Asheville, NC - April 2019 – On the morning of April 13th, teams of runners from across the country will start a 75-mile odyssey from Highland Brewing Company, Asheville’s first brewery, towards a finish roughly 12 hours later in downtown Greenville. The Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay presented by The Cliffs is only in its second year, but already one of the most popular races of its kind in the nation.
This unique relay is designed to celebrate the region’s outstanding craft beer tradition and its majestic natural beauty. "Our goal," states race director, Zack Hall, “is to deliver a high-quality event that encourages healthy living and celebrates our local communities.”
Teams of six runners will each run two legs ranging from 3.5 miles to slightly less than 9 miles along the course. Every team will utilize a support vehicle along the 75-mile course, transporting runners from one designated transition area to the next. The first leg will run from Highland Brewing Company to the popular Mountains to Sea Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway before turning south. Stops along the course include Fletcher, Hendersonville, East Flat Rock and Travelers Rest, SC as runner’s race towards a festive finish line celebration in downtown Greenville, SC. In total, two thousand runners and beer enthusiasts from 31 states are represented.
“We are thrilled to serve as the starting point and sponsor for this event,” said Molly McQuillan, Marketing Manager for Highland Brewing Company. “We were blown away with the energy and excitement we witnessed in the first year. We can’t wait to play host to an even larger crowd this year!”
The event is presented by The Cliffs, a collection of seven vibrant, luxury Carolina mountain communities. “The Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay stretches from Asheville to Greenville highlighting the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain region of the Carolinas, where our seven communities are located,” said David Sawyer, managing partner and president of The Cliffs Clubs. “We are excited to be a sponsor of this year’s event and welcome participants from all over the country to The Cliffs. The Cliffs at Mountain Park will serve as one of the race transitions, where we look forward to supporting the runners and our talented local craft breweries.”
With a commitment to benefiting local charities, The Ville to Ville Craft Relay delivers more than just a good time for its participants. This year’s charity partners are: Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas, Poe Mill Achievement Center, Meals on Wheels of Greenville, and the YMCA of Greenville Foundation.
Similar relay races exist across the nation; however, very few have a focus on craft beer – or have such a demand for a spot on the starting line. The fact that the 2019 race sold out in less than 36 hours is a testament to its popularity. "We continue to be thrilled by the overwhelming response" said Hall.
Although the race is sold out, the welcome reception at Highland Brewing Company is open to the public and will feature food trucks, live music, and of course lots of local craft beer. Welcome festivities run from 2 pm to 8 pm on Friday, April 12th. Registration for the 2020 event begins on April 15th with a limited number of 350 team slots. More information about the relay can be found at www.villetovillerelay.com.