UltiMutt Race 2027
Sat & Sun, March 13 - 14, 2027
Tryon Resort . Mill Spring, NC
5k Obstacle Race & Noble Dog Fest


_Celebrate our ancient friendship with dogs while building a bond with your dog that will last a lifetime!_

About the UltiMutt Race

UltiMutt Race & Noble Dog Fest, sponsored by Noble Dog Hotel & Lodge [http://nobledoghotel.com/], is a 5k obstacle race & festival designed by canine agility & fitness pros to challenge a dog & owner team over 17+ obstacles at your pace, with our Competitive & Fun Run options!

RUNNING ULTIMUTT = SAVING LIVES! 10% of race fees & 100% of donations are given to Greenville County Animal Care, the largest open intake shelter in the Carolinas.
START LINE: 1 runner starts every 15 seconds to eliminate crowding and bottlenecking on the course. The event is fully outdoors with ample space to spread out.

Race Day Details

Dates
Saturday & Sunday, March 13 & 14, 2027

Location
Tryon Resort, 25 International Blvd, Mill Spring, NC 28756

Distance
5k obstacle course, 17+ obstacles

First Wave
9:00 AM both days

Course Closes
1:30 PM both days

Noble Dog Fest
Sat & Sun, 9:00 AM 2:00 PM . free admission for the whole family, including the family dog!

Parking
Free onsite

Online Registration Closes
Friday, March 12, 2027

Benefiting
Greenville County Animal Care

Wave Schedule

Every wave is capped. Pick your start time when you register waves sell out individually, so the time you want is the time you should grab.

Saturday, March 13, 2027

9:00 AM
5k Competitive Large Dog (36+ lbs)
75 spots

9:00 AM
5k Competitive Small Dog (up to 35 lbs)
75 spots

9:30 AM
5k Competitive Large Dog (36+ lbs)
75 spots

9:30 AM
5k Competitive Small Dog (up to 35 lbs)
75 spots

10:00 AM
5k Fun Run / Walk
125 spots

10:30 AM
5k Fun Run / Walk
125 spots

11:00 AM
5k Fun Run / Walk
125 spots

11:30 AM
5k Fun Run / Walk
125 spots

Sunday, March 14, 2027
SET YOUR CLOCKS FORWARD. Daylight saving time begins at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 14 you lose an hour overnight. All Sunday wave times below are the new time. Most phones and watches update on their own; anything you set by hand will not.

9:00 AM
5k Fun Run / Walk
125 spots

9:30 AM
5k Fun Run / Walk
125 spots

10:00 AM
5k Fun Run / Walk
125 spots

10:30 AM
5k Fun Run / Walk
125 spots

*Competitive waves run Saturday only. Sunday is Fun Run / Walk.

Race Options

Competitive Wave
Timed. 30 squats to skip or fail an obstacle. Saturday only.
Awarded: Top Male & Female with a Large Dog (36+ lbs)
Awarded: Top Male & Female with a Small Dog (up to 35 lbs)
Awarded: Top Non-Binary Person with a dog

Fun Run Wave
Non-timed 5k fun run / walk. You can skip any obstacle. Saturday and Sunday.
No awards just you, your dog, and 17+ obstacles at your own pace.

Course

A 5k loop across the grounds of Tryon Resort with 17+ obstacles built by canine agility and fitness pros. Fully outdoors, with plenty of room between teams. Dogs start in solo lane, 1 team every 15 seconds.

COURSE MAP: to be posted. A link will be added here once the 2027 route is finalized.

Water & Aid

Water is available for both two-legged and four-legged athletes at the start / finish area, with dog bowls on hand. Bring a collapsible bowl if your dog prefers their own.

ON-COURSE WATER STOPS: 1 water stop per mile and exact locations to be confirmed for 2027.

Parking

Free parking onsite at Tryon Resort, 25 International Blvd, Mill Spring, NC 28756. Spectators park in the same lots no separate pass needed. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your wave so you and your dog have time to settle in.

What's Included

Finisher Medal
Commemorative, every finisher

Collectible Patch
Iron-on, unique to the year

Race Photos
Sponsored, free to download

Noble Dog Fest
Full access included
All runners get a timed, published result.

Noble Dog Fest Saturday, 9 AM to 2 PM

FREE ADMISSION FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, INCLUDING THE FAMILY DOG.

Food & beverage trucks
Noble Nessie's Craft Biergarten
Music & Champion Awards Ceremony
Vendor Village 20+ local shops
Photo booths & pup caricatures

Festival Activities

Pre-Register for Festival Activities [https://qr.codes/nYNlzC]

Paint ur Pet Workshop [https://square.link/u/0rnmh4BG], led by Jessica Brush
TRY IT! Dog Yoga, led by Deb of Sunbelly Cafe
TRY IT! SwiftPaws Lure Coursing
TRY IT! WCERA Canine Escape Room
TRY IT! Canine Conditioning / Agility
TRY IT! Herding Instinct Tests with On the Lamb

Other Activities - Pre-Registration not required

DOGS & DRINKS MIXER: Fri, March 12 @ 6:00 PM, Grab your race bib early & head to one of the 6 restaurants onsite!

