Sassafras 8 Mile Run/Walk

About the Event

UDPATES for 2027 Races Coming Soon!

NEW Swag, Apparel, Medals, and MORE!

Registration set to open for this race on September 1st

The First 100 Participants Receive Custom Race Socks

Sassafras Mountain 8-Mile Challenge🌄

Conquer the Climb. Take in the View. 🌲🏃‍♂️

Ready to rise to the challenge? The Sassafras Mountain 8-Mile Challenge is an epic race to the highest point in South Carolina. With steep climbs, stunning views, and a fast trail descent, this race blends grit with grandeur—perfect for seasoned runners and bold adventurers alike.

Race Overview🚩

Start Line: Rocky Bottom Retreat Center

Course: A steep & winding road climb leading to the summit of Sassafras Mountain, followed by a scenic trail descent back toward the finish.

Elevation Gain: Expect a significant climb—this is a true mountain challenge.

Course Map: [Click here for Strava Map]

What Makes This Race Unique🌟

🥵 A demanding uphill road section to Sassafras' iconic summit

🌄 Panoramic Blue Ridge Mountain views at the peak

🌲 Beautiful, varied trail descent with natural terrain

🐐Ideal for trail runners, mountain goats, and nature lovers

🌿A one-of-a-kind experience in South Carolina’s Upstate wilderness

Race Day Details🎉

Date: March 7th, 2027 (Sunday)

Time: Race begins at 9:00 AM

Location: Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center

Address: 123 Hancock Rd, Sunset, SC 29685

Packet Pickup: begins at 8am

Aid Station: No on-course aid station. Water available at the Start/Finish line

Post-Race Pancakes: Celebrate your summit with fresh hot pancakes and mountain air 🥞⛰️

Awards: Top finishers will be recognized after the race at the summit gathering

Accommodations

Looking to make it a mountain getaway?

🏕️ Stay the Weekend at Rocky Bottom

🏕️ Primitive camping spots available

🛏️ Cabins with multiple bedrooms on-site

💧 Water access & bathroom facilities

Reservations:

📧 Email: rockybottominfo@gmail.com
📞 Call: 803-331-3344 (Ask for Thom Spittle)

Capture the Moment📸

From summit selfies to finish line triumphs, this race is packed with photo-worthy views. Be sure to bring your camera—or your crew—to capture the magic of the mountains!

Ready to Race to the Top?

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this epic climb and unforgettable descent. Sign up today for the Sassafras Mountain 8-Mile Challenge and experience the thrill of running above it all.

Race Results

Official finishing times from previous editions of Sassafras 8 Mile Run/Walk.

