Welcome to the Swamp!
January 16–17, 2027
Lee Tartt Nature Preserve | Grenada, Mississippi
Welcome to the Swamp!
Are you ready to challenge yourself?
Join us for the inaugural Chakchiuma Swamp Challenge, a unique endurance event held at the beautiful Lee Tartt Nature Preserve, affectionately known as The Swamp, in downtown Grenada, Mississippi.
Organized by the Friends of Chakchiuma, with the help of dedicated volunteers and community supporters, this event welcomes runners and walkers of all experience levels.
Whether you’re attempting your first trail challenge, looking to push yourself beyond your comfort zone, or dreaming of completing 50 or even 100 miles, we’ve got a challenge for you!
Course
The Chakchiuma Swamp Challenge features a 4.167-mile loop through Lee Tartt Nature Preserve.
The concept is simple:
Complete the 4.167-mile loop within one hour, and you’ve earned the opportunity to do it again!
Each participant must challenge themselves to finish their loop before the next hour begins.
Whether you complete one loop or 24, the goal is to push your limits, enjoy the experience, and discover what you’re capable of accomplishing.
Three Ways to Take on the Swamp
1. Ultra Challenge — $60
Start: Saturday, January 16, at 10:00 AM
Maximum Duration: 24 Hours
The ultimate test of endurance!
Our Ultra Challenge follows a backyard ultra-style format, with participants completing a 4.167-mile loop every hour, on the hour.
Finish your loop within the hour, and you earn the opportunity to start another. Fail to complete the loop before the next hourly start, and your challenge is over.
Participants can continue for as many as 24 hours, covering approximately 100 miles!
Milestones and Awards:
12 Loops / 12 Hours / 50 Miles: Earn a commemorative 50-mile finisher medal!
24 Loops / 24 Hours / 100 Miles: Earn a commemorative 100-mile belt buckle AND your 50-mile medal!
The final loop begins at 9:00 AM Sunday, January 17, with the challenge officially ending at 10:00 AM.
How far can you go?
2. AM Challenge — $30
Start: Saturday, January 16, at 10:00 AM
Distance: 4.167 or 8.334 Miles
Not quite ready for an ultra? We’ve got the perfect challenge for you!
The AM Challenge starts alongside our Ultra Challenge at 10:00 AM.
Participants will attempt to complete the 4.167-mile course within one hour.
Here’s where the challenge gets interesting!
If you successfully complete your first loop before the hour is up, you’ll have the opportunity to challenge yourself again!
At 11:00 AM, you can head back out for a second 4.167-mile loop.
Complete both loops, and you’ll have covered approximately 8.334 miles in two hours!
For beginners and novice runners, completing even one loop within an hour can be a significant accomplishment. Completing two loops takes the challenge to another level!
One loop or two — the choice is yours, but you’ve got to earn that second loop!
This is a great opportunity for walkers, new runners, and experienced athletes who want to test themselves in a fun and supportive environment.
3. PM Challenge — $30
Start: Saturday, January 16, at 8:00 PM
Distance: 4.167 or 8.334 Miles
There’s something special about the Swamp after dark!
As the sun goes down and the night sky settles over Lee Tartt Nature Preserve, the Swamp takes on an entirely different personality.
The sounds of nature, the darkness of the trails, and the glow of headlamps winding through the preserve create a unique nighttime adventure.
Our PM Challenge offers the same exciting format as the AM Challenge, but with an entirely different atmosphere!
Participants begin their first 4.167-mile loop at 8:00 PM.
Complete the loop within one hour, and you’ll earn the opportunity to head back out at 9:00 PM for a second loop.
The challenge:
Complete one 4.167-mile loop within 60 minutes.
Successfully finish your first loop and earn the opportunity to attempt a second.
Complete two loops for a total of approximately 8.334 miles!
Important: All PM Challenge participants must bring appropriate lighting, such as a headlamp or handheld flashlight.
