Fayettville, NC Ultra-Fecta Weekend
- Tom Shankapotomous
- May 8
- 9 min read
Updated: May 8
Overview
The Ultrafecta weekend at McCormick Farms in Spring Lake, North Carolina, has become a yearly event that draws racers from the East Coast and beyond. It’s a favorite for first-time ultra runners, Trifecta chasers, and newbies to the Sprint scene. The course is flat, fast, and muddy—delivering a classic OCR experience. I have run this race since its inception in 2015, and it has grown dramaticallyfrom a Sprint-only course at nearby Pope Army Airfield.
Geology / Historical Context
At first glance, the terrain looks like flat, sandy soil stretching endlessly—boring, right? But every patch of land on this planet of ours has a story. This part of the East Coast carries one of the oldest stories of all. Welcome to the Alleghanian Orogeny., one of the most badass things that happened in the last 325 million years.
About 325 to 260 million years ago, North America and Africa collided, triggering a tectonic event that formed the supercontinent Pangaea and created the Appalachian and Allegheny Mountains. The intense pressure of this event folded and faulted rock layers in the Piedmont region. Although erosion has worn the mountains down, their ancient roots still lie beneath North Carolina as metamorphic and igneous rocks.
As time wore on, rivers carried sediments from the Appalachians eastward, building what is now the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Spring Lake sits on the transition between the old Piedmont and the young Coastal Plain—where ancient crystalline rock gives way to loose layers of sand, silt, and clay. The neareby Little River, which joins the Cape Fear River, has shaped this landscape over miillions of years , carving valleys and spreading fertile soil through seasonal floods. This mix of sediment types matters not just for farming and construction—it also shapes flooding risk and land use planning today.
Running across this terrain involves traversing one of the oldest and most significant ancient geological formations on the East Coast of North America. If you're interested in general information about geology, I published a brief paper to provide further context on these evrnts in more detail post without interfering with this review.
WTF and an Homage
I’m genuinely flummoxed and slightly bewildered why this isn’t an Honor Series Race. Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) is ten miles away—you can practically see the old race site at Pope Army Airfield from the starting line. The whole region orbits the Army base and the military. Nearby Fayetteville is a town built around that presence. At the event, nearly every military branch had a tent in the festival area, and plenty of racers were active-duty, using the event as a PT session.
Fort Bragg itself was founded in 1918 as a field artillery training base for WWI. Read that again, World War 1. Just curious if you know anything else around still operating from WW1. It later became one of the largest military installations in the world, home to the 82nd Airborne and Special Ops Forces. It’s played a major role in World War I, World War II, the Cold War, and countless deployments.
I can think of only one other race on the schedule with a tighter military connection, the Colorado Springs Tri Weekend at Fort Collins. In fact, other races on the Honor Series Schedule like Asheville and Newberry have no military ties. So again—why not an Honor Series? WTF.
Weather
Spring weather in North Carolina is unpredictable. Last year, the course shut down temporarily when a front rolled through. It was suggested that I leave the course at mile 25 of the Ultra due to a thunderstorm and lightning. I almost pulled an abdominal muscle from laughing so hard before heading back into the woods. This year Saturday was hot with zero chance of rain, but it was sunny and hot. I stuck with my plan, stayed hydrated, sun-screened, and on top of nutrition. Sunday was overcast and threatening rain all day—but it held off. Cool temps were welcome after Saturday’s heat. That’s North Carolina in the spring: wild swings from day to day. Bring a light rain jacket you can wear pre-race and stash in your gear check. If you do, you won’t be one of the folks turning garbage bags into ponchos at the last minute.
Logistics
Distinctly Fayetteville was the title sponsor of the race, which is not only good news but shows that the local Chamber of Commerce supports the race. lAs usual, getting in and out of the venue is pretty organized. McCormick Farms is about 20 minutes from Fayetteville, which offers a bunch of hotel and dining options (see my travel guide below). Parking is a big field next to the race site. I now keep an Apple Tag in my gas hatch to avoid wandering through a sea of identical SUVs post-race—highly recommend figuring out your own trick here. The traditional panic button technique becomes ineffective after a race when everyone is using it.