Place	Name	Gender	Age	City	Time
🥇	Andrew Clay Warner	M	36	Horse Shoe, NC	—
🥈	Matthew Hammersmith	M	32	Mauldin, SC	—
🥉	Tim Griggs	M	38	Greer, SC	—
4	Alex Ball	M	20	Greenville, SC	—
5	Michael Lack	M	44	Greenville, SC	—
6	Justin Dansby	M	38	penrose, NC	—
7	Paige Witherington	F	38	Penrose, NC	—
8	Brandon Lyko	M	33	Simpsonville, SC	—
9	Shannon Howell	F	41	Simpsonville, SC	—
10	keaton billings	M	28	loris, SC	—
11	Ian Combest	M	26	Lakewood, CO	—
12	Brice Dille	M	44	Greer, SC	—
13	Luke Couch	M	13	Simpsonville, SC	—
14	Stephanie Mccravy	F	45	Pauline, SC	—
15	Ryan McCormack	M	26	Greenwood, SC	—
16	LUCIA PHILIPP	F	—	—	—
17	Steven Ellis	M	46	Greenville, SC	—
18	Nathaniel Wilson	M	35	Anderson, SC	—
19	Kim Russell Russell	F	52	Greenwood, SC	—
20	Adam Tyson	M	48	Greenville, SC	—
21	Whittaker Russell	M	19	Greenwood, SC	—
22	Mills Stover	M	47	Greenville, SC	—
23	SARAH FRIZZELL	F	—	—	—
24	Alex Streett	M	26	FLORENCE, SC	—
25	Grace Smith	F	32	Greenville, SC	—
26	John Strehl	M	51	Spartanburg, SC	—
27	CHLOE BAYLE	F	—	—	—
28	Hearon Mccravy	M	48	Pauline, SC	—
29	Kyra Woodyard	F	27	Boiling Springs, SC	—
30	Marty Raines	F	46	Campobello, SC	—
31	Robert Mcclure	M	56	Inman, SC	—
32	Danielle Rohm	F	44	Greenville, SC	—
33	Travis Whitehead	M	35	Liberty, SC	—
34	Cayce Adcock	F	36	Moore, SC	—
35	CJ WIERENGA	M	41	GRAND RAPIDS, MI	—
36	Amy Couch	F	40	Simpsonville, SC	—
37	Kerrie Sijon	F	58	Greer, SC	—
38	Jeremy Brick	M	45	Belton, SC	—
39	David McClain	M	31	Chapin, SC	—
40	Tiffany Barnickel	F	50	Seneca, SC	—
41	Jeremy Puskas	M	33	Piedmont, SC	—
42	Karl Glang	M	29	Simpsonville, SC	—
43	John Linn	M	45	Greenville, SC	—
44	Bernard Vermeersch	M	53	Greenville, SC	—
45	Lisa Stewart	F	35	Simpsonville, SC	—
46	Luke Rapa	M	38	EASLEY, SC	—
47	NATHAN BICKEL	M	—	—	—
48	Jonathan Sowinski	M	38	piedmont, SC	—
49	Megan Dennis	F	31	Boiling Springs, SC	—
50	Terry Gantt	F	42	MAULDIN, SC	—