SAT 9 AM 2 PM: Palmetto Disc Dog demos & club intro with Lucas Croft

SAT/SUN 9 AM 2 PM: NACC Canicross harness / gear fittings drop-in

Lodging Make It a Weekend

TO BOOK THE DISCOUNTED RATE YOU MUST CALL 828-863-1103 and mention you are an "UltiMutt Guest." These rates are not available online.
Tryon Resort features 1,600 acres of nature trails, 6 onsite restaurants, 20+ boutique shops, family entertainment, and more. The property offers a variety of onsite lodging options [https://tryon-lodging.mydirectstay.com]:

50 dry tent camping spaces AVAILABLE UNTIL SOLD OUT

RV park spaces

ULTIMUTT DISCOUNT: 10% off, 2-night minimum stay, pet fees waived 1 to 5 bedroom Cabins, Overmountain Lodge, Stablehouse Inn

NEARBY HOTELS, AIRBNBS, GLAMPGROUNDS & CAMPGROUNDS:

Search Nearby Lodging on Google Maps [https://www.google.com/maps/search/Hotels/@35.2821747,-82.234129,11z/data=!4m10!2m9!3m5!2s25+International+Blvd,+Mill+Spring,+NC+28756!3s0x885767bdc2e4ebcf:0xbf6944aa0e81219!4m2!1d-82.0687544!2d35.282309!5m2!5m1!1s2027-03-12?hl=en&entry=ttu]

4 Paws Kingdom & Dog Campground [https://www.4pawskingdom.com] 15 miles

Emberglow Outdoor Resort [https://emberglowoutdoorresort.com] 7.8 miles

Town & Country Inn Suites Spindale [https://townandcountryinnsuitesspindale.reservationstays.com/hotels/MjKVpeZl?checkin_at=2027-03-12&checkout_at=2027-03-14] 9 miles

Hampton Inn & Suites Forest City [https://www.guestreservations.com/hampton-inn-suites-forest-city/booking?checkIn=03%2F12%2F2027&checkOut=03%2F14%2F2027&rooms=1&adults%5B1%5D=2&children%5B1%5D=0&currency=USD] 15 miles

Race Awards

Champion Awards Competitive Wave

TOP MALE & FEMALE W LARGE DOG
Large Dog 36+ lbs
TOP MALE & FEMALE W SMALL DOG
Small Dog up to 35 lbs
TOP NON-BINARY PERSON W DOG
Champions are recognized at the awards ceremony during Noble Dog Fest on Saturday. The Fun Run waves are allowed to skip obstacles and therefore not eligible for awards.

Giving Back

10% of every race fee and 100% of all donations go to GREENVILLE COUNTY ANIMAL CARE, the largest open intake shelter in the Carolinas. You can add a donation to your registration at checkout.

Greenville County Animal Care takes in every animal that comes through its doors, no matter the condition. Every entry in this race, and every dollar added at checkout, goes straight into that work.

Good to Know

Do the clocks change race weekend?
Yes. Daylight saving time begins at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 14, 2027, so you lose an hour overnight Saturday. Every Sunday wave time on this page is the new time. Phones and smart watches usually update themselves; oven clocks, car clocks and wind-up watches do not.

Are there any discounts?
Yes discounts are available for children under 15, for first responders & military, and for referring 2 friends who register with your code.

When do I pick up my packet?
You can pick up your packet Friday at Dogs & Drinks Mixer (onsite) or on raceday morning at the start area. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your wave.

What if the weather turns?
This is a rain-or-shine event. We only reschedule for conditions that are catastrophic, in which racers will have the option to defer to a future event. Any change is announced by email and on our Facebook page as early as we can make the call. Entry fees are non-refundable.

Can my family come watch?
Absolutely, and it is free. Spectators park in the same free onsite lots, and Noble Dog Fest admission is free for the whole family, including the family dog. The start / finish area is the best spot to see teams come through.

Is cell service reliable at Tryon?
Coverage across the Tryon Resort grounds is spotty depending on your carrier. Screenshot your confirmation, agree on a meeting spot with your group before you split up, and do not count on a live data connection for directions once you are on the property.

Are kids and strollers welcome?
Kids are welcome at the festival, and children under 15 get a registration discount. On the course, each registered handler runs with their own dog, and strollers are not practical over the obstacles plan to leave them at the festival area.

What should my dog be able to do?
Your dog needs to be comfortable on leash around other dogs and people, and current on vaccinations. Every obstacle can be skipped Fun Run teams skip freely, Competitive teams do 30 squats instead. There is no minimum fitness requirement for the Fun Run waves.

When do results and photos post?
Competitive wave results post to this RunSignUp page the same day, usually within a couple of hours of the last wave. Sponsored race photos are typically available within a week and are free to download.

Can I register on race day?
Online registration closes Friday, March 12, 2027. Waves are individually capped and do sell out, so registering ahead is the only way to guarantee the start time you want.

Managing Your Registration

You can handle all of the following yourself through your RunSignUp profile [https://runsignup.com/Profile]:

Transfer your entry to another runner

Switch your wave or start time within this race

Edit your personal details

Manage add-ons, store and apparel purchases

ALL ENTRIES ARE FINAL. No refunds. You may defer to a future race. No deferrals or switching waves allowed after Feb. 13th.

Let's Stay Connected

Website ultimuttrace.com [http://www.ultimuttrace.com]

Facebook facebook.com/ultimuttrace [https://www.facebook.com/ultimuttrace]

Presenting sponsor Noble Dog Hotel & Lodge [http://nobledoghotel.com/]