The Deets:
When: September 14th, 2024
Distance: Half-Marathon
Start Time: 7:30pm! Rain or Shine
Cut-Off: None! I’m here for YOU to get that finish. Our goal is to get more and more people into the sport of trail running, I’m here for every pace to have that finish line moment.
Location: Green Swamp - West Tract
Address: 13347 Ranch Road, Dade City, FL, 33525
Awards: The Top Four Men and Women overall winners! Brie with Wicked Skins does such an amazing job time and time again.
Finisher Awards: Nothing fancy here... No age-group awards, no t-shirts, and no special accommodations on that end BUT.... we’ve got you a Pint Glass, Whiskey Glass, Orange Juice Glass, Mugs, or Cups!! I keep it open to whatever you choose.
STICKERS! Always. We will back again with a bunch of options for you to choose from!
Additionally, we also have shirts, hoodies, long sleeves, and so on available on the Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/skunkapeevents/
Aid Station: Will be at the Turn Around Point at the McNeil Trailhead! It’s roughly 6.6 miles out.
- Aid Stations will be stocked with Soda, Pickles, Gummy Bears or Worm..idk one of those, Chips, Snacks, Cookies, Produce, some brand of powder electro's. We will also provide band-aids and women hygiene products in a plastic box at all the Aid Stations.
Post-Race Potluck Party
For a total price of $20 and a Potluck... Boom!! Let’s add to the fun and share some of our favorite foods with each other. Bring something fresh like a fruit dish, pasta salad, or a raw vegetable side dish for some variety... Lasagna, pizza, baked chicken wings, casserole, or mashed potatoes. Cookies, Brownies, Fudge, or Banana Bread....
Bring your families favorite recipe or that secret craving you always have after a race. That will make a lot of people happy.
We all love to eat, drink, and “recover”. And after running a Half-Marathon, you will be hungry, hangry, and so will the volunteers! Last events Post-Race Potluck Party was a blast!
We will also have “community coolers” in case you bring drinks, beverages, soda, pop, etc!
The Course
This is an out and back course on one of my favorite long-run routes in the Green Swamp! You'll be running through the old forest roads and pasture lanes before turning left onto the Florida Trail.
From there on, you'll be following the Florida Trail all the way out to the McNeil Entrance of the Green Swamp off of 471. You’ll be listening to the drone of frogs from all directions, hoots from the owls, calls from birds, buzzing of bugs, and the yips of coyotes in the distance. And of course, some squeals and grunts of the Wild Boars.
Part of that sound and also silence, will make you wonder if “just that sound” was from something else... perhaps, the Skunk Ape.
I’ve done this trail in the dry season and the wet season, but if you're looking to avoid the creek crossings of the Skunk Ape Night Run and Skunk Ape's Revenge, you're in for a treat! This race is for you! Unless we get some massive monsoon, you’ll stay dry for the most part of the course.
Course Marking
You will be following the PINK FLAGGING that has reflective tape on it. Areas in which you should NOT cross will be marked with the little pink flags. Don’t cross over the pink flags! If you don’t see pink, you better rethink. I know we all love an adventure but, maybe not an unplanned one. My phone number will also be on all the race bibs! :)
Drop Bags
There will be one drop bag zone at the Turn Around Point Aid Station at the McNeil Trailhead! It’s 6.6 miles down the trail.
Drop Bags must have your name written on it! Use duck tape and a sharpie marker. Please try to keep drop bags no larger the a standard draw string bag.
Drop Bags will only be returned to the Start/Finish after that Aid Station has packed up and left. So keep that in mind when choosing what bag you’re going to use. You will however, be able to drive out there to pick it up. It’s just past Colt Creek State Park, about a 25 minute drive from the West Tract.
Camping
Camping is FREE in the Green Swamp.
Sites have picnic tables, fire rings and/or grills.
A free reservation is required and must be displayed or available at campground.
The Ashley Campground or Cumpressco Campground would be the way to go.
Youll need to create a login at the Southwest Florida Water Management District website;
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/user/login?destination=/recreation/green-swamp-west-tract/activities
Sponsors
Race Bibs: Alpha Safety Consultants is operated by one of our own, Angel Garcia! Angel has run races like the Long Haul 100, the Keys 100, Daytona 100, River to Sea, and the Swamp 50k! This year, he also ran the Badwater Cape Fear and has the Miami 100 lined up next! Angel also has 20 years of experience in the Occupational Environmental Safety & Health Industry!
