The Swamp Fox Ultra

Welcome to the Swamp Fox Ultra presented by Fleet Feet and Billy Simons Real Estate under management of Palmetto Ultras! We have some NEW updates to the course that we’re really excited about this year

Embark on a truly unparalleled trail racing experience, as our event is the only trail race (that we know of at least) that spans across the entire Francis Marion National Forest. While I do love a good looped course with the convenience of having gear and nutrition close at hand (and we offer a few of those), this race demands a bit more strategic planning to ensure you’re well-equipped throughout. The reward? You’ll run through 52 miles of breathtaking lowcountry trails before heading back to the start/finish line if you’ve decided to tackle the 100 mile distance. And even though you’re heading back on the same trail, once the sun sets the trail takes on a whole new feel.

50 mile, 50k, Half Marathon, and 10k runners will also run an out and back—no loops or repeated out and backs. This allows you to see more of the trails and provides an added element of adventure as you’ll need to strategically plan what you’re carrying with you.

Undertaking an adventure like this requires support, and in that spirit, we’ve bid farewell to only having drop bags in favor of strategically placed aid stations. My goal is simple: to see every participant cross the finish line, and I’m committed to providing the necessary support to make that happen. So, lace up your shoes, embrace the challenge, and let’s make this an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Francis Marion National Forest.

**You can still have drop bags at the aid stations. We will get them out to the aid stations and bring them back to the start/finish as aid stations close. You can either 1) go out to the aid station and get your bag if you need it back after the race or 2) pick it up at the start/finish line if you need it back. More details are in the runner guide**

Youth Runners: email [email protected] for a 15% discount code for runners who are 14 years old or younger…we want the whole family to come out to the race!

Packet Pickup & Pre Race Fun
Packet Pickup will take place on Friday, November 1st from 2-6pm at one of the Fleet Feet locations (TBD). Hitting up packet pick up the day before gives you a chance to support one of our sponsors and pick up any last minute nutrition/gear that you may need. Packet Pickup will also take place at the start/finish line from 6-630AM on race morning as well.

Aid Stations
We are switching things up this year and there will be aid stations along the entire course. They will be located roughly around mile 11, 26.5, 40.5, and at the 100 mile turnaround at the Moncks Corner Swamp Fox Trailhead (~mile 52).

Please note that for the 10k and half marathon distance there are no aid stations. Please plan to carry anything you need with you. We will have a water drop around mile 7 for the half marathon runners.

Aid stations will be fully stocked with all your favorite ultra snacks like chips, candy, pretzels, cookies, potatoes, water, sports drinks, and cold sodas. Weather dependent–we will have some hot options available as well. You never know what you’re going to get in Charleston in November!

At the start/finish line we will also be serving up some food throughout the race! Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner on Saturday and Breakfast/Lunch on Sunday. Menu TBD

Runners and volunteers eat for free. If anyone joining you would like a meal you can add that on when you register for $5/meal.

If you’d like to have drop bags at the aid stations you can. We will gather them at the start/finish line and transport them to the appropriate aid station. More details can be found in the runner guide. Coordinates for each aid station will be in the Runners Guide

Restrooms (the real kind that flush) are located at Buck Hall Recreation Area and all of the aid stations will have a porta potty

Course Overview & Pacers
We are SO excited to be able to use both the Awendaw and Swamp Fox Passages of the Palmetto Trail which will take you across the entire Francis Marion National Forest for those of you who plan to tackle the 100 miler. You’ll start in McClellanville at Buck Hall Recreation Area (look for the overflow parking area and head to the very back) and run out your designated distance and then turn around and head back to the start/finish line. 100 milers will run out to the other end of the Swamp Fox Passage on Highway 52 in Moncks Corner and then turn around and head back to the start/finish line.

We don’t know of any other trail run that traverses across the entire distance of the Francis Marion National Forest! Tackling this course is a BIG accomplishment that not many people have tackled.

All runners are REQUIRED to wear an article of clothing that is bright orange due to it being hunting season. DNR has stopped runners before who did not comply. Lucky for you—you’re all getting an orange hat! The brighter the better though—this is the time to bust out your brightest running clothes.

Each distance will run out to their designated turnaround spot and head back to the start/finish line. The turnarounds for each distance will be clearly marked.

The course is very flat and runnable and is your typical east coast trail with some roots. The course is mostly single/double track trails with some fire road sections and a few boardwalks. The trail is mostly shaded except for a few sections and the fire roads. You are running in the lowcountry which means there may be some water on the course depending on what the weather looks like in the days leading up to the race. Boardwalks are in place to go over the spots that tend to hold water the most.