Registration was smooth. But there is good news! Spartan added a new feature this year—Trifecta racers could pick up their Sprint bibs inside the festival area. You also got a white wristband for collecting your Trifecta medal at the Super finish line. These changes helped streamline the weekend. I heard some racers complaining the line was too long, and they are right. But I had no problem standing in line when I had two hours until the first heat went off; it gave me time to eat some trail mix and rehydrate.
Course
The course is FLAT—farms and mountains rarely go together. In all four races, we ran around vast crop fields, which involved running in the open on hard-packed soil. It was truly an opportunity to pick up speed. There were also wooded sections with trails filled with roots and a lot of sandy terrain that, in the longer races, were quite taxing on the calves. However, each of the four races had a distinct layout, except for the final section. I found that each distance had its own unique characteristics, which are detailed below.
Ultra/Beast
Simliar layout to last year. Large fields offered compact soil for fast running. Wooded sections were technical. One familiar area specific to these distancrs had piled-up trees for future clearing—not quite Isengard, where trees were carried off to feed the fires of Orthanc, but it was memorable. A rock washout basin under the road that’s been slick in past years wasn’t an issue this time due to dry conditions. Ultra runners reported the extra loop was similar to last year. However, the swampy section that took racers in and out of the loop was drier this year per reports. They had dry weather leading up to the race, but there were several slick, muddy water crossings for the longer distances that kept things interesting. These water crossings had rooty, muddy sections that required some level of focus in order to prevent tripping.
Super
This year's Super excluded the section across the road and included more wooded areas, which were truly the most running-friendly part of the course. It felt unique, rather than just a shortened version of the Beast. Most of the Super featured genuine trail running sections, which I believe is beneficial as it motivates racers who are moving up in distance to push themselves without the challenge of tricky sections. I thought the Super layout was one of the best this season. Many racers participated only in the Super and maintained a strong pace throughout the 10k. It's smart that Spartan designed a course that promotes running competition at this distance.
Sprint
The Sprint felt long, no big deal, but it was about 4 miles without penalty loops. Fast and fun, especially for those wrapping up the Trifecta. For first-time racers, this distance felt like the old-school mud runs that I'll cover more in the obstacle section. Sprint racers got all of the muddy sections with no real woods running. This course setup promotes more of the fun aspects of the weekend, and as I was plugging along, Sprint-only racers seemed to be having a blast.
Festival Area
I want to be the bearer of good news to the larger OCR community. I don't know how it happened, but Spartan had actual real beer at this event! Real beer. Heineken Light, no hard lemonade or fizzy raspberry spiked waters in sight. Make all the wisecracks you want about light beer, but it could definitely be worse, a lot worse. T
The military set up nearly 10 tents—Air Force, Army, Green Berets, but my favorite was the Psychological Operations Unit attached to the Arny. I had a great talk with one of the personnel and it was super interesting, the way the military defends the country in this new era of connectivity. The trucks and gear for al of the militareytents also gave the festival area a great vibe.
But let’s be honest: Island Noodles stole the show, they always do at races in the Souitheast They sell. Soba noodles with sauce, served hot and fast. They’ll likely be at Asheville and Newberry and I highly recomend. The line was packed both days—and worth it.
Obstacle Placement
Obstacle layout was excellent. Spartan had full access to the venue and used it well.
Barbed wire crawl: deep trenches and low wire. Brutal if you were cramping, and it was placed in the last two miles, which meant it added difficulty for all distances.
Dunk wall: slick and steep. You slid right in—hilarious to watch at the Sprint when new racers were experiencing their first dunk wall. It was set up with about 1.5 miles to go with rope climb up ahead and inverted wall. This section was spaced out, no bunching of obstacles at the end. Good move.
Final woods section: two muddy pits before the last series of obstacles (spear throw, rings, and A-Frame). Four years ago, this was home to a disastrous sandbag carry, where tired ultra racers got stuck in the knee-deep mud. This year it was just a muddy gauntlet and after the dunk wall, it put the finishing touches on the Mudmen look.
