5K Obstacle Race & Noble Dog Fest
UltiMutt Race 2027
Celebrate our ancient friendship with dogs while building a bond with your dog that will last a lifetime!
Saturday & Sunday, March 1314, 2027 . Tryon Resort . Mill Spring, NC

About the Race

UltiMutt Race & Noble Dog Fest, sponsored by Noble Dog Hotel & Lodge, is a 5K OBSTACLE RACE AND FESTIVAL designed by canine agility and fitness pros to challenge a dog-and-owner team over 17+ OBSTACLES at your own pace, with Competitive and Fun Run options!

RUNNING ULTIMUTT = SAVING LIVES! 10% of race fees and 100% of donations go to Greenville County Animal Care, the largest open intake shelter in the Carolinas.

START LINE: one runner starts every 15 seconds to eliminate crowding and bottlenecks on the course. The event is fully outdoors with ample space to spread out.

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

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

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

Packet Pickup
Friday at the Dogs & Drinks Mixer (onsite), or race morning at the start area

Parking
Free onsite. Spectators park in the same lots, no separate pass needed.

Online Registration Closes
Friday, March 12, 2027

Benefiting
Greenville County Animal Care

The Events

Competitive Wave . Saturday 9:00 & 9:30 AM
Timed. Do 30 squats to skip or fail an obstacle. Separate waves for Large Dogs (36+ lbs) and Small Dogs (up to 35 lbs). Saturday only, and eligible for Champion Awards.

Fun Run / Walk . Saturday 10:00 11:30 AM
Non-timed 5K fun run/walk with waves every 30 minutes. Skip any obstacle you like. No awards, just you, your dog and 17+ obstacles at your own pace.

Fun Run / Walk . Sunday 9:00 10:30 AM
The same non-timed 5K fun run/walk on Sunday, with waves every 30 minutes.
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.

Current prices are shown when you click Sign Up.

Wave Schedule

Saturday, March 13, 2027

9:00 AM
5K Competitive: Large Dog (36+ lbs) . 75 spots
5K Competitive: Small Dog (up to 35 lbs) . 75 spots

9:30 AM
5K Competitive: Large Dog (36+ lbs) . 75 spots
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, so you lose an hour overnight. All Sunday wave times 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._

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 a solo lane, one team every 15 seconds.

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, there is one water stop per mile.

PARKING: free onsite at Tryon Resort. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your wave so you and your dog have time to settle in.

Start/Finish on Google Maps [https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=25+International+Blvd%2C+Mill+Spring%2C+NC+28756]

What's Included

* FINISHER MEDAL: commemorative, for every finisher
* COLLECTIBLE PATCH: iron-on, unique to the year
* RACE PHOTOS: sponsored and free to download
* NOBLE DOG FEST: full access included with race registration

All runners get a timed, published result.

Noble Dog Fest

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 9:00 AM 2:00 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 with 40+ boutique shops!
* Photo booths, art & dog sport activities!

Festival Activities (pre-registration)

* Paint ur Pet Workshop, led by Jessica Brush
* Try it! Dog Yoga, led by Deb of Sunbelly Cafe
* Try it! SwiftPaws Lure Coursing
* Try it! Canine Conditioning / Agility
* Try it! Herding Instinct Tests with On the Lamb

Pre-Register for Festival Activities [https://qr.codes/nYNlzC]
Other Activities (no pre-registration needed)

* DOGS & DRINKS MIXER: Friday, March 12, 400 PM. Grab your race bib early and head to one of 6 restaurants onsite!
* NACC CANICROSS HARNESS/GEAR FITTINGS: Sat/Sun, 9:00 AM 2:00 PM. Visit their basecamp in Vendor Village.

Lodging: Make It a Weekend!

ULTIMUTT DISCOUNT: 10% OFF, PLUS A WAIVED PET FEE. Tryon Resort offers an exclusive promo just for UltiMutts. The discount code is sent to participants automatically after they register.

Tryon Resort features 1,600 acres of nature trails, 6 onsite restaurants, 20+ boutique shops, family entertainment and more. Lodging options include 1, 3 or 5-bedroom cabins, Overmountain Lodge and Stablehouse Inn (a 2-night minimum is required for certain accommodations).

* 50 dry tent camping spaces, sold by Tryon Resort
* RV park spaces

Book Tryon Lodging & RV [https://tryon-lodging.mydirectstay.com]Buy a Tryon Camping Spot [https://Ultimutt2027.eventbrite.com]
Nearby Hotels, Airbnbs & Campgrounds

* Emberglow Outdoor Resort: 7.8 miles
* Town & Country Inn Suites, Spindale: 9 miles
* Hampton Inn & Suites, Forest City: 15 miles

Emberglow Outdoor Resort [https://emberglowoutdoorresort.com]Town & Country Inn Suites [https://townandcountryinnsuitesspindale.reservationstays.com/hotels/MjKVpeZl?checkin_at=2027-03-12&checkout_at=2027-03-14]Hampton Inn & Suites [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]Search Nearby Lodging [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]

Race Awards

Champion Awards: Competitive Wave

* Top Male & Female with a Large Dog (36+ lbs)
* Top Male & Female with a Small Dog (up to 35 lbs)
* Top Non-Binary Person with a dog

Champions are recognized at the awards ceremony during Noble Dog Fest on Saturday. Fun Run waves may skip obstacles and are therefore not eligible for awards.

Supporting Greenville County Animal Care

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.

Race Policies

* WEATHER: this is a rain-or-shine event. We only reschedule for catastrophic conditions, in which case 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.
* REFUNDS: entry fees are non-refundable.

Good to Know

* ARE THERE ANY DISCOUNTS? Yes: 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? Friday at the Dogs & Drinks Mixer (onsite) or race morning at the start area. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your wave.
* CAN MY FAMILY COME WATCH? Absolutely, and it's 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 grounds is spotty depending on your carrier. Screenshot your confirmation, agree on a meeting spot with your group, and don't count on live data for directions once you're 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 aren't practical over the obstacles, so plan to leave them at the festival area.
* DO THE CLOCKS CHANGE RACE WEEKEND? Yes. Daylight saving time begins at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 14, 2027. Every Sunday wave time is the new time. Phones and smartwatches usually update themselves; oven clocks, car clocks and wind-up watches do not.

Let's Stay Connected

Race Website [http://www.ultimuttrace.com]
Questions? Use the contact form or tap the chat button in the corner.
Contact the Race Director [https://www.adventuresignup.com/Race/NC/MillSpring/UltiMuttRace#contactFormSection]