THE SOUTHERN STATES 200
The Southern States 200 will be the only known Mountain TRAIL, POINT-TO-POINT, 200-mile races east of the Rockies. The run will follow the Legendary Pinhoti Trail from near Dalton, Georgia to the top of Mt Cheaha, the highest point in Alabama. The run will have 27,933 feet of elevation gain over 203.14 miles. The course will be fully marked with prismatic reflective flags, ribbons and signs. Runners will have 96 hours to complete the 203-mile journey. There will be 15 full aid stations along the way. Each with have "real food" made-to-order, day and night. Medical personnel will be available at most aid stations. Five of the full aid stations will also be heated Sleep Stations.
THE SOUTHERN STATES 100
Would you like to experience the excitement of running a point-to-point 200-mile race without actually having to run 200 miles? Do you want to practice on the Southern States 200 course to run it one day? This is your chance. We are adding a 100-mile option to the SS200 for 2025. Friday, March 21, 2025 12 p.m. start time!
The Southern States 100 will start at the midpoint of the Southern States 200 at the Cave Spring Trailhead, mile 99.64 of the 200-mile run. The 100 will finish on top of Mt. Cheaha along with the 200-mile finishers. The cutoff for the 100 will be very generous - 44 hours to finish. We will have a special buckle for those that finish under 24 hours. As with the 200, we will provide transportation from the finish at Cheaha State Park to the Start in Cave Spring for those not using a crew. Of course, your crew is welcome to deliver you to the start.
SS200 TRAINING CAMP
We have exciting news about the Southern States 200! On January 11th and 12th, 2025, we will host a Southern States 200 (and 100!) training camp at Cheaha State Park in Alabama.
The training camp will be in three segments that give you two previews of the course (including the final climb to the highest point in Alabama!) and an afternoon full of successful 200 mile finishers who will tell you everything you need to know to finish the 200. Sunday morning, we will preview a second section of the course.
Registration fee: $150.00 - We will provide transportation to two course preview runs, lunch Saturday, happy hour and dinner Saturday evening, donuts and coffee Saturday and Sunday morning, (Some call it a “continental” breakfast.) and SWAG including a Southern States drybag, a “Training for the Southern States 200” shirt, and more.
We strongly recommend that all first-time 200 milers attend this camp. We also encourage anyone that is thinking about running the 200 to attend. The course is open to all. Not just registered runners.
Register Early and Save
Registration for the Southern States Races opens June 19, 2024. The SS200 will start at $999.00, the 100 Mile will open at $400.00 on Ultrasignup. Along with a very reasonable registration fee compared with other point-to-point races, we have a liberal refund policy. Any runner that registers but is not able to run, can roll their entry over to the following year’s race or receive a partial refund up to 30 days before the race. Full details are available on the website and in the Runners Manual.
Ultrasignup is setting up a time payment plan for the Southern States 200. It will be available soon. There will also be a printable registration form available on the website for both the 100 and 200.
Volunteer
Any point-to-point 200-mile race is a logistical and staffing nightmare, as you can imagine. We are offering perhaps the most generous benefits to volunteers of any race we know of. For every day “you” volunteer, (That's a full day - 12 hour minimum) you earn $150 credit toward the next year’s 200. Work all 5 days and get automatic comp entry for the next year's race!
We will also allow the volunteer credits to be transferred to others. That is, if a member of a runner’s crew works a day but isn’t interested in running 200 miles, they can give the credit to someone that does wish to run a 200-mile race. That credit can be used to register for the following years race. The credits may also be exchanged for Southeastern Trail Runs races or Running Lane races.
Any running club that staffs an aid station for the Southern States 200 will receive discounted entry for club members for the next year’s 200. In addition, the individuals who work at the club aid station will each receive the $150 credit per day worked. Again, these credits can be exchanged for Southeastern Trail Runs races, or Running Lane races.
The Southern States 200 is an Endurance Adventure
The Southern States 200 is not a race. We want to emphasize that this is an awe-inspiring journey where the focus is on personal challenge, camaraderie, and self-discovery, rather than a traditional race with a competitive spirit. As you venture through the scenic and rugged landscapes, we encourage you to savor every moment, taking in the beauty of nature, pushing your limits, and supporting your fellow runners along the way. It's about testing your endurance, mental strength, and perseverance rather than striving for victory or rankings. Embrace the joy of running, embrace the journey, and remember that it's not about who finishes first, but rather the shared passion for exploration and the bond that forms between runners as they tackle this incredible adventure together. Let the trail guide you to new heights and may the memories you create on this trail run last a lifetime.