Sandbag and bucket carries were a bit long but fair—without elevation, this is a reasonable tradeoff.
The Z Wall was simplified—just holds and a straight wall. Honestly, it makes sense for Sprint/Super distances. Keep the traditional Z Wall for Beasts and Ultras, but this version improves completion rates and keeps momentum going.
Results
Shout out to the OCR Kings subscribers who said hello at the event. It means a lot. I don’t write for clicks, but I’m glad the reviews help. And as always, thanks to the OCR Kings for distributing this content. If you have any feedback or suggestions for content, drop me a line anytime at shankgym@gmail.com. Our customer service team will get back to you within 24 hours, not some AI.
The Ultra had a strong turnout. I had plenty of friends who tackled it and still showed up for Sunday. This course is ideal for first-time Ultras. Elite Ultra racers posted some very fast times. Special congrats to my friends Tom and Will on earning their 100th Trifectas.
Sunday’s Super was well-attended, but the Sprint was packed with first-timers. Whenever I run a Trifecta weekend, finishing the Super and jumping into an open heat is one of my favorite OCR experiences. I chatted with plenty of nervous first-timers and told them to just have fun. Not sure they totally believed me since after the morning Super I looked like an extra from Apocalypse Now, but you gotta make the effort. I always remind myself that even after 225 races, we have to take the time to welcome newcomers. It's not a grand gesture; it's just the wheel turning.
Tips If You Run Next Year
Hotels don’t sell out fast, but your favorite one might. Book early.
Sunscreen. Hydrate starting Wednesday, a plan to do that is here.
Consider the Ultra—it’s a forgiving layout.
Bring a lightweight rain jacket. Use it before the race and store it in your Camelback or checked baggage. Turning a garbage bag into a poncho is a last resort.
If you haven’t done a Trifecta weekend, this is the one to start with. Fast and beginner-friendly.
Summary
This is a strong early-season race, with conditions suggesting the upcoming heat. The logistics are straightforward, and Spartan’s recent enhancements have made it more seamless than in previous years. It deserves to be an Honor Series race, but regardless of that designation, Fort Liberty stands out. It's an excellent venue for Ultra and Trifecta events, appealing to both experienced racers and newcomers. Let this race serve as a reminder: Charlie doesn't surf, he was dug in too deep or moving too fast—and should do the same.
Travel Guide
Closest Hotels (Budget-Friendly)
Comfort Inn near Fort Liberty — 13 miles / 20 min. Reliable, early breakfast.
Extended Stay America – Owen Dr. — 17 miles / 25 min. Good for meal prep and laundry.
Sleep Inn Fayetteville — 15 miles / 22 min. Solid basic stay.
Baymont by Wyndham I-95 — 20 miles / 30 min. Budget option.
Restaurants
Clean Eatz — 16 mi / Clean macro-friendly meals.
Zoe’s Kitchen — 17 mi / Lean proteins, anti-inflammatory options.
Uptown’s Chicken and Waffles — 13 mi / Carbs before race day.
The Sweet Palette — 16 mi / Light eats, great coffee.
Mash House Brewery — 17 mi / Post-race indulgence that won’t ruin your gains.
References
Bjornerud, M. (2018). Timefulness: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Help Save the World.
Prothero, D. R. (2013). Bringing Fossils to Life: An Introduction to Paleobiology.
Hazlett, R. W., & Hyndman, D. W. (2016). Roadside Geology of North America (series).
Grotzinger, J., & Jordan, T. H. (2014). Understanding Earth (7th ed.).
Hutton, J. (1788). Theory of the Earth; or an Investigation of the Laws Observable in the Composition, Dissolution, and Restoration of Land upon the Globe.
Zalasiewicz, J. (2008). The Earth After Us: What Legacy Will Humans Leave in the Rocks?
Macdougall, J. D. (2011). Why Geology Matters: Decoding the Past, Anticipating the Future.
Valentine, J. W. (2004). On the Origin of Phyla.
Dalrymple, G. B. (2004). The Age of the Earth.
National Research Council. (1995). Understanding Our Changing Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science.
Very accurate review as usual for Tom!!!!