The course will be marked well with flagging and signage. The Swamp Fox Trail is also marked with white blazes and once you start on that section of trail around mile 6—you will follow the white blazes and mile markers for the Swamp Fox Trail the entire time. Even though we will do our absolute best to mark the trail, it is your responsibility to know where you’re going. Remember that we are not the only ones out in the woods which means there is always the possibility of someone messing with the course markings. I highly recommend downloading the map to your watch/phone using an app like AllTrails that allows for offline navigation as there are some sections of the trail where service isn’t great. The course GPX file will be made available in the Runners Guide.

Pacers can join at the halfway mark or anytime after for 50 and 100 milers. Crew can provide aid/drop bags/etc.. at any of the aid stations as well. You are REQUIRED to have at least one crew member if you are running the 100 miler.

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.

Start Times & Cutoffs
50k, 50 mile, and 100 mile will start at 7am
10k and half marathon will start at 8am so that ya’ll can crank up the speed and not have to worry about as much 2 way traffic on the trails.

Cut off times are as follows:

100 miler: 34 hour cutoff
50 miler: 19 hour cutoff
50k: 12 hour cutoff
Half Marathon: 6 hour cutoff
10k: 3 hour cutoff

All events start and finish at Buck Hall Recreation Area at the back of the overflow parking area

*Please Note* that this is a trail race and that means that distances are not going to always be exact and that we all have different watches. These courses are not USATF certified.

The 100 miler is around 104 miles. I could have made it 100 exactly ish but then you would have missed out on running the entire length of the Swamp Fox trail by like 2 miles and that’s just silly

The 50 miler is around 53 miles. We need the turnaround to be somewhere that our volunteers can access so you can have an aid station with food/drinks/smiling faces which means that there’s a few extra miles so that we can have the turnaround at a fire road where they can get their vehicles.

Half Marathoners you get around 14 miles for the same reason—there won’t be a full aid station at your turnaround point but there will be a water drop.

50k and 10k runners your mileage is pretty spot on

Swag & Awards
What’s a race without the swag? This year everyone who registers will get an orange hat with our new logo that will be perfect to wear on race day so that you have your required orange on (it’s hunting season) while you journey through the Francis Marion National Forest.

Everyone who finishes the distance they registered for will get a vest embroidered with our logo!

100 mile finishers will get an awesome custom made buckle as you finish your race

Top 3 male and female finishers for each distance will also get an award

Deadline to register and guarantee swag is 11/17/24

Night Running
Those who are running the 50 miler and 100 miler are required to have some form of light on them( headlamp, waist light, flaming torch, etc..) once it gets dark out. If you don’t have a light you’re not running. Bring a spare, batteries, charging cables.

Cancellation & Refund Policy/ Distance Changes/Bib Transfers
The race will take place rain or shine. 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

There are no refunds. I know this is frustrating but we have to plan and budget for each race. See bib transfer policy below

If you would like to change your distance you can do that here on ultrasignup before the race or the day of but you must do so before you cross the start line. There will be no distance changes after that point

If you can’t make the event for whatever reason you do have the option to transfer your bib to another runner via ultrasignup up to 3 days before the race

Pregnancy & Postpartum Deferral: We love our mother runners and we get it—family comes first! If you find out your pregnant and don’t feel comfortable running the race anymore or your post partum return to running timeline means the race is no longer feasible for you, we offer a 1 year deferral so you can come back and crush it when you’re ready! You also have the option of transferring your bib to another runner right here on ultrasignup.

Volunteers
With our volunteer program you can earn free/discounted race entries by helping your fellow runners. If you finish your distance you could stick around and help out after. See the volunteer tab to sign up and I’ll be in touch as the race gets closer. You can volunteer for as many hours as you’d like.

This race will require more volunteers than any of our other races. Any help you can give to provide support at an aid station is greatly appreciated!

6 hours volunteer time= 50% discount on any race entry
12 hours volunteer time = 100% discount on any race entry

These hours can be accumulated over several races

Camping
Camping will be offered starting at 3pm Friday, November 22nd through the duration of the race.

There is a campground at Buck Hall Recreation Area (start/finish of the race) that allows RV/tent camping for a fee. Some sites do include electric, etc.. There are showers/restrooms (with real toilets) at the campground.

Tent camping is available for free in the overflow parking area (very close to the campground) but there are no electric/water hookups. There is plenty of space in this lot