Skunk Ape 100 Mile Endurance Run

Description:

Skunk Ape 100 Mile Endurance Run

Welcome to the Skunk Ape 100 Mile Endurance Run right in the heart of Florida in the beautiful and historic Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. In the heart of Florida, you’ve got beautiful sand pine scrubs, pine flatwoods, longleaf pines, lakes, ponds, prairies, and riverine hardwoods.

The Deets

Date: April 27-28th 2024
Where: The start will be at the Santos Trailhead, which is part of the beautiful Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway.
Address: 3080 S.E. 80th St, Ocala FL 34470
Start time: 7:00 am
Cut-Off: 36 Hours
Elevation Gain: 1,562’
– Outbound: +871’/-865’
– In-bound: +691’/-701’
Giving Back: Cowpen Campsite Restoration
Packet Pick-Up: TBD

Awards

Overall Awards:
The Top Four Male and Female will take home an amazing piece of art work crafted up Brie at Wicked Skins! Her wooden trophies are some of the best around.

Finisher Awards and Swag:
50 Mile: Finishers Plaque!
100 Mile: The Belt Buckle!

As for the swag? This race is loaded up! We’ve got a Shirt, Hat, Pint Glass, Beer Opener, Pins, the STICKERS, and more! And of course, a bag to put it all in!

You can also click the add on’s for additional swag like the jacket, quarter-zip, and the joggers. They’ll be ready for pick-up at packet pick-up and on race weekend!

Other additional swag like other shirts, hoodies, and crew necks may be purchased on the Bonfire Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/skunkapeevents/

Giving Back

As part of giving back to our community, this aspect is huge for us. For the Skunk Ape 100 Mile Endurance Run, we will be working on making improvements to Cowpen Campsite.

Currently, it’s most commonly used by the local Scouts USA Troops (Boy Scouts of America). We will be working hard to add new picnic tables, a campfire bench, a new fire ring, and a work table for the Scouts!

The Course

This be a 50ish Mile somewhat out-and-back on the Florida National Scenic Trail and the paved trails in the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. You also be running through the beautiful Ross Prairie Wildlife Management Area. FUN FACT! The highest most southern switch back in the United States is located between Ross Prairie and the Pruitt Trailhead!

You’ll have an Outbound Route then an In-bound Route. 100 Milers will do the course twice!

Trail Surface: Single Tract Trail, Sand, Roots, Short Climbs, Paved Trail.

CalTopo Course Map: https://caltopo.com/m/GHHF0

Course Marking:
Out-bound: Runners will be following the pink ribbons with reflectors (as well as any other directional signage marked “Outbound” on the top).

In-bound: Runners will be following pink flags with reflectors (as well as any other directional signage marked “in-bound” on the top).

Aid Stations

Aid Stations will be stocked with a variety of Soda, Pickles, Pickle Pops, Gummy Worms, Mustard Packets, Gu’s, Chips, Cookies, Salt Tabs, various produce (like bananas, grapes, and oranges), and some brand of powder electro’s (probably Gatorade). We will also provide band-aids and women’s hygiene products in a plastic box at all the Aid Stations.

The Start/Finish and the Pruitt Trailhead Aid Stations will have hot foods such as soup, hot dogs, bacon, instant mash potato’s, and burgers.

Outbound:
Start to Land Bridge AS: 6.65 Miles
Land Bridge AS to 49th Ave AS: 3.8 Miles
49th Ave AS to Ross Prairie AS: 10.8 Miles
Ross Prairie AS to St. Rt. 200 AS: 1.6 Miles
St. Rt. 200 AS to Pruitt Trailhead AS (Turnaround): 6 Miles

In-bound:
Pruitt Trailhead AS (Turnaround) to St. Rt. 200 AS: 6 Miles
St. Rt 200 AS to 49th Ave AS: 6.5 miles
49th Ave AS to Landbridge AS: 3.9 Miles
Land Bridge AS to Finish: 6.7 Miles

Drop Bags

Will be collected at start. Both 50 and 100 Milers have two Drop-Bag locations at the 49th Avenue Aid Station and at the Pruitt Trailhead Aid Station. 100 Milers will have a third Drop-Bag location at the Ross Prairie Aid Station.

Drop Bags must be marked with the name of the Aid Station and have your name written on it with duck tape. 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. All aid stations will be accessible for you to drive out too in the case you have to collect them early (or after you’re done with the 50 Miler).

Crew and Crewing

All of the aid stations will have crew access.

Crew Vehicles must be parked in an official parking spot in the parking lots. Do NOT park on the side of the road, in the grass, or anywhere you’re not allowed.

You and your crews must be courteous and respectful of the campsites near the aid stations. Be courteous to other park users, pedestrians, bike riders, campers, and drivers. Try to avoid spreading out across the entire sidewalk or pathway. You are ambassadors and representatives of your sport.

Pacer and Pacing

No pacers for the 50 Miler.
100 mile pacers may join the runner for the final 50 miles. Pacer may, and is encouraged, to help the runner navigate. Runners over the age of 60, or others needing special assistance, may have a pacer at any time.

Runners may switch pacers at any time, but they may only have one pacer at a time, no entourages. Pacers and Crew can meet you at any aid station on the course.

Campsites

Take advantage of the great opportunity to camp right by the Start and Finish at the Santos Campground!

Santos Campground-
Near the start and finish! The 25-site Santos Campground provides power and water hookups for RVs, trailers and tent campers. There is a bathhouse and dump station available as well.
https://reserve.floridastateparks.org/Web/#!park/60

Ross Prairie Campground-
You’ll be close to the Ross Prairie AS and the St. Rd. 200 AS is just down the road. This will be that middle section of the course, not a bad spot when is comes to crewing.

Ross Prairie is a full-service campground with 14 sites, each available with 30- and 50-amp electrical pedestals as well as potable water hookups. Picnic pavilions, a dump station and a bathhouse are available in the campground.
https://reserve.floridastateparks.org/Web/#!park/58

Shangri-La Campgrounds-
This campsite is not on the course, but is part of the Cross Florida Greenway. They’ve got 24 pull-through campsites are popular with equestrians and are available for RVs, trailers and tents. Horse wash racks are also available. All sites are primitive and do not include electricity or water. Campers have access to picnic pavilions and an accessible restroom with showers as well as a dump station available.
https://reserve.floridastateparks.org/Web/#!park/62

What is the Cross Florida Greenway?

The Cross Florida Greenway is unique in many ways. Occupying more than 70,000 acres of land formerly known as the Cross Florida Barge Canal. This was one of the nation’s largest incomplete public works projects has been transformed into the diverse Cross Florida Greenway.

When the bridge was finished in 2000, the Cross Florida Greenway Land Bridge was the first true land bridge in the United States, modeled after a design used in the Netherlands. It’s essentially one massive planter!

The Greenway is also a wildlife corridor and the first in Florida to have a “land bridge” across a major interstate that both trail users and wildlife utilize. Black bears use the Greenway as a major corridor, especially on the eastern end near the Ocala National Forest.