SS200 Date Change or Run Cancellation
Southern States 200 and Southern States 100 reserves the right to CHANGE the run date or CANCEL the run due to conditions beyond our control. Such conditions are: Acts of God, Pandemics, Other extreme conditions such as fire danger, landslides, or flooding on or near the course, Date changes or cancellation required by the permitting agencies granting the SS200 use of the National Forests, trails, State Parks or other agencies. If a date change or run cancellation is made after registration opens, no refunds will be given. For DATE CHANGES, all registered runners will be automatically moved to the new run date. Runners that are not able to run on the new run date, may request that their entry be transferred to the next year's Southern States 200 or 100 mile run. In the event of RUN CANCELLATION, all registered runners will be rolled over to the next year's Southern States 200 or 100 run.
SS200 Refund and Transfer Policy
It is very important that you read and understand the Southern States 200 and Southern States 100 refund and Transfer policy before registering. The Southern States Races are very difficult and expensive races to put on. Our expenses start months ahead of the race. These expenses are based on the number of runners. The costs are NOT recoverable if you drop. Therefore, we cannot give full refunds. We do offer partial refunds up to 30 days before the race. We also allow runners to receive a 100% transfer credit for the following year’s race up to 30 days before the race. We cannot give refunds or credits the final 30 days leading up to the race.
Southern States 200 & 100 Refund and Transfer Policy:
The Southern States 200 (SS200) and Southern States 100 (SS100) does not give full refunds. If you cancel your Southern States Race entry and request a refund or transfer to the next year's run, the amount of the refund or transfer will be based on the Southern States 200 three-tiered refund and transfer schedule shown below.
Tier One:
If you cancel your Southern States registration before January 1, and request a refund, you will receive 75% of the Registration Fee. The refund does not include Taxes and Fees collected by Ultrasignup, our registration company.
If you cancel your Southern States registration before January 1, and request a Transfer to the following year's SS200, your entry will be rolled over to the next year's Sothern States 200. There will be no additional fees.
Tier Two:
If you cancel your Southern States 200 or 100 registration between January 1, and February 19th,and request a refund, you will receive 50% of the Registration Fee. The refund does not include Taxes and Fees collected by Ultrasignup, our registration company.
If you cancel your Southern States registration between January 1, and February 19th, and request to roll the entry over to the next year's Southern States Race, your entry will be rolled over to the next years Sothern States 200 or 100. There will be no additional fees.
Tier Three:
If you cancel your Southern States 200 or 100 registration after February 19th, NO REFUND or TRANSFER will be given.
Southern States 200 & 100 Race Week Schedule
SOUTHERN STATES 200
Runners that will not have a crew at the race start: You must ride the shuttle to the start.
Tuesday, March 18th, 12 Noon (Central Time) - The shuttle will leave from Cheaha State Park to take runners to the host hotel on College Drive in Dalton, Georgia. This is a two and a half hour drive, and you loose and hour changing time zones. Shuttle reservations must be made on Ultrasignup in advance.
Tuesday, March 18th, 3:30 PM (Eastern Time) - The shuttle arrives in Dalton at the host hotel.
Tuesday, March 18th, 2:00 PM to 5:00PM - Runner Check-in at the host hotel.
Wednesday, March 19th, 10:00 AM - Runners who rode the shuttle from Cheaha State Park will be taken to the start.
Runners who have a crew that will bring them to the start: (all times eastern)
Tuesday, March 18th, 2:00 PM to 5:00PM - Runner check-in at the host hotel. (This may be a mandatory check-in depending on the number of registered runners.
Tuesday Night - You may choose to stay at the host hotel or other hotels or lodging in the Dalton area.
Wednesday, March 19th, 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM - Pick up SPOT Trackers and final check in.
Wednesday, March 19th, 11:30 AM - Pre-race briefing in the Mill Creek Meeting Center.
Wednesday, March 19th, 12:00 AM - Start of the Southern States 200 Run.
SOUTHERN STATES 100
The shuttle is for 100 mile runners that will not have a crew at the race start.
Friday, March 21st, 7:30 AM (Central Time) - The shuttle will leave Cheaha State Park to take runners to the Cave Spring Start. Shuttle reservations must be made on Ultrasignup in advance.
Friday, March 21st, 10:15 AM (Eastern Time) - The shuttle will arrive at the Pinhoti Trailhead in Cave Spring, GA.
Friday, March 21st, 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM (Eastern Time) - Runner Check-in at race start
Friday, March 21st, 11:30 AM - Race briefing at the Pinhoti Trailhead
Friday, March 21st, 12:00 PM - Start of the Sothern States 100
Event's current local time: 2:23 AM CT
