Carolina Reaper Challenge

Carolina Reaper Challenge

Civic Center - Sports Complex

Anderson South Carolina

 July 15th (RD's Birthday!) 

Hottest Race this side of 6 Feet Under!

Welcome to the Annual Carolina Reaper Challenge event! We are pleased to bring a new and exciting twist to four different distances including the 50k, the full marathon, half marathon distance, and 5 mile. This will be great for the first time finishers of these distances as well as give a new challenge to all the speed demons out there! If you have done it in the cold why not test your grit in the heat! We have simply duplicated the Snowbird Challenge for all you true southern heat seekers out there!

This will be the same race format as our Snowbird Challenge that is held in the winter but simply doing it in the sun chasing heat of the summer! We will toe the line as individuals or as teams to complete the 2.62 mile loop in our 45 minute time format! There will be plenty of space to spread out between laps with water and a few gallons of tailwind and ice to keep you cool! We HIGHLY encourage all participants to bring a bag of ice for our community kitty pool that we will have soaked towels to cool off between laps. 

Upstate Race Series - Upcoming Events HERE

Join us for one of our 30 events throughout the year. With something for everyone we have races that extend throughout the Upstate of South Carolina. From Lake Hartwell through the Foothill Mountain Range. Locations that cover all of the State Park systems into the Streets of Anderson, Greenville, Travelers Rest, and Spartanburg. We have events that offer opportunity to every level of runner looking to take on their next challenge!

Donations & Club Membership Discount - 15% OFF

All club memberships to the Upstate Running Club and/or the South Carolina Ultra Marathon Club fund the Upstate Running Club Youth Team with over 200 members. The club provides FREE training services, training equipment, race uniforms, and comped race entries to our series throughout the year. All donations directly fund the club to help cover the costs of facility rentals, insurance, post practice snacks, team socials, and awards! The program is comprised of athletes of all abilities from ages 6-12 years old

• Upstate Running Club Membership - Sign Up Here
• South Carolina Ultra Marathon - Sign Up Here

Event Details

• What: Timed Format Loop 50k - 26.2 - 13.1 - 10k - Relay 

• Where: Civic Center of Anderson - Sports Complex

• Address: 144 Civic Center Blvd, Anderson, SC 29621

• When: July 15th 2023

• Packet Pickup: 1 Hour Prior to your race start time near starting line
  

• Overall Awards will be given out at the conclusion of the race
  

• Age group winners will be recognized in the results tab and our point series.

• Our Events are: 

  • Youth 8 & Under Race for Free 

  • Dog Friendly

  • Stroller Friendly 

  • Walker Friendly (45 minute cutoff per 2.62 Loop)

Volunteer for a FREE Race Entry or a Future Race Entry by Upstate Race Series - HERE

• Set-Up

• Packet Pickup

• Course Monitor

• Meal/Aid Station Prep

• Cleanup

• Parking

Race Swag

• Finisher Medal

• Custom Race Logo Sticker

• Upstate Race Series Sticker

• Complimentary Race Photos

• Custom Race Bib

• Raffle Drawing for Run In Gift Cards 

• Carolina Reaper Crew Socks

Race Start Times

• Death Pepper 50k - 9:00am

• Carolina Reaper Marathon & Relay - 10:30am

• Ghost Pepper Half Marathon - 2:15pm

• Jalapeno 10k - 4:30pm

Lap Schedule for Live Event

• Lap 1 - 9:00am 50k Start Time

• Lap 2 - 9:45am

• Lap 3 - 10:30am Marathon & Relay

• Lap 4 - 11:15pm

• Lap 5 - 12:00pm

• Lap 6 - 12:45pm

• Lap 7 - 1:30pm

• Lap 8 - 2:15pm Half Marathon

• Lap 9 - 3:00pm

• Lap 10 - 3:45pm

• Lap 11 - 4:30pm Jalapeño Start

• Lap 12 - 5:15pm

Carolina Reaper Race Format

• The race loop is 2.62 miles from start to finish. 

• Each race has a designated number of laps to complete

  • 50k (12 Loops)

  • Marathon & Relay(10 Loops)

  • Half Marathon (5 Loops)

  • 5 Mile (2 Loops)

• The Timer will Ring the Kettle Bell starting at 9am

• He will continue to ring the bell 12 times every 45 minutes

• At the beginning of each loop runners will  given 45 minutes to complete the loop. 