Place	Name	Gender	Age	City	Time
🥇	Roland Hakes	M	28	Irmo, SC	1:06:10.01
🥇	Eli Hornbuckle	M	17	Roebuck, SC	1:08:14.23
🥇	Roland Hakes	M	27	Mount Pleasant, SC	36:50.97
🥈	Will Cunningham	M	34	Greenville, SC	1:07:52.26
🥈	Jeremy Peterson	M	29	Lynchburg, VA	1:10:38.66
🥈	Matt Hammersmith	M	33	Mauldin, SC	39:46.15
🥉	Brian Mister	M	33	Charlotte, NC	1:08:24.14
🥉	Kenneth Hite	M	35	Easley, SC	1:10:46.5
🥉	James Tooill	M	33	Taylors, SC	40:15.64
4	Troy Lee	M	35	Charlotte, NC	1:08:38.22
4	Jason Lewis	M	41	GREENVILLE, SC	1:13:29.81
4	Jonathan Fenske	M	51	Simpsonville, SC	43:11.94
5	Luke Bower	M	33	Seneca, SC	1:11:05.25
5	Jerry Ammerman	M	41	Greer, SC	1:15:15.26
5	NOLAN WINTERS	M	36	Taylors, SC	43:58.12
6	Sean McElveen	M	42	—	1:17:00.16
6	Mia Martinson	F	25	Greenville, SC	1:18:23.25
6	Benjamin Webb	M	13	Greenville, SC	46:00.64
7	Bryan Ogg	M	40	Mauldin, SC	1:17:01.06
7	Adam Tyson	M	50	Greenville, SC	1:23:48.26
7	Asa Smith	M	21	Seneca, SC	48:05.37
8	Shannon Howell	F	42	Simpsonville, SC	1:17:51.31
8	CHRISTIAN Holien	M	29	Taylors, SC	1:26:18.41
8	Luke Kochanowicz	M	16	Spartanburg, SC	50:25.69
9	David Heichemer	M	37	Simpsonville, SC	1:17:56.98
9	Sarah Hannon	F	34	Sumter, SC	1:27:08.45
9	Jerome Nelligan	M	53	Seneca, SC	50:56.71
10	Travis Jones	M	42	Pickens, SC	1:18:15.91
10	William DaPore	M	32	Greenville, SC	1:27:10.49
10	Rahn Huffstutler	M	41	Ponte Vedra Beach, FL	51:21.42
11	EUGENE KIM	M	49	Greenville, SC	1:19:07.32
11	Mark Shultz	M	27	Westminster, SC	1:29:17.34
11	Robert Mcclure	M	57	Inman, SC	52:33.52
12	Christine Cunningham	F	33	Greenville, SC	1:20:31.27
12	Josh Hart	M	41	Fuquay Varina, NC	1:29:22.13
12	Jodi Lawson	F	18	Spartanburg, SC	52:47.54
13	JOHN HENIS	M	54	Greenville, SC	1:22:33.08
13	Raymond Feist III	M	34	Greenville, SC	1:29:29.14
13	Lauren Watson	F	40	Simpsonville, SC	53:31.32
14	Sarah Hannon	F	33	Sumter, SC	1:24:02.99
14	Christine Cunningham	F	34	Greenville, SC	1:29:34.91
14	Jeremy Brick	M	46	Belton, SC	53:55.49
15	Drayton Wade	M	29	Winston Salem, NC	1:24:11.6
15	Brian Potter	M	58	Pendleton, SC	1:31:22.35
15	N. Webb	M	10	Greenville, SC	55:29.38
16	Danny Clinton	M	32	Charlotte, NC	1:24:40.46
16	preston luce	M	30	Greenville, SC	1:32:58.52
16	James Farnham	M	33	Greer, SC	55:40.07
17	Allison Guggenheimer	F	27	Seneca, SC	1:24:46.59
17	John Otto	M	46	Simpsonville, SC	1:33:09.91
17	Kerrie Sijon	F	59	Greer, SC	56:17.53
18	Charlie Brown	M	60	Columbia, SC	1:25:00.17
18	Michelle Desmarais	F	31	Greenville, SC	1:33:12.43
18	Chris Rivers	M	43	Piedmont, SC	56:37.93
19	Brooks Patterson	M	30	Greenville, SC	1:25:44.25
19	Deanne Blas	F	58	Simpsonville, SC	1:34:30.21
19	Brian Hoover	M	46	Simpsonville, SC	57:06.31
20	BERNARD VERMEERSCH	M	54	Greenville, SC	1:25:48.18
20	Alex Brandenburg	F	38	Greer, SC	1:35:14.38
20	Luke Rapa	M	39	Easley, SC	57:09.28
21	Anthony Perdrix	M	44	Pickens, SC	1:26:25.35
21	Kim Russell	F	54	Greenwood, SC	1:35:20.47
21	James Barr	M	20	Leesville, SC	58:09.61
22	Josh Glenn	M	29	Sumter, SC	1:27:16.05
22	Jeff Roth	M	53	Piedmont, SC	1:35:30.41
22	Anna Fairey	F	27	Greenville, SC	58:41.54
23	John Linn	M	46	Greenville, SC	1:27:24.16
23	BERNARD VERMEERSCH	M	55	Greenville, SC	1:36:13.08
23	Shelly McNinney	F	38	Easley, SC	59:13.71
24	ALEX BRANDENBURG	F	37	Greer, SC	1:28:30.88
24	Dante Magagnotti	M	37	Clemson, SC	1:36:43.73
24	Hunter Martin	F	26	Drayton, SC	59:18.34
25	Olga Volkova	F	46	Greenville, SC	1:28:36.17
25	Bill Linn	M	55	Greenville, SC	1:39:23.17
25	Chris Kochanowicz	M	56	Spartanburg, SC	59:21.89
