Name: Take the Lake
Start: 2026-09-05
End: 2026-09-07
Location: Lake Waccamaw

About the Event

Welcome to the 15th Take the Lake

When we look out across Lake Waccamaw, we see more than just a beautiful lake and scarlet sunsets — we see a community that has spent 15 years proving what it means to be "Columbus County Strong."

Take the Lake started in 2009 (with a break after COVID) with a simple goal to celebrate personal health and honor the endurance traditions of Lee J. Greer and Grant Egley. Today, as we prepare for our 15th anniversary, we are so proud to carry on the vision of our founding organizers:

Grant Egley • Bob Eplee • Frank Gault • Mark Gilchrist • Lee J. Greer • J.B. Lee • Julie Stocks • Johnny McNeill

We are kicking off this milestone weekend on Friday night, September 4, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lake Waccamaw Methodist Church. Join us for "Take the Plate," a wonderful community spaghetti dinner where you can also pick up your race packets. Proceeds support the church's community programs, so come hungry and help us launch the festivities!

As we celebrate our own milestone this year, we’re also excited to team up with Columbus County and the Columbus County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism to help mark America 250. There’s truly no better place to reflect on the American spirit of perseverance and community than right here at the Lake. From those early days when we first gathered to give a voice to local health challenges to seeing our county climb all the way to 46th in the state rankings, your energy and participation have truly moved the needle for all of us.

We want to give a huge shout-out to the Town of Lake Waccamaw, Lake Waccamaw State Park, our first responders, and the countless volunteers and sponsors, including FullSend Racing, who make this weekend possible. Most of all, we want to thank you for being the heartbeat of this tradition for 15 wonderful years.

Let’s make this our best year yet. See you at the Lake!

— The Take the Lake Steering Committee

Races Offered

Take the Lake - 16 Mile - Walk/Run or Ruck 🏃‍♂️

Sep 05, 2026

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Distance — 25.7K

terrain

Type — Cycling

timer

08:00

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$0.00

Take the Lake - 5K Run or Walk 🏃‍♂️

Sep 05, 2026

straighten

Distance — 5K

terrain

Type — Cycling

timer

08:05

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$10.00

Take the Lake - 14 Mile - Paddle 🚣

Sep 06, 2026

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Distance — 22.5K

terrain

Type — Cycling

timer

08:00

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$0.00

Take the Lake - 14 Mile - Bike 🚲 (Out and Back from Brinkley Park to the Dam)

Sep 06, 2026

straighten

Distance — 25.7K

terrain

Type — Cycling

timer

14:00

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$0.00

Take the Lake - 16 Mile - Bike 🚲 and Hike 🥾 (14 mile bike and 2 mile hike through the state park)

Sep 06, 2026

straighten

Distance — 25.7K

terrain

Type — Cycling

timer

14:00

sell

$0.00

Take the Lake - 4 Mile Swim 🏊

Sep 07, 2026

straighten

Distance — 6.4K

terrain

Type — Cycling

timer

08:00

sell

$0.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for September in Lake Waccamaw.

thermostat Temperature

19.1° / 28.0°

wb_sunny Feels like

19.7° / 28.9°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

9h 23m

water_drop Avg rainfall

3.8 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

10.2 km/h (Light breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

High

terrain Course conditions

Hard and dry surface

sunny Max UV Index

Moderate (5.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

78.0%

wb_twilight Sunrise

06:57

nightlight Sunset

19:18

About Lake Waccamaw

Learn more about the host city, Lake Waccamaw.

Lake Waccamaw is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,296 at the 2020 census. European settlers established their first settlements at Lake Waccamaw in the 18th century. Following their settlement and later establishment of naval stores, the discovery of turpentine oil led to the Wilmington-Manchester railroad track's creation. A shingle company was later converted to a lumber company. In 1910, a group of townspeople created the Waccamaw Club.