Our Story & Purpose
On the Other Side of the Finish Line
What started as a search for a fast finish line has turned the chapter. Now our team gets to be on the other side of the finish, supporting runners seeking their first, their farthest, or their fastest finish line.
The trail keeps going.
13+ years in, we're still doing what we started out to do — getting people onto the trails, holding up the races around us through Upstate Event Management, and putting our community's miles to work for local charities through Upstate Giving Series.
The Early Miles
Bringing people to their starting line within their journey
It started with a simple idea: the trails around the Upstate deserved a race series, and the community deserved a reason to get out on them. Upstate Race Series grew out of those roots, one course marking, one finish line, one small race at a time.
What we built has become an annual tradition. Today, our races are still where a lot of runners cross their first trail finish line and where seasoned athletes chase their first ultra. That's the part of the story we're proudest of — we didn't just create races, we created starting points.
Beyond Our Own Start Line
Supporting the races around us through Upstate Event Management
As our own series grew, other race directors across the Upstate started asking for help — with registration, with marketing, with live timing, and the hundred small logistics that make a race day actually work. We said yes, and that grew into Upstate Event Management.
Today, we bring full-service race day staffing, timing services, registration management, and access to our 50,000+ runner marketing database to over 175+ supported events. Whether an organization is hosting its first 5K or managing a multi-event series, we make sure participants cross the finish line with an unforgettable experience.
Running For Something Bigger
Turning miles into local impact through Upstate Giving Series
The furthest we've come is also the most personal: our Giving Series connects events in our series with local nonprofit partners across Upstate South Carolina.
Race entry proceeds and direct donations go straight to local charities — including the Julie Valentine Center, Prisma Patient Fund, March of Dimes, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Meals on Wheels, and more. In 2026, races we support have raised over $750,000 for local nonprofits, and we are on track for our $1 Million goal returned to the community.
Local Races. Local Nonprofit Partners. $1 Million Mission.
Every race entry in the Giving Series directly funds local charities working on the frontlines in Upstate South Carolina.
Julie Valentine Center
Supported by Run2Overcome
Prisma Patient Fund
Supported by Transplant Trot
March of Dimes
Supported by MFB Run for Babies
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Supported by Run for Kids Sake
Operation Active Kids
Supported by Electric City Gobbler 5K
Greenville County Animal Shelter
Supported by Tails & Trails 5K
The Parenting Place
Supported by Child Abuse Prevention Run
Meals on Wheels
Supported by Pickens County Glow Run
Children's Cancer of the Carolinas
Supported by Strut for Childhood Cancer
Helix Genetic Center
Supported by Race the Helix Greenville
Just Say Something
Supported by Red Ribbon 5K
Race for a Place
Supported by The Race for a Place 5K
Free Planning Guide by Upstate Event Management
Whether you are putting on your first 5K or managing a multi-event series, this complete resource breaks down what it takes to organize a successful race.
A Family of Finishers
For more than 13 years, Matt Hammersmith and his family have been hosting races across the Upstate. While Matt handles much of the behind-the-scenes work, race day is truly a family effort. Together, they're the first boots on the ground—covering every mile, checking every turn, and ensuring the course leads runners safely to the finish line. When you register for an Upstate Race Series event, you're joining something built and cared for by a local running family.