26	Jeremy Puskas	M	34	Piedmont, SC	1:28:42.85
26	Alexandra Williams	F	34	North Augusta, SC	1:40:02.64
26	Tracey Dorsey	F	32	Simpsonville, SC	59:23.4
27	Kate Brown	F	39	Travelers Rest, SC	1:00:15.05
27	Jarrett Dickson	M	41	Greenville, SC	1:28:52
27	David Hutcherson	M	45	Campobello, SC	1:40:16.35
28	Carly Mellor	F	28	Fountain Inn, SC	1:00:29.84
28	Aaron Schrock	M	35	Moore, SC	1:30:57.18
28	Jeremy Puskas	M	35	Piedmont, SC	1:40:20.07
29	Sarah Phelps	F	46	Greenville, SC	1:00:38.95
29	Adam LeBlanc	M	29	Sumter, SC	1:32:30.44
29	Nikki Barthelemy	F	42	Lexington, SC	1:41:26.33
30	Jonathan Griswold	M	33	Moore, SC	1:00:48.19
30	Cindy Camp	F	43	Anderson, SC	1:32:32.71
30	Earl Preeper	M	64	Anderson, SC	1:44:28.39
31	Eric Stuch	M	48	Taylors, SC	1:00:59.72
31	David Weinberg	M	51	Greer, SC	1:35:00.86
31	Nathalie Baulain	F	38	Greenville, SC	1:50:07.59
32	Blake Holz	M	32	Greenville, SC	1:01:12
32	Pavel Mosneaguta	M	39	Sumter, SC	1:35:23.2
32	Nicole DiSalvo	F	29	Greenville, SC	1:50:55.28
33	Kyra Woodyard	F	28	Boiling Springs, SC	1:01:20.84
33	Lauren Cater	F	32	Asheville, NC	1:35:47.4
33	James Grayson	M	25	EasleyEasley, SC	1:54:07.41
34	Lynn Ramsey	F	60	Mc Adenville, NC	1:01:35.28
34	Erika Spracher	F	37	Simpsonville, SC	1:36:00.8
34	Andrew Harmon	M	41	Anderson, SC	1:55:46.78
35	Susan Lollis	F	57	Simpsonville, SC	1:02:08.97
35	Dusten Bybee	M	28	Seneca, SC	1:38:00.93
35	Chester Bates	M	52	Spartanburg, SC	1:56:00.09
36	Tara Massey	F	33	Taylors, SC	1:02:32.56
36	David Hutcherson	M	44	Campobello, SC	1:39:09.93
36	Steve Harrison	M	65	Pelzer, SC	1:57:35.58
37	Claire Blanton	F	44	Williamston, SC	1:03:01.92
37	Bill Linn	M	54	Greenville, SC	1:41:07.27
37	MIKE JONES	M	57	SIMPSONVILLE, SC	1:57:55.1
38	Chris Honeycutt	F	47	Anderson, SC	1:03:03.66
38	Pete Nevins	M	65	Randolph, NJ	1:41:13.15
38	Chris Connally	M	51	Westminster, SC	2:00:44.94
39	Terry Gantt	F	43	Mauldin, SC	1:03:51.3
39	Kim Manturuk	F	49	Chapel Hill, NC	1:43:36.66
39	Jason Stack	M	50	Greenville, SC	2:01:38.12
40	John Seegers	M	59	Anderson, SC	1:04:39.51
40	Victor Hernandez	M	34	Simpsonville, SC	1:44:43.02
40	Partrese Barr	F	40	West Columbia, SC	2:03:52.04
40	Mike Carpenter	M	51	Easley, SC	2:04:17.32
41	Brian Walsh	M	44	Greenville, SC	1:04:42.45
41	Michael Rubino	M	44	Chapin, SC	1:50:36.18
41	Pavel Mosneaguta	M	40	Sumter, SC	2:05:08.38
42	R. Mooney	F	8	Greer, SC	1:05:22.06
42	Allen Mullins	M	35	Anderson, SC	1:54:08.92
42	Mandy Allen	F	45	Easley, SC	2:06:44.98
43	John Pirraglia	M	61	Greenville, SC	—
43	Brenda Weyerbacher	F	66	Hickory, NC	1:58:33.77
43	Lori Ellenburg	F	35	Pickens, SC	2:06:55.63
44	Sarah Rapa	F	39	Easley, SC	1:06:41.31
44	Josh Solesbee	M	36	Franklin, NC	2:04:40.97
44	Rachel Dunai	F	40	Summerville, SC	2:06:57.27
45	Whitney Messervy	F	49	Murrells Inlet, SC	1:06:52.93
45	Jake Watkins	M	35	Maggie Valley, NC	2:05:26.01
45	Jim Stevens	M	49	Pendleton, SC	2:09:56.03
46	Sean McNinney	M	40	Easley, SC	1:07:21.07
46	Rachel Dunai	F	39	Summerville, SC	2:06:10.37
46	Brandon Gustyn	M	45	Columbia, SC	2:10:02.73
47	Mark Allen	M	50	Myrtle Beach, SC	1:08:53.26
47	Charles Raffensperger	M	63	Duluth, GA	2:10:24.31
47	Andrew Aplin	M	41	Wake Forest, NC	2:10:56.61
48	Megan Chapman	F	34	Sandy Springs, SC	1:09:37.48
48	Bennie Waddell	M	58	Greenville, SC	2:12:20.81
48	Allison Stack	F	49	Greenville, SC	2:33:34.18
49	Jim Lollis	M	61	Simpsonville, SC	1:09:55.5
49	Myra Weeks	F	59	Hopkins, SC	2:24:17.25
50	Malaysia Barr	F	21	Leesville, SC	1:10:24.39
50	Sheri Johnson	F	55	Travelers Rest, SC	2:25:22.77