Whether you’re an experienced trail runner or someone looking for your first nighttime adventure, the PM Challenge offers an unforgettable opportunity to experience the Swamp beneath the night sky!
The Swamp Base Camp — Bring Your Crew!
We know that 24 hours is a long time, and no one should have to take on the Swamp alone!
At the heart of the Chakchiuma Swamp Challenge will be our start/finish corral, serving as the central gathering place for runners, walkers, crews, families, and supporters throughout the event.
Our base camp will offer food and hydration for participants and supporters, along with a welcoming atmosphere where everyone can gather, recharge, and cheer on their fellow athletes.
Bring Your Tent, Bring Your Crew, and Make Yourself at Home!
Participants and their crews are encouraged to set up personal tents and support areas in designated locations near the start/finish corral.
Tent setup begins at 6:00 AM on Saturday, January 16.
This gives participants and their crews plenty of time to get settled, organize supplies, and prepare for the 10:00 AM start.
Between loops, participants can return to their tents or the start/finish area to rest, eat, hydrate, and prepare for their next challenge.
And you don’t have to be registered to be part of the experience!
We encourage friends, families, and members of the community to come out throughout the day and night to support these incredible athletes.
As the hours pass, the miles add up, and the night settles over the Swamp, a little encouragement can make all the difference.
Come for an hour, stay for the evening, or spend the entire night cheering everyone on!
The Swamp Challenge is about more than miles. It’s about community, determination, and supporting one another.
Important Event Information
Race Morning Schedule — Saturday, January 16
6:00 AM: Tent setup begins in designated areas.
7:00–9:30 AM: Packet pickup.
10:00 AM: Ultra Challenge and AM Challenge begin.
8:00 PM: PM Challenge begins.
Registration and Event Shirts
Online registration closes Friday, January 15, 2027, at 12:00 PM (noon).
All registered participants will be eligible to receive an official Chakchiuma Swamp Challenge participation shirt.
To guarantee your event shirt and preferred size, you must register online no later than Saturday, January 2, 2027.
Participants registering after January 2 are not guaranteed a shirt. Shirts will be available only while supplies last.
This Is a Cupless Event!
In an effort to reduce waste and help protect the natural beauty of Lee Tartt Nature Preserve, the Chakchiuma Swamp Challenge will be a cupless event.
All participants are required to bring their own reusable cup, collapsible cup, or hydration container for refueling and hydration.
Disposable cups will not be provided.
Please help us keep the Swamp clean and beautiful for future generations!
Nighttime Lighting
Participants who will be on the course after dark must bring appropriate lighting.
A headlamp or handheld flashlight is required, and backup batteries or an additional light source are strongly recommended.
This applies to both PM Challenge participants and Ultra Challenge participants continuing into the nighttime hours.
More Than Just a Race
The Chakchiuma Swamp Challenge isn’t about being the fastest runner.
It’s about challenging yourself.
For some, that challenge might be completing their first 4.167-mile loop in under an hour.
For others, it might mean completing two loops, reaching 50 miles, or pushing through the night to earn a 100-mile belt buckle.
Whatever your goal, we want you to come experience the natural beauty of Lee Tartt Nature Preserve, enjoy the camaraderie of fellow runners and walkers, and discover just how much you’re capable of accomplishing.
One loop. One hour. One challenge at a time.
We’ll see you in the Swamp!
Important Dates
January 2, 2027: Deadline to register for a guaranteed event shirt.
January 15, 2027, at noon: Online registration closes.
January 16, 2027, at 6 AM: Tent setup begins.
January 16, 2027, from 7–9:30 AM: Packet pickup.
January 16, 2027, at 10 AM: Ultra and AM Challenges begin.
January 16, 2027, at 8 PM: PM Challenge begins.
January 17, 2027, at 10 AM: Ultra Challenge concludes.
Event's current local time: 3:02 AM CT
