THE GRIT INDEX
The Black Copperhead Sting is the premier destination for a Charlotte Ultra Marathon. Located just minutes outside the city in Belmont, NC, this mission is engineered for the hunter. Unlike the slow grind of high-altitude races, this is a celebration of trail speed and tactical flow through the local hollows. We’ve curated this experience for the Charlotte trail running community to find their ‘strike’ on a course that rewards aggression and rhythm. Use these metrics to gauge your pursuit; this isn’t a survival mission—it’s an all-out strike for the finish line.
Aggressive single-track designed for the high-speed rhythm of the Charlotte ultra scene.
Fast, predictable Belmont terrain that allows for full-throttle pacing through the trees.
A high-energy mission built for the NC endurance athlete who loves the chase.
QUEST LOG
The technical specifications of the quest. Use these metrics to calibrate your training and strategy for the terrain ahead. This is the raw data of the journey
TOTAL LOOPS
TOTAL GAIN
TIME LIMIT
TOTAL LOOPS
TOTAL GAIN
TIME LIMIT
TOTAL LOOPS
TOTAL GAIN
TIME LIMIT
Mission Reward: The BlueGill Pottery Medal
Every finisher of the Black Copperhead Sting earns a unique, handmade pottery medal from BlueGill Pottery. Unlike mass-produced medals, these are forged in the fire of local craft—each one featuring a distinct finish that reflects the grit of your specific mission. You aren’t just finishing a Charlotte ultra marathon; you are bringing home a one-of-a-kind piece of North Carolina heritage.
THE MISSION:
BELMONT , NC
The Black Copperhead Sting has quickly become a legendary fixture for the Charlotte trail running community, offering a high-octane alternative to the slow-grind mountain ultras. Located just minutes from the city in Belmont, NC, this race is centered around the “Loop of Glory“—a 3.24-mile circuit that weaves through the Tread, Canopy, and Eagle trails. Richard designed this course to be “fast and fierce,” marked by blazing red ribbons that lead runners through a relentless series of twists, climbs, and roots. Whether you are attacking the 50K mission, the 20K mid-strike, or the 5K speed strike, the objective remains the same: find your rhythm in the Charlotte Piedmont and outrun the 10-hour cutoff before you get “stung” by the 5:30 PM clock.
The history of this Charlotte ultra marathon is rooted in the “Hunter” mentality—a belief that every endurance athlete has a strike-point where grit meets speed. This isn’t just a race; it’s a tactical pursuit of a handmade reward, as every finisher earns a one-of-a-kind pottery medal from BlueGill Pottery, forged specifically for this event. From the bacon-stocked aid stations (the “Trail Fuel Heaven”) to the technical single-track of the Belmont trails, the Sting is engineered for those who want to forge a memory rather than just a finishing time. Join the pack in the heart of the NC Piedmont and earn your place among the hunters who have conquered the most high-energy ultra marathon near Charlotte.
The Stone Mountain Massacre is a vertical confrontation against the silent, towering presence of Stone Mountain State Park, NC. This quest demands total psychological and physical commitment. The course is anchored by relentless granite ascents that strip away everything but a runner’s core grit before plunging back into the technical roots and rock of the forest floor.
Central to this mission is the Stone Collection—a strict ritual where finishers must earn their place. Runners are required to collect a specific stone at every designated aid station. Missing even one signifies a failure in the mission and results in an automatic DNF. To hold the complete set at the finish is the only way to prove you conquered the mountain’s judgment.
BLACK COPPEHEAD STING SURVEY
Witness the high-speed pursuit of the Charlotte trail running community as they strike the ‘Loop of Glory’ in Belmont, NC. This gallery documents the raw energy, technical single-track, and the legendary ‘Trail Fuel Heaven’ that define this premier Charlotte ultra marathon.
