The Snowbird Challenge (13.1 - 26.2 - 50k & Relay)

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

❄️ Snowbird Challenge: A Run for the True Winter Wanderers 🐧

❄️ Snowbird Challenge: The Race That Makes You Crave Sunshine 🐧
Brrr... if only I could stay bundled up indoors and sip hot cocoa instead of hitting the chilly paths, but here we are with the Snowbird Challenge – the race for those of us who’d rather be warm in Florida! ☀️🏝️ Even if you're like me—dodging frostbite and dreaming of tropical breezes—this 2.62-mile loop offers a mini escape from the winter grind. Ready to push through for that taste of “almost-summer”? Let's do this!

Race Options to warm you up!

Solo Snowbird Challenge:

• Hop from lap to lap (2.62 miles each) and cover anywhere from 5 miles to 50K. Each lap completed adds a little warmth to your heart (and earns you a finisher medal worthy of any snowbird brag)!
• Finisher Medals for finishing at least 2 laps, with extra kudos for reaching 5, 10, or 12 laps.
• Milestone distances:
  • 5 Miles
  • 13.1 Miles
  • 26.2 Miles
  • 31 Miles

Relay Teams (2–4 People):

• Join forces with fellow warm-blooded run enthusiasts as you complete 12 laps together—because misery loves company, especially when it ends in a break!
  

Race Day Details

• When: 9:00 AM sharp – yes, it’s early, but the sooner you run, the sooner you can dream of Florida beaches!
• Where: Riverwest Preserve
• Address: 2959 New Easley Hwy, Greenville SC 29611
• Packet Pickup: An hour before the race at the start/finish area. Grab your gear, bundle up, and brace yourself!

Athlete Village / Staging Area

The Athlete Village will be located between the Start and Finish lines, serving as a central hub for all runners. You’re welcome to bring a 10x10 canopy, cooler, chair, and whatever else helps you recover between laps. This is where the party lives—so share a tent, make some friends, and set up camp! Please note: While runners may stage gear at their vehicles, all parking is 150 meters away, so on-site tent setup is the best way to stay close to the action.

Course

On an old golf course the route is run on a PAVED 2.6 mile loop with plenty of shade and participant setup right at the start/finish line! The Preserve: The 240-acre Riverwest Nature Preserve was once a golf course, but now it’s the perfect place to test your limits. Rolling cart paths, wooden bridges, waterfalls, and riverfront views all surround you as you race toward glory. 

• COURSE MAP

Aid Stations & Support

• Need a pick-me-up? There's an aid station at the start/finish brimming with:
• Pickles, cookies, chips, Little Debbie snacks, and more goodies to warm your insides.
• Drinks like water, Tailwind, Coke, and ginger ale
• no cups provided—bring your own to avoid the frostbite of disposable plastic!

 
Race Format Rules

• The Loop: You’re running a 2.62-mile loop on paved paths every 45 minutes
  
• Lap Start: A cheerful kettle bell sound marks the beginning of each lap. When you hear it, it's time to beat the clock!
  
• Timed Laps: You have 45 minutes to complete each loop. Get it done fast, or the cold will have the last laugh and you'll be disqualified.
  
• Rest Intervals: Once you finish a lap, wait until the full 45 minutes are up for the next one where all runners will toe the starting line again for another chance to finish before you get "cold feet" and have to step aside to let the southern birds migrate south.
  • Finish in 25 minutes? Enjoy a 20-minute break to warm up your muscles.
  • Finish in 40 minutes? That gives you a quick 5-minute breather before the next lap.

 
So, while I'd much rather be lounging in flip-flops and soaking up the sun, I know some of us brave souls can’t resist a challenge—even in the cold. Lace up, keep that timer close, and let's run our way from the winter blues toward a little Florida fantasy! 🏃‍♀️🌴

Gear up, coordinate with your teammates, and get ready to tackle each lap with speed and precision—every minute counts! Happy racing and may the best snowbirds soar! ❄️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️