• If a runner fails to complete the loop under 45 minutes they will be disqualified 

• All runners must wait until the top of the 45 minute mark to start their next loop. 

• If you complete your loop in 25 minutes you will have to wait 20 minutes before the next loop. 

• If you complete your loop in 40 minutes you will have a 5 minute break. Ya dig? 

• The first race will start at 9:00am with the 50k runners 

• The personal tent area is located directly behind the start and finish lines

Carolina Reaper Course Description

• Course Map - HERE

• The new course at the Civic Center of Anderson Sports Complex consists of 90% walking paths, 5% road, and 5% gravel. Runners have the option to run in the grass on the walking paths if you want some softer running. The course only gains 75 feet of elevation per the 2.62 mile loop. The course starts and finishes on the back side of the baseball headquarters at the Sports Complex. The course will showcase walking paths along the tennis court, the community park, two ponds, an old haunted house, and finish in the middle of the 4 baseball fields. 

• This location will have indoor bathrooms, an area for runners to place a 10 x 10 canopy tent for shade in the grass, and a convenient location adjacent to the parking lot for a quick pit stop at your car if needed. The concessions will be open for runners to grab a soft drink, sports drink, snacks, and/or hot dog and hamburger. 

Food Options

Food will be available at the concessions stands throughout the day and we will also host a local food and/or ice cream truck to fill us up and cool us down after the race is over! 

Aid Stations

There is one aid station at the start and finish line. Items may include: pickles, cookies, chips, Little Debbie snacks, assorted candy, chicken/veggie broth, fig newtons, & pretzels. Liquids will include water, Tailwind Nutrition, coke, and ginger ale. If you would like to donate an aid station supply of something that we do not offer or that is homemade feel free! 

• Cup-less Event: Please provide your own hydration vessel for use at our aid stations 

Timing, Results, & Race Awards

• Top 3 Male and Female will receive a custom hand made award!

• Each finisher will receive a finisher medal that will be branded with the race logo and custom lanyard.

• This event will be chip timed with a reusable timing chip attached with an ankle strap. The timing chip will correspond with your bib number at packet pickup. The chip will be read by our timing hardware at the finish line and timing software. Results will be updated online periodically throughout the event. Please return your timing chip & strap at the conclusion of your event. 

• We will also publish our age group results that will coincide with our Race Series.

• To learn more about our race series and awards please visit our results page here: HERE

  • 0-9
  • 10-12
  • 13-16
  • 17-19
  • 20-29
  • 30-34
  • 35-39
  • 40-44
  • 45-49
  • 50-54
  • 55-59
  • 60-64
  • 65-69
  • 70-79
  • 80+

Address and Parking

• 144 Civic Center Blvd, Anderson, SC 29621

• When you enter the Civic center complex you will make your way to the athletic center with the 4 baseball fields and 4 tennis courts. Please look for event parking signs that will guide you there. 

• Please follow event parking sings once you enter the facility to the baseball fields parking lot. 

Relay Teams

• One runner per team may run at a given time

• Runners may run consecutive laps

• 2 Person teams (a single runner can complete a maximum of 6 laps)

• 3 Person teams (a single runner can complete a maximum of 4 laps)

• 4 Person teams (a single runner can complete no more than 3 laps)

Race Partners

Upcoming Events with Upstate Race Series - See Upcoming Races HERE

• 25 Annual Races with a wide variety of events including 5ks, Relays, Youth Events, and Ultra Marathons

Without Limits Coaching - Contact Our Coaches HERE

• Coaching Services that include training plans and/or race specific race plans and consultations for your next event

Upstate Running Club - Join & Donate for $5 OFF 100+ Local Races HERE

• Non-Profit club that funds the Youth Running Club in the upstate with a variety of events and club runs for adult

South Carolina Ultra Marathon Club - Join for 25% OFF Races HERE

• Trail & Ultra running club that helps support its members and races throughout the state of South Carolina

Jay Baker Photography Race Photos - See Photos HERE

• Complimentary race photos, music, and of course engagement with the crowd to bring you to the finish

Go Green Events Timing & Registration - More Info HERE

• Partnering with RunSignUp to bring you an easy registration process and accurate timing on race day. 

Refund Policy

• Our staff at Upstate Race Series, Upstate Ultra, and Go Green Events is proud to produce 28 events a year for the Upstate Running Club and the South Carolina Ultra Marathon Club. Any participants that are unable to attend, their registration will be donated to our Youth Running Program that offers free training services and racing opportunities for over 200 kids in the upstate.