Prisoner of War Ultra

Prisoner of War Ultra

Camp Croft State Park - Spartanburg Sc

December 11th & 12th

“The prisoner, having reached the depth of his depression, gradually reawakens to the life around him. He licks himself and his wounded pride, opens his eyes, and finds that far away on the horizon there is still a ray of sunlight left.”

Upstate Ultra is presenting its 3rd Annual Prisoner of War Ultra to be held at Camp Croft State Park in Spartanburg South Carolina. This race will bring the history of Camp Croft as an Infantry Training camp established in the 1940's in preparation of World War II. Over 200,000 soldiers were trained at Camp Croft during that time. The majority of the soldiers trained at Croft were rifleman and as you do loops around the 8 mile course you can still hear shots being fired at the James O. Thomason Firing Range over the hill.

Many of us have family members who are in active duty or veterans of war. Many of them suffer from aspects of the war that are hard to explain. They keep them locked inside and create their own prison wall inside. As a participant of this 24 Hour Run please keep in mind the struggle that many veterans faced during and after their service.

This 7,000-acre park near downtown Spartanburg was once a United States Army training camp, giving it the name Camp Croft. The training base was established here in 1941 under the direction of then-United States Senator James F. Byrne and was named in honor of Major General Edward Croft of Greenville, a former United States Army Chief of Infantry who died in 1938. From 1941 through 1946, around 60,000 troops went through training at Camp Croft each year. The camp closed in 1947, and the land was transferred to the South Carolina Commission of Forestry for use as a state park. Camp Croft State Park opened in 1949.

Part of the proceeds will go directly to Camp Croft State Park for park and trail maintenance and the other part will go to Fellow Countryman! They are a Combat Veteran owned and operated program. They have personally experienced on numerous occasions, the sacrifices made by America’s finest men and women who’ve fought and paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend America’s way of life. Please take a few minutes to read about one of America’s Heroes that gave his life in the line of duty, so that others might live.

• Fellow Countrymen Website

Event Start Times

• MIA 30 Hour Hour Run - December 11th @ 8am 

  • As Many Loops. Will assess short loop option in final hour

• P.O.W. 50k - December 11th @ 9am

  • 4 Loops

• Infantry 25k - December 12th @ 8am

  • 2 Loops

• Semper Fi 8 Mile - December 12th @ 9am

Connect With Us

• Facebook Page

• Facebook Group

• Strava Club

• Join the Club (20% OFF All Upstate Ultra Races)

Check out our other Races

• Upstate Ultra

Runner Resources

• Coaching & Training Plans: 10% OFF 

• Nutrition: First Shake FREE

• Apparel: 15% OFF & Free Shipping 

• Running Shoes: 15% OFF & Free Shipping

• Hydration: Tailwind at all Aid Stations

• Anti-Chafing: Salty Britches in Runners Packets

Race Day Expectations

• Please have your bib # available for our staff at packet pickup 

  • Bib Numbers can be found in the "Find a Participant Tab" in the race menu

• Arrive 90 minutes prior to race start

• Address for Parking/Packet Pickup listed below

• Please carpool if available

• Admission Fee is $5 IF held at State Parks

  • Fees are waived with State Park pass

• Bathrooms - Parking - Start/Finish Line - Packet Pickup - Drop Bag Area -  Aid Stations 

  • All of these areas will be located within eyesight of one another 

• Drop Bags can be placed at the start/finish line area.

• Personal Aid Stations can be set up near the start finish line 

• At packet pickup give your bib number to one of our staff or volunteers

  • They will give you a: 

    • Bib Number

      • Should be placed on front of the body and be visible at least when you cross the finish line

    • Safety Pins if needed

    • Giveaway Items

    • Event Apparel (if ordered)

    • Timing Chip & Strap w/ corresponding Bib # that needs to be worn on your ankle 

      • Needs to be returned. Failure to return the chip or lose the chip will include a $25 replacement fee

• Prior to race start the RD will give some last minute instructions 

• When you finish the race please return the timing chip and strap before getting your finisher medal 

• If you DNF or fail to meet the time cutoff please return the chip, inform a volunteer or timer before leaving the facility 

Race Swag

• Finisher Medal

• Upstate Ultra Beer Glass

• Upstate Ultra Sticker

• Upstate Ultra Apparel (Optional during Registration)

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.

• 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

Prisoner of War

• Course Map HERE

• Elevation - 700+ Feet of gain per 8.5 Mile loop

The Prisoner of War course will cover a 8.5 mile route that passes by each campground loop before heading out to the state park that wraps around Lake Craig. The course has 700 feet of elevation gain per 8.5 mile loop and is mostly single track trails. Please be courteous to other park patrons as these trails will still be open to the public. The course will have a series of directional arrows that will be placed at all intersections. Please follow all directional arrows to stay on course. In the event that you make a wrong turn please backtrack to your original spot of confusion. Cutting the course (even if unintentionally will lead to a disqualification)Trails to be used will include the following: 

• Craig Trail (31)

• Lake Johnson Fairforest Creek Connector (26)

• Lake Johnson Loop Trail (24)

• Forest Mill Loop (20)

Address

Runners can enter the park at the following address: 450 Croft State Park Road, Spartanburg, SC 29302. Once you enter the park please follow the signs to main park office adjacent to Campground loop 1 & 2. Any additional parking can be found adjacent to the horse stables and will be marked accordingly. 

30 Hour Runners

Participants will have 30 hours to run, walk, crawl, or hike as many laps as they can starting at 8am on Saturday through 2pm on Sunday. Each lap will encompass the 8 mile course that includes going around each campground and by each campsite if you plan to make a reservation. 

Aid Stations

There is one aid stations on course that will be located at the start/finish. The aid station will be fully stocked with tailwind, soda, water, cookies, salt, chips, and crackers. We will be preparing meals for the 30 Hour runners only. We encourage all runners to bring a dish or aid station food to help contribute to this wonderful event. This is a cup less event so runners are required to carry a hydration bottle if they will need fluids during the race.

Eco-Standard

In an effort to be good stewards to mother nature we will not have any of the following items at ANY of our events. This is in an effort to reduce the carbon footprint being placed by endurance events throughout the world. Please have a cup or hydration bottle if you will need to consume water/nutrition during the event. Please bring your own fork/spoon for any post race meals. Please bring your own bags for items collected at the race. 

Switch Event: Email me WithoutLimitsGreenville@gmail.com and I will drop you down in distance. 

Defer Registration: We do not offer race deferrals

Transfers: We do not offer transfers to other participants. 

Refunds: We do not offer race refunds

Race Director Info: Matthew Hammersmith: WithoutLimitsGreenville@gmail.com