High Noon Showdown

LONG NIGHT IN LANFORD

Are you ready to howl at the moon?This isn’t your average race. This is a dusk-to-dawn trail challenge designed to test your limits and light your fire. The rules are simple:Start at dusk (around 5:30 PM — we’ll go with the setting sun)Finish at dawnComplete the first lap at dusk and the last lap at dawn to be a finisherThe winner? Whoever racks up the most laps by sunrise!NO cut-off times. NO speed requirements. ALL levels welcome. Walk, jog, or run — just keep moving!

The Trail

This is a 1-mile off-road loop through the scenic South Carolina countryside:Start at the barn on gravelCruise downhill into the woodsPop out into an open field along Beaverdam CreekDash through pine trees and hay pasturesLoop back to the barn on gravelExpect uneven terrain, wildlife, and the full charm of a Southern fall night. No strollers or pets — the farm dogs have the trail covered!

Night Moves

First lap: with the sunset to get your bearingsThen it’s headlamps and flashlights all night long!Horn blasts will guide you:Start of the raceMidnight = direction changeFinal lap at dawnBring your own light source! We’ll keep the aid station stocked with snacks, water, and hot food all night long thanks to our wonderful volunteers and sponsors!

Camp Out

Gates open at 12 PM SaturdayPacket pickup: 12–4 PMPlenty of space for tents and crew setups

Post-Race Perks

Professional Race PhotosHot breakfast served at sunriseAwards for top finishersT-shirts guaranteed if you sign up by October 15

Course Map

Event's current local time: 5:07 AM ET

Race Format

The rules are simple. The race is not.The course is a 2.5-mile loop.A new lap begins every 45 minutes.Every runner must complete one full loop per window.You must be back in the starting corral before the next lap begins.Miss the start—you’re done.There are no pace requirements. Only the clock.The cycle is relentless.The clock never stops.The miles stack up.The field gets smaller.This continues until only one runner remains.

Winning the Race (Running Division)

To win, the final remaining runner must complete one last solo 2.5-mile lap. Finish it — you win Fail it — nobody wins This race does not reward speed.It rewards refusal.

12-Hour Ruck Division

This is not last-runner-standing.This is a time-based endurance grind.The same 2.5-mile loop is usedParticipants must carry a 25 lb ruck (dry weight) at all timesOnce you start, you keep moving until your race ends or 12 hours expiresTo finish:Ring the bell when you're done — that’s your raceRules:Short breaks are allowedAny break longer than 30 minutes = immediate removalIf you stop moving for more than 30 minutes at any time, you’re doneThere is: No minimum lapsNo maximum lapsOnly time under loadWeight will be checked.The clock will not stop.The course does not care.

Side Pot: Bragging Rights Battle

This isn’t just you versus the course.It’s ultra runners vs. military and first responders.A side pot will be tracked for total miles by each group:Every mile countsEven if you DNF, your miles still contributeYou are part of something bigger than your individual finish.Don’t let your side down. Keep pushing.

The Point

This is not about medals.It is not about comfort.It is not about motivation.This is about:Suffering managementDisciplineMental durabilityYour body will ask you to stop.Your mind decides when you listen.Endure. Or ring the bell.

The Route

Event's current local time: 5:10 AM ET

🎄✨ HO HO HO and Welcome to the TACKIEST 5K of the Year! ✨🎄

Straight from the North Pole (okay, maybe more like South Carolina), it’s your jolly friend Christmas here, and I’m inviting YOU to jingle all the way through the woods at the Tacky Sweater 5K! 🎅🧣🎽 This isn’t just any run—it’s a full-blown festive fashion disaster parade on the move! Whether the forecast calls for snowflakes ❄️ or sweat beads 💦, nothing stops a South Carolina runner in a sweater covered in tinsel, blinking lights, and pure holiday joy! 🌟

🦌 Tacky Day Details:

🎄 WHEN: Race kicks off at 10:00am sharp (don’t be late—Santa's watching!)

🎁 WHERE: Lakewood Nature Preserve – 220 Lakewood Dr., Greenville, SC

🎁 PACKET PICKUP: Begins one hour before the run (plenty of time to fluff your sweater pom-poms!)

Get ready for 2 festive loops (1.5 miles each) through the wild & whimsical woods of Lakewood! The trails are wide, grassy, and sprinkled with just enough hills to jingle your bells 🎶. Keep your eyes peeled for curious critters who might just mistake your outfit for a holiday decoration gone rogue! 🐿️🦃🦌

• COURSE MAP HERE

🎉 TACKY SWEATER CONTEST 🎉

This is where the magic ✨ (and the mayhem) happens!

🎅 CASH PRIZES for the most spectacularly ridiculous sweaters:

TEAM AND SOLO COMPETITION

🥇 1st – $50

🥈 2nd – $25

🥉 3rd – $10

👕 Rules of the Reindeer Runway:

Sweaters MUST be worn the entire race (not tied around your waist like a last-minute elf escape).

🎨 Creativity – The wilder, the better (lights? ornaments? 3D candy canes? YES.)

🎄 Theme – Bonus for holiday or running-inspired looks!

🧶 DIY Vibes – Homemade disasters get extra love.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All ages & styles welcome—kids, grownups, even your festive four-legged friends! 🐶

🧑‍🎄 Best Group Sweater – Grab your crew, match your holiday chaos, and shine together!

📸 Photo Finish Required – Strike a pose at the "Tacky Sweater Finish Line" (go ahead, throw in some jazz hands!).

🎤 Judging Tent Fun – Head there post-race to show off your style and collect your prizes!

🙌 Spectator Votes Count! Loud cheers, claps, and votes at the post-race party help crown the People’s Choice!

🌲 After the Race:

Kick back by the barn, soak up the holly-jolly vibes, and sip on holiday cheer (BYOB-style! 🧃🎅). Enjoy festive tunes, fun photo ops, and all the cozy feels as we celebrate the season together. So grab your most horrendous holiday sweater (the itchier, the better), lace up those jingle-joggers, and run wild through the woods in full festive fashion. 🎄💨 This is one holiday event you’ll remember fa-la-la-long after the season’s gone!