5 events in Columbia, South Carolina

Join us for our annual Harbison State Forest Half Marathon and 5K at the beautiful Harbison State Forest. Happily back live... We have the same beautiful and somewhat challenging course as well as a true South Carolina experience…Fabulously Hot On The Trail…7:00am start for the Half Marathon and 7:10am start for the 5K.

Everyone will receive one of our super cool T-shirts and a finishers medal.

Click here for the booking link for our host hotel, Hampton Inn At Harbison

Event Date: Start: Sunday, July 12, 2026 @ 7:00 AM

Address:

Harbison State Forest 5600 Broad River Road Columbia, SC 29210

Registration Closing Date:

Sunday, July 12, 2026 @ 10:00am. PST

Saturday

Packet pick-up on Saturday, July 12th, 11am-2pm

Fleet Feet Columbia

945 Lake Murray Blvd.

Irmo, SC 29063

Race Day

6:00am: Packet pick-up race morning at Harbison State Park

7:00am: Race start Half Marathon

7:10am: Race start 5K

Routes

Click the links below to be taken to the race routes (best if viewed in OSM Cycle and zoom in to see trails more visibly).

Long Course - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53455710

Short Course - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53468071

Race Weekend Schedule

Sunday, October 10, 2026

7:30 AM – Registration Opens

8:30 AM – Registration Closes

8:45 AM – Pre-Race Meeting At Start

9:00 AM – RACE START

11:30 AM – Post-Race Meal Begins

12:00 PM – Short Course Awards

12:30 PM – Long Course Awards #1**

1:00 PM – Long Course Awards #2**

*Times are subject to change.

**If not all Long Course categories are ready at 12:30, we will do the rest at 1:00 or ASAP

Included With Registration

• Well-Marked Courses

• Chip Timing

• Event Shirt (If Registered By 9/27/26)

• Awards For Top 3 In Each Category

• Post-Race Meal

• Fully Stocked Aid Stations

Pisgah Triple Crown

The Harbison MTB Challenge will now be part of our sister companies, Pisgah Triple Crown. Yes, we realize that Harbison is not Pisgah, and five races does not make the Triple Crown name make sense. However, adding this race will allow us to make the series best 3 of 5 events and more opportunity for series participation. So, if you race all five events, then you can drop your lowest two scores. Or maybe you can only make 3 of the 5 events and now you can still qualify for our series awards.

Harbison MTB Challenge - Long Course is part of the Pisgah Triple Crown Hard Core Series

Harbison MTB Challenge - Short Course is part of the Pisgah Triple Crown Casual Racer Series

Refunds, Transfers, Deferrals

• No transfers or deferrals under ANY circumstances.

• If race sells out, we will consider a transfer to another race if we have someone on a waitlist to take your spot.

• Refunds available until June 30, 2026, of 75% entry fee.

• Refunds available until August 31, 2026, of 50% entry fee.

• No refunds after August 31, 2026, NO EXCEPTIONS.

• WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO PURCHASE THE RACE INSURANCE THAT IS OFFERED FROM THE REGISTRATION SITE.

UDPATES for 2027 Races Coming Soon!

Potential Updates to Course, Location, Time

NEW Swag, Apparel, Medals, and MORE!

Registration set to open for this race on September 1st

The First 100 Participants Receive Custom Race Socks

🏜️ Welcome to the Sandhills Trail & Ultra Festival! 🏕️

Are you ready to run wild in the heart of South Carolina? Lace up and hit the trails at Sesquicentennial State Park in Columbia, SC – where pine forests meet sandy ridges, and every step brings you closer to nature.🌲 Whether you're tackling a single loop or testing your grit in the 30-hour challenge, the Sandhills Trail Race has something for every trail runner.

Distance Options

• 🏃‍♀️ 7.5-Mile Fun Loop – One lap of sweet singletrack through forest and lakeside views.

• 🏃 25K (2 Laps) – Perfect for those ready to push past comfort and into the challenge zone.