The mission of Alpha Safety Consultants is in the fact they recognize their ethical and social responsibilities of developing policies and programs in the interest to establish and maintain a strong Safety Culture for its clients. Their success is a consequence of the participation and full commitment of company personnel and customers alike.
Pacer Travel: Jeff Iosa, aka Pacer Travel is one of our own! You’ve probably seen him flying by on the trials. He recently placed 2nd Overall at the Pinellas Trail Challenge. He’s also done races like the Long Haul 100, Vermont 100, Old Dominion 100, Colt 45, Long Play, Sweat Swat n Swear, and the Burning River 100. He also beat me in the final two miles of the 2018 John Holmes 50k.
Pacer Travel is a travel agency that is focused toward the running community. They can help book hotels, Disney trips, cruises, and almost anything else related to travel.
The Florida Trail Runners Podcast is one of our race sponsors, this is new podcast for our community. Its mission is to represent and promote trail and ultra-running here in the state of Florida! Explore the state, talk to the people, and learn the history! You can find it on Spotify, Apple, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Audible, and on so many more!
2024 Skunk Ape Trail Series
The Skunk Ape Trail Series connects all four of the Skunk Ape Events trail races together into one challenge! This includes the Skunk Ape’s Revenge, the Skunk Ape 100 Mile Endurance Run, the Skunk Ape Night Run, and the Wild Boar Night Run!
It doesn’t matter which distance you choose, just as long as you show up and get that finish!
Everyone who completes the Skunk Ape Trail Series will be given a 2024 Jacket! This year for 2024, we’ll have a different color and design for y’all. Last year we had around 40 runners earn that jacket!
Trail Sisters Approved Race
Skunk Ape Events is a come one, come all atmosphere. It doesn’t matter what pace you run, your size and shape, experience level. Whether you run the entire race, walk the whole thing, or crash and burn. What does matter is that you are experiencing a valuable and enjoyable time on the trails, surrounded by those who are supportive and empowering.
Trail Sisters was created to constitute for an equitable outdoors both recreationally and throughout the industry. Female voice and representation are essential in the future of our outdoors, impacting the role we play both on and off the trails.
To break through long-standing barriers, Trail Sisters generates educational content and resources, while fostering an inspirational community that encourages self-advocacy and life-long friendships.
American Trail Running Association
This event adheres to the ATRA standards in regards to safety, accurately measured and marked course, provide timely results, and awards. We follow the standards of Leave No Trace and being environmentally friendly, as well as, a strong effort on clean-up and trail maintenance.
Did You Know....
Did you know? Skunk Ape sightings date back hundreds of years, including during the Seminole Wars. During the Seminole Wars, people ran into Skunk Apes in their battles near the Miami River and Big Cypress. The same goes for the Green Swamp - West Tract near Dade City, Florida.
Reports of the skunk ape were particularly common in the 1960s and 1970s. Since then, there have still been many sightings of a large, foul-smelling, hairy, ape-like creature, which ran upright on two legs in the Green Swamp area near Dade City, Florida.
The evidence comes in form of photos, audio responses from wood knocking, and also some other sounds that many Paranormal Investigators and Professional Bigfoot Hunting Teams believe, could be the Skunk Ape. They have also found what appear to be nests of some kind, made by a large animal in Pasco County’s deep woods... bears can also be seen, but rarely inside of Pasco County. How the Skunk Ape interacts with local wildlife is unknown.
Tracks were also observed as well. At the current time the creature in the Green Swamp is still active according to researchers and locals there. Footprints of the Pasco County Skunk Ape have measured 17 inches in length and their depth implied a creature of tremendous weight, perhaps in excess of 600 pounds. There are other reported footprints which claimed to be as large as 24 inches long and 8 inches wide.
The Green Swamp WMA has long been known to be home to the Florida Bigfoot, or Skunk Ape. Several investigations in many specific areas inside of the Green Swamp, have concluded that several investigators are “pretty sure” and are “very certain” that this creature does dwell inside the Green Swamp WMA, and has for a very long time.
Event's current local time: 1:41 AM ET
