Fellowship of the Idiots 19.7-Mile Run

154 S First St, Albemarle NC

Saturday, February 8th, 2025

🎉 Welcome to the Fellowship of the Idiots Run

This year we will be celebrating the 22nd Year of the Fellowship of the Idiot Run and Uwharrie Dash's Second One! This is a free event but we hope you will make a donation to help offset 300-400 participants, Police and Sheriff, Emergency Medical, Food, and YMCA Pavilion Costs. We want to thank everyone for making this a great event! We want you to know that we will be adding some new features to make this even more exciting! Stay tuned!

🏃‍♂️ Race Details

Training Opportunity: The 2024 Fellowship of the Idiot Run is held three weeks before the Myrtle Beach Marathon and two weeks before the Ellerbe Marathon to give you a fun, long training run to get your miles in.
Start Format: You can start anytime between 5:00 am to 5:45 am, however, you must finish by 9:45 am. This format was very popular last year.
Free Merchandise: For our 22nd year, we have free idiot shirts for new runners and will have a new awesome premium cool lineup of apparel for purchase at our Idiot Store!
Course Overview: The Fellowship of the Idiot Run is a 19.7-Mile Run that takes runners from the YMCA to the top of Morrow Mountain and back to the YMCA. It is a non-timed event. Donations and FOTI Apparel purchases are greatly appreciated.

🕒 Start Times and Pace Indicators

Start time: You can start anytime between 5:00 am and 6:00 am. More importantly, you need to be finished by 9:45 am. So here’s a pace indicator to figure when you would need to start to complete by 9:45.

11:25 Pace: If you run an 11:25 per mile pace, you can start as late as 6:00 am and complete the run by 9:45.
12:57 Pace: If you run a 12:57 per mile pace you can start as late as 5:30 am and complete the run by 9:45.
14:28 Pace: If you run a 14:28 per mile pace you will need to start at 5:00 am to complete the run.
General Guidance: Basically, if you are running faster than an 11:25 pace, you can start anytime between 5:00 and 6:00 and complete the run by 9:45.

🏅 Awards and Participation

Those that complete their first Fellowship of the Idiot Run earn a Fellowship of the Idiot t-shirt. In addition, you will get your name on the Fellowship of the Idiot wall.

Distance Options: If you are training for a half-marathon, or want to get in a shorter run, there are 12-mile and 14-mile options on the down and back course.
Turnaround Points: Turn around at the corner of Valley Drive and Morrow Mountain Road for the 12-Mile Run. Turn around at the front gate of Morrow Mountain State Park and you will have a run a little over 14-miles.
Requirements: For clarification, you must run the entire 19.7 Mile Idiot Run course to earn the t-shirt and certificate.

🛍️ Apparel Purchase

PURCHASE YOUR APPAREL on the NEW DIGITAL Store click below!

FOTI APPAREL STORE

🚻 Facilities and Amenities

Restrooms: Bathrooms and showers will be available at the YMCA for runners starting at 7:00 am.
Support: Great Volunteers and support along the route.
Views: A beautiful sunrise and view at the top of Morrow Mountain.
Food: Great snacks and food at the finish. Free Fellowship of the Idiot Run Ringer t-shirt for first-time Idiots. The t-shirt will be one of your favorites.

📦 Packet Pick-Up

Thursday 2-5:30 & Friday at Uwharrie Dash, 10 -5:30 154 S. First St. Albemarle, NC 28001. Saturday Morning at 4:30 am at the Stanly County Family YMCA at the Pavilion. 427 N. First Street Albemarle, NC 28001. The Pavilion is the building in the YMCA Park next to the playground across the street from the YMCA.

🚰 Aid Stations & Support

We will have aid stations at approximately the following mile markers: 2.5, 4.5, 6.0, 8.2, 9.81, 11.36, 13.6, 15.5, 17.0, 18.0. We will have Gatorade and Gu's at 4.2 (Big Chair) and the Top of Morrow.

Also, the Stanly County Amateur Radio Club will be stationed along the course. If you need any help, stop and ask them.

📜 History of the Idiot Run

Back in the winter of 2003, Peter Asciutto, Derek Blalock, Joe Korzelius, Ryan Owens, Craig Gunkle, Lee Allen, and Larry Hyde were training for various marathons. The friends decided to meet one morning at the Stanly County Family YMCA, in the dead of the winter, to run to the top of Morrow Mountain and back. They started their legendary journey at 5:00 am with the temperature at 20 degrees.

By the time they got to the six-mile mark, their water bottles were frozen, as was the water they dropped along the course the previous evening. Word of their travels made it to the local newspaper and the Stanly News and Press ran an article about their adventure.

Renee Asciutto, wife at the time of Charter Member Peter Asciutto, was getting a massage a few days after the story ran in the paper. During her massage, Greta, the massage therapist asked her, "Did you read in the paper where those Idiots ran to the top of Morrow Mountain and back in the freezing temperature?" Renee quickly replied, "My husband is one of those Idiots."

Thus the Fellowship of the Idiots was born.