True to the Brew Trail Run/Hike 13.1 Half Marathon

Palmetto Trail · True to the Brew Trail Race Series True to the Brew Trail Run/Hike Half Marathon Embrace the challenge of 13.1 miles on the Croft Passage of the Palmetto Trail, with a hot breakfast and free beer at the finish. Saturday, October 2, 2027 · Croft State Park · Spartanburg, SC About the Race

Join us for the True to the Brew Trail Run/Hike Half Marathon! Embrace the challenge of 13.1 miles on the Croft Passage of the beautiful Palmetto Trail. Whether you're chasing a PR, tackling your first trail half marathon, or just looking for an unforgettable race experience, this course delivers.

Both the start and finish are at Croft State Park, so there are no shuttle buses. This race sells out every year, so hurry and get registered!

Race Day Details

Date	Saturday, October 2, 2027
Start Time	8:00 AM
Park Gate Opens	7:00 AM (participant gate into Croft State Park)
Location	Croft State Park 450 Croft State Park Road, Spartanburg, SC 29302
Packet Pickup (Friday)	4:00 to 6:30 PM the day before the race at RJ Rockers Brewing Company, 226-A W Main St., Spartanburg, SC
Packet Pickup (Race Day)	7:00 to 7:45 AM at the race start line
Cutoff	4 hours

Race Morning Access and Start Time

The Palmetto Trail has shared this update: "Due to updated park policies and procedures, the participant gate into Croft State Park will now open at 7:00 a.m., and the race start time has been moved to 8:00 a.m. We apologize for the change from the originally advertised start time and appreciate your flexibility and understanding." Please arrive with enough time to enter the park, park, and make your way to the start/finish area before the 8:00 AM start.

• Enter through the main gate at Croft State Park: 450 Croft State Park Road, Spartanburg, SC 29302.
• Once inside the park, turn left onto McFadden Road (about a mile inside Croft). The additional gate at McFadden Road will also be open race morning.
• Follow McFadden Road approximately 2 miles to the start/finish area.
• A staff member or volunteer will be stationed at the intersection to direct race traffic. Please pay close attention to Palmetto Trail staff and volunteers; following their directions helps keep traffic moving on race morning.

Questions about the park opening time, park access or the schedule should go to Palmetto Trail (Ariel Leone) via the contact form.

Get Directions to Croft State ParkContact Form The Events Half Marathon, Croft Passage · 8:00 AM 13.1 miles on the Croft Passage of the Palmetto Trail. 4-hour cutoff.

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Race Morning Timeline

Friday, 4:00 to 6:30 PM	Packet pickup at RJ Rockers. Bring your friends and enjoy a beer by showing your bib.
7:00 AM	Park gate opens; race-day packet pickup at the start line until 7:45 AM
8:00 AM	Start: 13.1 miles on the Croft Passage
Finish	Finisher medals, a full hot breakfast and the awards ceremony, all near the finish line
4 hours	Course cutoff

Course

Experience the incredible Croft Passage of the Palmetto Trail, featuring beautiful forest scenery, rolling terrain and creek crossings. Both the start and finish are at Croft State Park.

This course is moderate with some hills. It is a technical course and is recommended for experienced runners. There is a 4-hour cutoff to complete the race.

Croft PassageStart/Finish on Google Maps Packet Pickup at RJ Rockers

Join us for packet pickup on the Friday before the race from 4:00 to 6:30 PM at RJ Rockers Brewing Company, 226-A W Main St., Spartanburg, SC. We hope you'll bring your friends and enjoy a beer by showing your bib! Race-day packet pickup is at the start line from 7:00 to 7:45 AM.

RJ Rockers Brewing Parking

Race parking is inside Croft State Park, near the start/finish area. The participant gate opens at 7:00 AM.

• Enter through the main gate at 450 Croft State Park Road, Spartanburg, SC 29302.
• About a mile inside the park, turn left onto McFadden Road. The McFadden Road gate is also open race morning.
• Follow McFadden Road about 2 miles to the start/finish area, and follow Palmetto Trail staff and volunteers to race parking.

Carpooling saves time at the gate and frees up spots. Allow time to enter the park, park and walk to the start before the 8:00 AM start.

Get Directions to Croft State Park What's Included

• Finisher medal: a custom bottle opener medal for every finisher
• Hot breakfast: a full hot breakfast fresh off the grill, cooked by Palmetto Trail staff and volunteers
• Free beer: a complimentary beer at the finish line
• Race swag: a pullover perfect for cool morning runs, crisp trail hikes and everyday adventures. Register by the swag deadline (to be announced) to be guaranteed one; a No Pullover option is available at registration.
• Finish line celebration: like all True to the Brew events, expect an unforgettable one

Race Awards

Finisher medals and age group awards. All finishers receive a custom bottle opener medal to commemorate their race! The awards ceremony takes place near the finish line, which is also where breakfast is served.

If you win an award, please stay for the awards ceremony. We are not able to ship awards after the race. If you have a friend at the race, we're happy to give your award to them to take to you.

True to the Brew Series Scoring

This race is part of the 2027 True to the Brew Trail Race Series: the 5K (March 6), the 10K (April 3), the 13.1 (October 2) and the 26.2 (fall, date to be announced). Run one or run them all.

