The Half: Two Loops Around Greenfield Lake, Built for a PR

The Course Layout

21.1 km on two lollipop loops around Greenfield Lake and through historic downtown Wilmington, with a stretch of boardwalk near the finish. The finish line is scenic: right in front of the Battleship North Carolina, on the riverfront. Surface is almost all asphalt, except the boardwalk at the end.

Official elevation gain is 174 ft, about 53 m. Athletes' GPS files show 261 ft: either way, not much, and almost all of it packed into the first 3 km. After that, it flows.

Weather: Cool Start, Warming Up

In mid-October, average highs are 23°C (73°F), with around 19°C (66°F) during the run. 2024 race reports mention roughly 24°C (75°F) at midday, with no need for ice. The typical picture: you start the run at comfortable temps and finish in manageable but real heat, especially if you're out there past the 2-hour mark. The section around the lake is shaded: use it.

Watch out for a counterintuitive detail: a cold morning (in 2025, air temp was 8°C/46°F at the swim start, 9-13°C/48-55°F on the bike) leads to drinking less on the bike. Anyone who comes off the bike dehydrated pays for it between km 12 and 18 of the run, when the day has warmed up. Your run plan starts in the saddle.

Pacing: Negative Split, With Discipline in the First 3 km

The course practically writes your strategy for you:

• Km 0-3: this is where the rollers are, and your legs are fresh off the bike. Two reasons to start controlled. Hold 10-15 sec/km slower than your target pace.
• First loop: settle into your rhythm, learn the course, note where the shade and aid stations are.
• Second loop: you know what's coming. If you've managed well, this is where you push. The boardwalk and riverfront at the end are the right place to empty the tank.

With two loops you get a rare advantage: you run the second half on roads you've already seen. Use that mentally.

Aid Stations and Management

The race info sheet doesn't list aid station details: check the official course page closer to race day. General rule on a two-loop course: memorize where the aid stations are and what they offer on your first pass, so you're not improvising on loop two. With temps around 19-24°C (66-75°F) you don't need an aggressive ice strategy, but don't skip fluids just because "it's not hot."

Is It a PR Course?

Yes, with two conditions. First: you need to get there with legs, meaning you haven't burned watts fighting the wind on the bike. Second: you have to respect the first 3 km. Ballpark references (estimates, not official data): 2:30 for a comfortable finisher, 2:10 for a mid-pack goal, 1:50 for fast runners, 1:30 for top age-groupers.

What to Do This Week

• Train the brick with a held-back start: 60-90 min on the bike at race pace, then a 20-30 min run with the first 10 min deliberately slow and a progressive finish. That's exactly the script for this race.
• Decide your target split per loop and write it down: first loop at X, second loop at X minus 1-2 minutes.
• Test your shoes on mixed surfaces: the boardwalk is short but comes at the end, when your stride is tired.
• Plan B: if you caught heavy wind on the bike and you're cooked, switch your goal from a time target to a pure negative split. Finishing strong on this course is always possible; the clock can be renegotiated.