MIDNIGHT SQUATCHAPALOOZA
A Trail Party that begins at midnight? YES, YES, YES! Join us on Sunday June 25, 2023 at the Burlington County Fairgrounds for the Midnight Squatchapalooza! Runners and hikers can sign up to squatch for 12 hours, 6 hours or 3 hours.. Don't miss out on the biggest all-night Sassquad Trail Party of 2023! Please visit our website for the complete details on this race, course maps, gpx files etc!
RACE DETAILS
This is the perfect event for both newbies and veteran trail runners! The flat and fast course is ideal for new trail runners and hikers who are jumping into the squatchtastic world of Ultra Running AND for the veterans who are looking to push their limits. The midnight start for the 12H/6H events puts a unique twist on the traditional timed event! please note: pacers are not allowed at this trail party.
Please read the following start/end times carefully; we don't want any runners/hikers to misunderstand the race schedule... ALL events start on SUNDAY June 25, 2023:
12H:
Saturday 11:15PM-11:45PM Check-in
Sunday 12:00AM Start
Sunday 12:00PM Finish
6H:
Saturday 11:15PM-11:45PM Check-in
Sunday 12:00AM Start
Sunday 6:00am Finish
3H:
Sunday 8:15AM-8:45AM Check-in
Sunday 9:00AM Start
Sunday 12:00PM Finish
COURSE DESCRIPTION
All events will use the same 2.5 mile loop at the Burlington County Fairgrounds in Columbus, NJ. This flat and fast course is 2/3 trail and 1/3 pavement. The beginning/end of the course is pavement because it brings you to the start/finish area at the large covered pavilion next to the parking lot. There are full restrooms with running water next to the pavilion and all runners have access to their vehicles with a short walk to the parking lot.
The course starts by following the pavement to the trailhead. The Burlington County Fairgrounds have a beautiful trail system that resembles a squatchtastic cross-country course. The wide trails are grass and FLAT; there is only about 20 feet of elevation gain on the course so that means that the course is flat and fast!
BE A HERO
Join the Sassy Volunteer Squad! We need help with check-in, sweeping the course and cleaning up. Are you registered for a race that requires volunteer hours? We can sign-off on the hours that you log at the Midnight Squatchapalooza. Volunteer to provide delicious food for the runners and we can sign-off on your prep time! We love our volunteer team and we are always looking to add more sassy members to the Volunteer Squad! We also have special perks for our Volunteers including exclusive swag and early bird registration for future events. Email us at trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com if you would like to volunteer!
FAQs
Q: Can I have a pacer?
A: Pacers are not allowed.
Q: Can I bring my dog?
A: Sorry, but Buddy has to stay at home for this race. Our liability insurance does not cover dogs; thank you for understanding!
Q: Will I have easy-access to my car during the race?
A: Yes, the parking lot is just a short walk to the start/finish area.
Q: Can I sign my kids up for the Midnight Squatchapalooza?
A: Yes! We want the WHOLE family to come out to our events! We have a special discount code for families registering 3 or more Squatches in the same household. Please email us (trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com) before you register so we can give you the code! Once you have the code, be sure to register your child separately and agree to the waiver for minors. And make sure to keep track of little Arthur before during and after the race. We only have 1 search-party and they're already out there looking for Sasquatch.
Q: What's the weather like in Columbus, NJ in June?
A: The swallow may fly south with the sun or the house martin or the plover may seek warmer climes in winter, yet these are not strangers to our land?
Q: Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
A: Not at all. They could be carried.... And the weather is usually very warm; average highs in the mid to upper 80's, lows in the mid to upper 50's.
Q: This will be my first midnight race. Can you share some race-strategies with me?
A: Just keep repeating the following: "I'm not dead. It's just a flesh wound. The Black Knight ALWAYS TRIUMPHS!
Q: What food will you have at the aid station?
A: We will have a spread of Ultra favorites plus water and electrolytes. All items will be pre-packaged.
Q: I could get lost in a brown paper bag. Will the course be marked?
A: We will have bright colored ribbons along the course and plenty at all of the turns. We will also mark the ground for each of the turns.
Q: What is the loop like?
A: The loop is flat (only about 20 ft of elevation gain) wide grass trails.
Q: Will I encounter any wildlife on the course?
A: Well, there is a legend of a ruthless rodent that lives in a cave just beyond the trails at the fairgrounds. It's a creature so foul, so cruel, that no man yet has fought with it... and lived! BONES of full fifty men lie strewn about its lair! So! Brave knights! If you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth... That rabbit's got a vicious streak a mile wide! It's a killer!
Q: I don't want to run, are there any volunteer opportunities?
A: You don't want to run?! I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries! Yes, yes, of course! We always need Sassy Volunteers! Click the "Volunteer" button at the top of the page!
Q: What happens if I decide to stop running and go home before my event ends?
A: You must cut down the mightiest tree in the forest... WITH... A HERRING! Just kidding. You can run as much or as little as you want. Just remember that if the timer ends before you finish your last loop, that loop does not count towards your final mileage.
Q: Okay, what's up with all of the Monty Python quotes?!
A: Ekki-ekki-ekki-ekki-PTANG. Zoom-Boing, z'nourrwringmm.
Q: I can’t make it to the race anymore, can I get a refund?
A: Unfortunately we do not offer refunds for our events. Thank you for understanding!
FAMILIES, MILITARY, VETERANS AND CLUB MEMBERS
We want the WHOLE family to come out to our events! We have a special discount code for families registering 3 or more Squatches in the same household. Please email trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com before you register so we can give you the code! Sassquad Trail Running is proud to offer 20% off all events to all active duty military and Veterans. Must provide proof of service. Please email trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com before you register for an event so we can provide you with a discount code. NYNJ Trail Conference members and South Mountain Conservancy can receive 10% off of registration; please email trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com for the discount code!
NJCASA
We are proud to partner with the "New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NJCASA)" for this event! After the Midnight Squatchapalooza, we will be making a donation to the NJCASA! The NJCASA is the statewide advocacy and capacity building organization that represents the twenty-one county-based rape crisis centers, and the Rutgers University -New Brunswick Office of Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance. NJCASA elevates the voice of sexual violence survivors and service providers by advocating for survivor-centered legislation, training allied professionals, and supporting statewide prevention strategies that work to address and defy the socio-cultural norms that permit and promote rape culture.
SKRATCH
We are excited to share that our friends over at Skratch Labs are official Sassquad sponsors! We will be proudly serving Skratch Hydration at the aid station. Sassquaders can save 20% by using the code SASSQUAD23 at skratchlabs.com
SNEAKER FACTORY
Thank you to our friends at Sneaker Factory, NJ! Sneaker Factory supports Sassquad Trail Running on and off the trails to help make the events as squatchtastic as possible! The Sneaker Factory is NJ's source for all things running: New Jersey's oldest and most well-known running store, originally opened in Millburn in 1978. Stop by one of our three convenient neighborhood locations and let us help you find the "perfect ride for every stride." Millburn, Florham Park and Basking Ridge.
SASSQUAD TRAIL RUNNING
We are a community of SASQUATCH-lovin' trail runners. Our goal is to provide FUN and challenging events for runners of all ages and paces. We like to think that we have a good sense of humor, a full arsenal of sarcastic wit, useless trivia facts and a deep appreciation for cinematic masterpieces (as evidenced multiple times already). Follow us on Instagram , and like us on Facebook to get all of our Squatchy updates. You can also join our Facebook group, "Sassquad Trail Runners" to connect with other runners and hikers!
Event's current local time: 8:39 AM ET
