RUN WILD IN THE EVERGLADES!

Mark your Calendars:

February 22, 2014!!

It's A Date!

Updates to Follow

Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park

EXCITEMENT--and PRESTIGE!!

The EVERGLADES ULTRAS 50 mile and 50 kilometer races have been designated as the 2013 USA Track and Field Florida State Championship Trail Races at those distances.  Come join the party, and the competition, on February 16th!  There are still a few remaining slots in the championship events.

Are you an ultra-runner? A half-marathoner? (Check-out the 25 kilometer/ 15.6 mile race.)   These races have a place saved just for you! Join us in Copeland, FL, near Everglades City, for the second annual EVERGLADES ULTRAS trail races at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve. This is the Real Deal, Folks! We guaranty you've never run anything like it.  But register early: the overall runner limit is 250.

The race venue--the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park--is an amazing and diverse park located just south of “Alligator Alley” in the Florida Everglades. It is the largest state park in Florida, and features a wide variety of Everglades habitats—bald cypress swamp lowlands, grassland prairie, tropical hardwood hammocks and pine rock lands. The park features the largest selection of species of orchids and bromeliads on the continent, Florida panther, black bear, deer, alligator, bobcat, Everglades mink, diamondback terrapin and water fowl and migratory birds too numerous to count. Its groves of native royal palms are the largest in the state and the only place in the world where bald cypress and royal palm share the forest canopy.

Runners may see it all, traveling along old logging “trams”--trails preserved and maintained for access to various sections of the park. Aid stations will be carefully placed along the route, which has been designed to include views of the great diversity of the Fakahatchee. A special swamp tour and other activities are being planned on race day for runners’ guests.

The Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park is a Florida treasure, protected with great care and attention to detail. To preserve its pristine nature, registered runners will be limited to 250.

The 2nd place finisher in the inaugural 50-mile race in 2012 was Jesper Olson of Denmark.  Jesper has literally run around the world, logging 16,395 miles in 2004 and 2005 across Europe, Asia, Australia and the United States.  "It was quite possibly the toughest competetion I've done in my 29 years of long distance running as I very rarely do races on surfaces other than tarmac."  Jesper took a break last winter from his north-to-south-to-north circumnavigation of the earth on his "World Tour II" to run the EVERGLADES ULTRAS.

What: Three distinct trail races of 50 miles* and 50 kilometers (31 miles)* and 25 kilometers (15.6 miles)*. The races are fully aid-station supported. [*Note: This is a wilderness area and overgrown portions of some trails are literally re-opened by hand just a few days before the race. Depending upon park conditions and access race week, precise trail pattern and total race distance for the 50 mile and 50 kilometer races may vary by as much as three miles. Please be aware of this possibility.]

Where: The entrance to Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park is located in Copeland, FL on State Route 29, fifteen miles south of Exit 80 on Interstate 75 (“Alligator Alley”), and 2.5 miles north of US 41, “Tamiami Trail”. Everglades City is five miles south of the park entrance on Route 29. "Fakahatchee Strand" is approximately 1 ¾ hour’s drive from downtown Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

When: Saturday, February 16, 2013. The 50 mile race start is at 6:00am; cut-off is 8:30pm. The 50 kilometer race begins at 7:30am, with cut-off at 5:00pm. The 25 kilometer race begins at 9:00am with a 3:00pm finish cut-off time. A required orientation meeting will take place before each race at race HQ in the park, with an optional packet pick-up and orientation on Friday at 4:00pm.

Support/Food: Full aid stations throughout the course. Burgers and beer under the big tent at the race finish! Runner drop bags allowed at strategic locations; specific details to be announced.

Facilities/camping: Beginning this year, primitive camping will be allowed the night before and night after the race next to Lake Harmon at the race headquarters area for a small fee.  In addition, motels, cottages, B&B’s and formal campgrounds are located in Everglades City and surrounding areas. Same for restaurants and convenience stores. See the “Hotels” page for suggestions.

WINNING TIMES—INAUGURAL RUNNING
50 Mile Winners
Men's Michele Graglia 8:18:27	Women's Claudia Shelhorn 11:46:45
50 Kilometer Winners
Men's LeRand Dixon 6:57:42	Women's Carol Neckel 7:35:04
25 Kilometer Winners
Men's Andy Nesheim 2:02:03	Women's Sara Coy 2:34:58