THE COURSE

The Lake Louisa 2-Day Challenge runs on the paved park roads of Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont, FL. The course starts and finishes at the Hitching Post, near the campground.

Every distance is run as out-and-back repeats of the same 6.22-mile corridor — past Dixie Lake, over the rolling hills of the Lake Wales Ridge, around the turnaround lot at the north end, and back. Every repeat brings you back to the Hitching Post for aid, then sends you out again.

Central Florida is flat. Lake Louisa isn't. Every hill you climb going out, you climb again coming back.

Measured, and not short. Not a PR course.

HOW EACH DISTANCE RUNS

5K — one out-and-back to the 5K turnaround.

10K — one full repeat of the corridor.

Half Marathon — a short opening leg, then two full repeats.

Marathon — a short opening leg, then four full repeats.

50K — five full repeats.

Turnaround signs show your distance in large type.

DISTANCES AND START TIMES

6:45 AM — Marathon and 50K

6:55 AM — Half Marathon

7:45 AM — 5K and 10K

Available distances: 5K · 10K · Half Marathon · Marathon · 50K

THE ROAD

Park roads stay open to traffic in both directions. Run on the left, facing traffic. Vehicles, cyclists, and other park users share the road all morning.

Nothing lines the route. Arrows mark the real decision points, and every turnaround is coned and signed with its distance. Stay alert. Stay left.

WHAT YOU GET. WHAT YOU DON'T.

No shirts. No race bags. No expo. No chip timing. Nothing in a bag at the finish.

A measured course. A clock. A finish that gets recorded. And a reason to come back tomorrow.

Every finisher earns the Daily Finisher Medallion. Run both days on a Streak and you earn the tier patch.

RETURN. REPEAT. ENDURE.

RACE DAY CUTOFF

3:45 PM. This applies to the full race day — not per distance. Runners still on course after the cutoff will be directed off course.

GETTING IN AND PARKING

Lake Louisa State Park, 7305 U.S. Highway 27, Clermont, FL 34714. The gate opens to participants at 6:00 AM. Enter at the ranger station and follow RACE PARKING signs to the event fields between the Hitching Post and the campground. The start/finish is at the Hitching Post. Arrive early.

Park admission is $5, paid at the ranger station. Have a $5 bill ready for the fastest entry — credit cards are accepted, but slower. Or buy a Lake Louisa State Park single-day pass online on race morning; it must be for Lake Louisa and is valid only the day you buy it.

CAMPING

Stay inside the gate. Twenty cabins overlooking Dixie Lake, a 60-site full-facility campground, glamping, and primitive sites — all in the park. Reserved directly through Florida State Parks (reserve.floridastateparks.org), not through race registration. Reservations open 11 months ahead for Florida residents and 10 months ahead for everyone else, so April is open now. Details on the Camping page.

AID STATIONS

This is a cupless event. Carry your own fluids — handheld bottle, vest, or waist pack.

Aid is at the Hitching Post start/finish and at the turnaround lot at the north end: water and an electrolyte drink at both, basic snacks at the start/finish. Do not rely on the aid stations as your complete nutrition plan, especially for longer distances or multi-day participation.

BIB PICKUP

Race day, at the Hitching Post start/finish:

Marathon and 50K — from 6:00 AM, 45 minutes before your start

Half Marathon — from 6:00 AM, 55 minutes before your start

5K and 10K — from 6:45 AM, one hour before your start

Honor system, no ID required. A friend may pick up your bib on your behalf. No bib transfers — your bib is registered to you.

FINISH

Not chip timed. When you finish: cross the line, strike the GONG, then complete the Clock Out at the MileBuilt Time Clock.

Official finish times are recorded at the MileBuilt Time Clock and verified by the Race Director before results are posted. Every runner must complete the Clock Out process to receive an official finish record.

One day is a full race. Two days is a Streak.