Oct. 5: Uphill run will benefit Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex
By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

The first “Howard’s Knob Twilight Run, Walk, and Crawl” will kick off what organizers hope will be an annual test of endurance that grades out as a successful fundraiser.

The uphill run is sponsored by the High Country Soccer Association and Footsloggers, and according to HCSA president Fay Binning, it could become part of a three-pronged challenge for runners. The HCSA already hosts a seven-mile race in Valle Crucis annually and is hoping to add a half-marathon run next year.

The “Avalanche Triple Crown” might even have a cash prize to entice competitive runners.

Binning said while other people have discussed a run up Howard’s Knob in Boone, this would be the first large-scale competitive event following the two-mile course to the top.

The run will take place Oct. 5, beginning at the Watauga County Public Library in Boone at 6 p.m. The race will end at the county park on top of the Knob.

Binning said the race is designed for both elite competitors and those who run for fun, describing the course as “two miles of sheer hill.”

The race covers nearly 1,200 feet of elevation, mostly following Junaluska Road. All event participants receive a T-shirt and medallion, with the top three male and female finishers receiving trophies. Shuttle transportation will be provided back down from the Knob after the race, and finish times can be combined with results from “The Bear” to help determine “The King and Queen of the Mountain.”

Entry fee for the race is $20 if made prior to Sept. 30 and $25 after that, with registration available online at www.hcavalanche.org. In addition to Footsloggers, other sponsors include Café Portofino, Friends of the Watauga County Public Library, Mast General Store, Delta Tau Delta, High Country Waste Solutions, Alpine Cleaning & Restoration, High Country Rental and the Boone Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Proceeds will help fund construction of the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex on the county’s Brookshire Road property in Boone.

Grading work is underway on the 75-acre site, which the county purchased last year. About 10 to 12 acres is under development for two full-sized soccer fields, which can be divided for seven-on-seven play. The field will have artificial field turf and is part of an ambitious soccer expansion conducted by the county and HCSA in a public-private partnership.

The county is providing the land and grading work while the HCSA is privately raising nearly $2 million to build a soccer complex and stadium that is suitable for tournaments and year-round play. The county and HCSA are developing a joint-use agreement that will allow for county recreational programs to share the fields.

“It’s moving along beautifully,” Binning said. “We’ve met with Medallion Athletics, which will be doing the finish grading and turf, and we’re working on the lighting. This will be a turnkey operation as soon as we finish it.”

Binning said while the complex is specifically geared to soccer, it will be used for other sports as a practice field and possibly holding lacrosse matches. He said the installation of turf, while more expensive up front, will create a four-season playing field with low maintenance costs. “It should be used all the time, promoting fitness, healthy living and exercise,” Binning said.

The first phase of the project will cost HCSA $1.3 million and is scheduled for completion by the end of fall, getting its first real use during the spring soccer season. Later phases of the project include the installation of restrooms and construction of stadium seating.

“We’re two to three weeks from the county turning it over to us,” Binning said. We’ll lay turf by the end of October and have it ready for pre-season training.”

The county also plans commercial and development space on the property, and possibly a small-scale affordable-housing development. One of the bigger price tags is an estimated $500,000 to extend town water and sewer services to the property.

Binning said the complex would serve as an economic engine, allowing the county to host regional soccer tournaments. The Watauga County Tourism Development Authority voted to grant HCSA $125,000 of occupancy tax money over the next three years for development of the complex, recognizing the benefit to local lodging establishments.

Binning said one of the most satisfying aspects of the process was the teamwork between the county and community volunteers.

“This has been a real labor of love over many years,” he said. “It’s been a long, long time coming, and a lot of folks have refused to give up the dream.”