Automatic entry. Every finisher is entered in the series and scored by finishing position within their age group and gender: 10 points for 1st, 9 for 2nd, down to 2 for 9th, and 1 point for every other finisher. Points from all four races add up, so the more races you finish, the higher you climb. Use the same RunSignUp profile for every race so your results match.

Age groups are based on your age on December 31, 2027: 19 and under, 20-29, then five-year groups from 30-34 through 65-69, 70-79 and 80 and over.

Series awards. The top 3 men and top 3 women in each age group earn series awards at the end of the year, and anyone who finishes all four races earns a special four-race finisher award. Prize details will be announced before the 5K in March.

Series PageSeries Standings Finish Line Celebration

Great trails, great food, great people. Crossing the finish line is only the beginning of the celebration! Every finisher is welcomed back with a custom finisher medal and a well-earned full hot breakfast fresh off the grill, personally cooked by Palmetto Trail staff and volunteers.

Grab a plate, relax, swap trail stories, and stick around to cheer as more runners conquer the Croft Passage. There's nothing better than seeing the trail-running community come together to celebrate every finisher. Come hungry and plan to stay awhile!

Benefiting the Palmetto Trail

Proceeds benefit the Palmetto Conservation Foundation and go directly toward expanding and maintaining the Palmetto Trail across South Carolina. Their mission is to foster an appreciation for South Carolina's natural and cultural resources, providing opportunities for active recreation on the Palmetto Trail and other trail systems that can be enjoyed by all in South Carolina, regardless of gender, race, creed, age or ability.

Your participation helps build this incredible resource that connects the state's mountains to its sea.

About the Palmetto TrailDonate to the Palmetto Trail Join a Team and Save

Gather your crew! Create or join a team when you register, and once your team reaches 5 runners, every member gets $5 back on their registration. It's a great way to bring family, friends, coworkers or your run club to Croft.

Create or Join a Team Race Policies

• Weather: the race is rain or shine.
• Dogs and strollers: for safety reasons, no strollers or dogs are allowed on the course.
• Age minimum: you must be 15 or older on race day to register.
• Refunds and deferrals: all entries are final; no refunds and no deferrals. You can transfer your entry to another runner in your RunSignUp profile until October 1, 2027; the new runner pays a $5 transfer fee.
• Awards: awards cannot be shipped.

Good to Know Can I register on race day? No. Registration is online only and closes the night before the race. True to the Brew races sell out, so register early. Can I get a refund, defer my entry or transfer it? All entries are final: no refunds and no deferrals. You can transfer your entry to another runner yourself in your RunSignUp profile until October 1, 2027; the new runner pays a $5 transfer fee. How old do I have to be? You must be 15 or older on race day to register. Can I hike instead of run? Yes. This is a run/hike, and hikers get the same bib, timing and results as runners. Start toward the back, keep right so runners can pass, and plan to finish within the 4-hour cutoff. What is different about a trail race? Roots, rocks, creek crossings, climbs and single-track. This is a technical course recommended for experienced runners. Expect to run slower than on the road, expect your GPS to read a little short or long, and follow the course markings rather than your watch. On single-track, call "on your left" to pass. When and where is packet pickup? Friday before the race, 4:00 to 6:30 PM at RJ Rockers Brewing Company, 226-A W Main St., Spartanburg. Race-day pickup is at the start line from 7:00 to 7:45 AM. What time should I arrive? The park gate opens at 7:00 AM and the race starts at 8:00 AM. Plan to arrive at 7:00 AM: you still have about 3 miles to drive inside the park, then park and get to the start. Can I bring my dog or a stroller? No. For safety reasons, no dogs or strollers are allowed on the course. Will I get a pullover if I register late? Pullovers are guaranteed if you register by the swag deadline. After that, pullovers are while supplies last. If you do not want one, choose No Pullover at registration. What happens if there is bad weather? The race is rain or shine. If conditions are unsafe, updates will be posted on this page and emailed to registered runners. When and where are results posted? On this race's RunSignUp results page. Opt in during registration to get a text or email with your time when you finish. Are there race photos? Yes. A photographer is at the start and finish, and photos are posted to the True to the Brew Facebook page a few days after the race. How are awards scored? Awards are scored by gun time, measured from the start signal. Awards go three deep: overall male and female, masters (40 and over) male and female, and each age group: 0-9, 10-12, 13-16, 17-19, 20-29, then 5-year groups from 30-34 through 65-69, 70-79 and 80 and over. No one wins more than one award: overall winners are not counted in masters or age groups, and masters winners are not counted in age groups. Do I have to be present to receive my award? Yes, please stay for the awards ceremony near the finish line. Awards cannot be shipped, but a friend at the race can pick yours up for you. Can I donate without running? Yes. Every donation supports the Palmetto Trail. Use the Donate link on this page. Let's Stay Connected FacebookResultsFind a ParticipantManage Registration Everything about your entry lives in your RunSignUp profile. Sign in, find this race under your upcoming events, and transfer your entry, edit your details, pullover size and emergency contact yourself. Questions? Use the contact form or tap the chat button in the corner. Contact the Race Director