Florida Death Race

Embark on a hauntingly beautiful and uniquely burdensome journey along Florida's most scenic river at the final annual Florida Death Race on March 7, 2026. This Run Bum Tours event offers a 74-mile or 37-mile challenge on the remote and winding Florida National Scenic Trail, where 75% of the course traces the historic, blackwater Suwannee River through steephead ravines and under massive live oaks. In a signature tradition, every runner must carry a one-pound unengraved railroad spike for the entire race—a physical manifestation of their burden—only to exchange it for an engraved spike at the finish line if they conquer the distance. The race is a deceptively runnable yet mentally grueling test, lacking major elevation but demanding relentless focus on its technical, rooty, and mesmerizingly beautiful single-track.

More than just an ultra, it's a profound experience in perseverance, where the stunning river views and remote wilderness are both the main attraction and a siren's song that lures runners into a potential death march. The event is deliberately low-frills, focusing on the raw challenge and the shared ritual of carrying and releasing a burden, with top finishers in the 74-mile race earning early registration for the famed Georgia Death Race. This final edition is your last chance to tackle this iconic Florida test, where finishing means forever releasing your burden into the coffin and joining the legend of those who have survived the Suwannee.