The Swamp Fox Ultra

Event Description

Welcome to the 5th Annual Swamp Fox Ultra. This event is a footrace along two sections of the Palmetto Trail; The Awendaw Passage and the Swamp Fox Passage. At its longest, the course for this event is 52.69 miles of mixed use trails and short sections of Fire Road. The event traverses through the heart of the Francis Marion National Forest.

**ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE BRIGHT CLOTHES ON FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET. IF YOU DO NOT WEAR BRIGHT CLOTHES, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO START THE RACE**

***ALL DROP BAG LOCATIONS WILL BE OCCUPIED FOR THE DURATION OF THE EVENT***

The format for the event is very different from current ultra events. There is only 1 Aid Station with food…and it is located at Buck Hall Recreation Area, the Start and Finish of the event.

When I was growing up, every time I tried something new or grew frustrated with something, my Father would always tell me‚Ķ “If it is to be, it’s up to me‚Äù. It would drive me crazy. Yet, this saying is actually the foundation of The Swamp Fox Ultra.

If it is to be…It is up to you!

Most trail events that are currently on the market, offer fully stocked aid stations along the route. This event will not offer that. Instead, roughly every 6-7 miles, I will have a check point that will consist of a clipboard with a check in list that you are required to check yourself in each time you go through the aid station. There are also stops along the route that will have attendants. Each stop, regardless of it being occupied or not, will have bottled water and Doc Scotts Recovery Water. That’s it, no food.

The reason…complete the event on your own by planning to have drop bags along the route. For your drop bags, there are 7 locations that are scheduled along the route that you are allowed to have drop bags. I will place them along the route as soon as we start the race. It is your responsibility to label each drop bag with your name and what location you want them placed (I will send out a participant guide 1 week prior to the event with a course map, rules and locations of drop bags). Plan accordingly and rely on yourself to either pass or fail.
The GPX file will be sent to you. It is up to you to figure out how to download this data to your phone or GPS enabled watch. You can use this data to ensure that you are on course and on the trail should you become disoriented or lost.

Restrooms will be placed along the route at convenient locations.

All participants and their families/friends will have a place to camp Thursday night, Friday and Saturday night and have access to restroom facilities and shower facilities at Buck Hall Recreation Area.

Participants of the 420 and 210 mile event’s are required to wear a SPOT Gen 3 GPS Tracker. This will be provided to you prior to the event. This piece of gear is required to be on you, the runner, at all times. It must be visible and not covered up. I am tracking each participant to ensure you are on course and not lost due to the very real possibility that you will hallucinate at some point during the event. Also, if you run into trouble, you can contact me with preset messages to let me know you are just not right and need some assistance.

Also, you are REQUIRED to be crewed during this event from the start, until you finish or quit. Your crew must be onsite the entire time you are on course. Participants of the 420 and 210 are required to have completed multiple 100 mile races to compete in the 210 mile race. For the 420 mile participants, you must have completed at least 2, 200+ mile events prior to registering for the event.

After you return to Buck Hall Recreation Area, I will have food for all participants to eat.

Packet Pickup and Day of Registration

Packet pickup will be the day of your race, 45 minutes before the start of your event, at Buck Hall Recreation Area.

THERE IS NO DAY OF REGISTRATION!

Time frame, Awards and Stuff

All events Start and Finish at Buck Hall Recreation Area in McClellanville, SC.

• 420 Miles Solo Participants (160 Hours to Complete):
Starts at 6:00 AM on Monday, November 8, 2021. Finished at 11:00 PM Sunday, November 14, 2021

• 210 Miles Solo Participants (75 Hours to Complete):
Starts at NOON on Thursday, November 12, 2021. Finished at 6:00PM Sunday, November 14, 2021.

• 105 Miles (33 Hours to Complete):
Starts at 6:00AM on Saturday, November 13, 2021 Finished at 3:00PM Sunday, November 14, 2021.

• 100K (22 Hours to Complete):
Starts at 6:00AM on Saturday, November 13, 2021 Finished at 4AM on Sunday, November 14, 2021.

• 50 Miles (14 Hours to Complete):
Starts at 6:00AM on Saturday, November 13, 2021 Finished at 8PM on Saturday, November 13, 2021.

• 50K (12 Hours to Complete):
Starts at 6:00AM on Saturday, November 13, 2021 Finished at 6PM on Saturday, November 13, 2021.

• Marathon (8 Hours to Complete):
Starts at 6:00AM on Saturday, November 13, 2021 Finished at 2PM on Saturday, November 13, 2021.

• 14.00 Miles (6 Hours to Complete):
Starts at 6:00AM on Saturday, November 13, 2021 Finished at 12 noon on Saturday, November 13, 2021.
All events Start and Finish at Buck Hall Recreation Area in McClellanville, SC.

Awards:

The top 3 runners, male and female from EACH distance will receive event awards in addition to the Finisher Coin. Those that complete 100 miles or more during the event, within the allotted time frame will also receive belt buckles. Due to so many people failing to finish the event, buckles will be ordered AFTER the event and mailed to you…should you finish.

ALL participants that COMPLETE their distance (without dropping to a lesser distance) in the allotted time frame will be awarded with the Finisher Coin.

Stuff:
Do not get caught littering on the trail. If you do…you are automatically DISQUALIFIED from the event. Period.

Do not argue with event staff! If they feel that you are unable to finish the event due to your physical condition, your pace per mile, you will have your bib removed and you will be pulled from the course. IF you choose to continue, you will be banned from ALL Eagle Endurance, LLC events.

The Trail and Use of the FMNF

You will run through the heart of the Francis Marion National Forest located outside Charleston, South Carolina. The entire event takes place on the Awendaw Passage and the Swamp Fox Passage. This course is 52.69 miles in length. All single track trail except for about 2 miles of dirt road. The trail is very technical in some areas and easy in other areas. It is a flat trail that is unforgiving. Past participants found it difficult due to the fact that there are zero hills, little elevation change and when they were on the course, they didn’t know when to walk. Please plan accordingly.

Refund Policy/Information Concerning the Francis Marion National Forest

Under no circumstance will refunds be issued, registrations be transferred to another person or transferred to a later date.

Information concerning Civil Rights and affiliation with the Francis Marion National Forest:
“In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)The Swamp Fox Ultra is operated under special use permit with the Francis Marion National Forest.

Cancellation Policy

Running extreme distances really sucks. The only reason I will cancel this event is if the forest is on fire, there is a hurricane and zombies are out on the trail. If for any reason the event has to be shut down due to extreme weather, natural disaster or zombies on the course (other than the runners…), you will be pulled from the course or held at an aid station until you can be removed from the course. Please, no arguing if this should happen. It is for your own safety.