• 🏃‍♂️ 50K (4 Laps) – A full day of adventure for ultrarunners craving miles and memories.

• 🌙 30-Hour Ultra – How far can you go? Push your limits under sun, stars, and soul.

Why You’ll Love It:

• 🏞️ Serene lake views & sandy trails beneath towering pines

• 🏕️ Easy-access personal aid station zone in the open field

• 💫 Camp overnight or relax between laps – it's your race, your pace

• 🎶 Chill trail vibes + post-race hangs with fellow dirt-loving runners

• 🥒 Aid station snacks, cool drinks, and all the good trail feels

• 🥇 Belt buckles for 100-mile finishers (13 laps)

• 📍 Location: Sesquicentennial State Park – 9564 Two Notch Rd, Columbia, SC 29223

• 🕘 Race Start: 9:00 AM (All distances)

• 📦 Packet Pickup: 1 hour before your race at Shelter #1

🗺️ Course Highlights - COURSE MAP HERE

• 7.75-mile loop 💫

• Soft pine needle-covered singletrack ✅

• A few smooth paved sections around the lake 👟

• Rolling hills + lake breezes = chef’s kiss 🌬️

• Fast, runnable, and beginner-friendly (but the 30-hour? That’s another story 😏)

• 🚗 Parking Info: You’ll enter the park and head to the lake parking lot near the ranger station. Have a state park pass or bring a few bucks for a day pass. If you’re staying the day or overnight, feel free to pop up a 10x10 near the field by the start/finish.

⛺️ 30-Hour Runners: Limited crew/aid support from 10PM–6AM. Timing continues overnight. Take a nap if needed — we get it 😴. Just leave your chip at the table when you're done.

🍬 Aid Station Snacks May Include: Pickles, cookies, candy, chips, fig newtons, pretzels, water, Coke, and ginger ale. Want something special? Bring it! This is a cupless event, so bring your own hydration gear 🥤

🎉 Whether you're aiming for a PR, your first ultra, or just a fun day in the woods, the Sandhills Trail Race is your ticket to an unforgettable trail experience. Let the sandy paths guide you and the forest fuel your soul 🌳

Race Email Recap

• Date/Time

• Races Start at 9am / Packet Pickup Starts at 8am

• Address

• 9564 Two Notch Rd, Columbia, SC 29223

• Parking

• Follow signs that will sneak you behind the ranger station but lead you to the open field adjacent to the start/finish line where packet pickup will be underneath Picnic Shelter #2 (linked HERE)

• Personal Base Camp

• You can setup in that grass field at the start/finish line area. When you arrive in the parking area near the ranger station please be on the lookout for the event parking arrows leading you back behind the ranger station for setup.

• Early Setup

• If you want to setup your 10 x 10 on Friday you are permitted but there is still a day use fee to get into the park unless you have a parking pass

• Parking Fee

• We are still waiting on confirmation on this fee. It is typically $6 per runner unless you have a state park pass but they have also done a February donation drive of a jar of Peanut Butter as the price of admission.

• Aid Station

• There is a fully stocked aid station at the start/finish line of the 7.5 mile loop. We welcome any aid station donations or personally prepared/baked items to share with the crowd. We are planning to have 5 gallon jugs at the campground loop around mile marker 5 of the 7.5 mile loop

• Awards/Timing

• Results will be live, 30 hour runners will post current lap tracking, we will announce overall and age group awards at various intervals based on estimated finish time per distance

o 7.5 Mile Awards @ 10:30

o 25k Awards @ 12pm

o 50k Awards @ 3pm

• Trail Series

• All participants will be entered into our Age Group Trail Series awards HERE

• Order Apparel

• Link to order apparel is below

• Course

• Link to our Strava course is linked in the Race Info above on the registration page

• Weather

• Rain in the forecast but we are rain or shine. In the event we have a severe wind storm similar to last year with fallen trees we will email/notify participants to clear the trail for safety. This is not a real concern at this time with the estimated weather incoming.