About the Event

UDPATES for 2027 Races Coming Soon!

NEW Swag, Apparel, Medals, and MORE!

Registration set to open for this race on September 1st

The First 100 Participants Receive Custom Race Socks

Sassafras Mountain 8-Mile Challenge🌄

Conquer the Climb. Take in the View. 🌲🏃‍♂️

Ready to rise to the challenge? The Sassafras Mountain 8-Mile Challenge is an epic race to the highest point in South Carolina. With steep climbs, stunning views, and a fast trail descent, this race blends grit with grandeur—perfect for seasoned runners and bold adventurers alike.

Race Overview🚩

Start Line: Rocky Bottom Retreat Center

Course: A steep & winding road climb leading to the summit of Sassafras Mountain, followed by a scenic trail descent back toward the finish.

Elevation Gain: Expect a significant climb—this is a true mountain challenge.

Course Map: [Click here for Strava Map]

What Makes This Race Unique🌟

🥵 A demanding uphill road section to Sassafras' iconic summit

🌄 Panoramic Blue Ridge Mountain views at the peak

🌲 Beautiful, varied trail descent with natural terrain

🐐Ideal for trail runners, mountain goats, and nature lovers

🌿A one-of-a-kind experience in South Carolina’s Upstate wilderness

Race Day Details🎉

Date: March 7th, 2027 (Sunday)

Time: Race begins at 9:00 AM

Location: Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center

Address: 123 Hancock Rd, Sunset, SC 29685

Packet Pickup: begins at 8am

Aid Station: No on-course aid station. Water available at the Start/Finish line

Post-Race Pancakes: Celebrate your summit with fresh hot pancakes and mountain air 🥞⛰️

Awards: Top finishers will be recognized after the race at the summit gathering

Accommodations

Looking to make it a mountain getaway?

🏕️ Stay the Weekend at Rocky Bottom

🏕️ Primitive camping spots available

🛏️ Cabins with multiple bedrooms on-site

💧 Water access & bathroom facilities

Reservations:

📧 Email: rockybottominfo@gmail.com

📞 Call: 803-331-3344 (Ask for Thom Spittle)

Capture the Moment📸

From summit selfies to finish line triumphs, this race is packed with photo-worthy views. Be sure to bring your camera—or your crew—to capture the magic of the mountains!

Ready to Race to the Top?

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this epic climb and unforgettable descent. Sign up today for the Sassafras Mountain 8-Mile Challenge and experience the thrill of running above it all.

Races Offered

Sassafras Struggle (8mi)

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