s a fun event. Two, it supports an organization doing real work through our Giving Series, benefiting Homes for Children. This is a thread we’ll keep weaving into the podcast this year. In 2026, the Upstate Race Series Giving Program is in full swing. When you donate through our events, you’re directly supporting one of 30 local nonprofit partners right here in the Upstate. Every dollar goes to organizations serving families, supporting kids, promoting health, caring for animals, protecting the environment, and doing the behind-the-scenes work that holds a community together. And last but not least, we’ve got the Battle of the Run Clubs down in Aiken. It’s a perfect excuse to escape the cold snap rolling into the Upstate, and it’s a great chance to settle the score between all the amazing run clubs that make up our running community. Friendly competition, loud cheer sections, and bragging rights. What could possibly go wrong? Quick community highlight: the Upstate Running Club Youth Team showed up big this weekend. We headed up to Tryon, North Carolina for our second indoor meet of the season at the Tryon Equestrian Center, and the crew came ready. We rolled in with 35 athletes and left with fresh PRs, podium hardware, and the best kind of finish line photos, big smiles and tired legs. Proud of the athletes, proud of the families, and proud of everyone helping build the next generation one lap at a time. A couple quick updates before we close. We’ve gotten great feedback on the quarterly URC and URS newsletter, and we’re keeping it going. If you’d like to contribute or nominate a runner for a spotlight, email us at UpstateRaceSeries@gmail.com and we’ll connect you with Sticky McGoo, our newsletter editor.

Giving Series - New Foundations Home for Children

Welcome back to the Upstate Race Series Podcast. I’m Matthew Hammersmith, and this is your Giving Series spotlight for a race that turns a simple Saturday morning run into real support for kids and families in our community. Mark your calendar for Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. in Anderson. It’s the New Foundations Home for Children Cocoa 5K, a timed 5K on mostly paved paths around the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Center complex, with the start area at 3027 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. This is an approachable course whether you’re chasing a PR, running your first 5K, pushing a stroller, or just rolling in with friends for the vibes. And yes, cocoa is part of the plan. Here’s why this one matters. New Foundations Home for Children is based in Anderson and has served South Carolina since 1974, originally founded as the Anderson Youth Association. Their work supports foster and at-risk children and helps families work through trauma and mental health challenges through a full continuum of care: residential services, foster care, in-home family preservation and intervention, and transportation services. On the residential side, New Foundations serves youth ages 10 to 21 in a structured, staff-intensive setting in Anderson County, using strength-based, trauma-informed approaches with a focus on well-being and family permanency. In the community, they recruit, license, and support foster homes, and they provide in-home case management designed to strengthen and preserve families. Their motto says it plainly: “Whatever it takes.” They’re also licensed through the South Carolina Department of Social Services and nationally accredited through COA, with accreditation dating back to 1995. That combination of local roots and high standards is exactly what the Giving Series is about: showing up for organizations doing steady, meaningful work all year long. A few quick race notes so you can plan: this event is rain or shine, but severe weather like thunderstorms could cause a cancellation. And if you want a guaranteed race shirt, make sure you register by January 9, 2026. So here’s the invitation: come run, jog, or walk the Cocoa 5K and turn your miles into momentum for children and families across South Carolina. Bring a friend. Bring the family. Bring that “new year, new habits” energy and aim it at a cause that matters. To learn more about New Foundations Home for Children, visit their website. And to register for the Cocoa 5K, hop on the race page and lock it in before the shirt deadline. I’ll see you in Anderson on January 24th. Let’s run for warmth, run for community, and run for the future, whatever it takes.