The Route
Technically, there is no official route as there is no official event. We use publically accessible and publicly available land combined with annual permissions granted from a few private land-owners to connect a 30-mile set of trails, fire-roads, forests, deer paths, creek crossings and a few culverts to create a point-to-point, non-sanctioned, run-at-your own risk, fun-run. The spirit of the run is to "leave no trace" and respect the land as custodians of the respective properties.
The non-route
UNC campus to Umstead Park in Chapel Hill
Pick up Bolin creek, into CNF
Exit CNF, to Homestead, Cloverleaf, behind landfill, up to Eubanks
From Eubanks to Johnston Mill Preserve
Johnston Mill to to Duke’s Korstian Forest
Korstian to private land (permission granted annually) to Orange County Land then to Duke Forest on Cornwallis
Up to top of Couch Mountain and down to 751
Cross 751 and pick up Duke Forest to Cameron
Cameron to Duke Chapel
The run will include three culvert pass-throughs
There will be multiple ways you can participate:
- 30 Miler - You can do the entire route (approx 30 miles) - Please register for this distance.
https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=104391
Join-up - You can start with us at the Old Well and stop at 5, 10 or 15 miles provided you have your own transportation (on even years. Or pick up at Movie Makers (on odd years) and run back to the Old Well.
UNC v Duke
Colors! - Wear your Carolina or Duke colors (or State, or Wake or Davidson), hats, socks or buffs. We will do a photo-op at Cameron and all Duke grads/fans will hold up some type of poster like this one
When we run back to UNC, the Carolina grads will hold up a Duke poster, maybe from 2015.
Here's the deal, pick a team:
Carolina: Anyone who lives in Chapel Hill, works for UNC or has a spouse who works for UNC or a child who attends. Or if you have zero affiliation with Duke and you attended public colleges. E.g., Dropkick lives in Chapel Hill did not attend neither Duke nor UNC. But he went to Private college. But, he attends UNC games a lot. So he is a UNC guy.
Duke: Anyone who lives in Durham, works at Duke or has a spouse who works at Duke or a child who attends Duke. Or if you have zero affiliation with UNC and you attended private colleges. E.g., Speedo's wife works at Duke but he lives in Chapel Hill. But he has zero affiliation with UNC and went to a private colleage, himself. As such, he is a Duke guy.
Some details...
Maps - I might have a printed map with me that I will share before each section so you have a general sense of where we are going. You can take a picture of it with your phone so you have it with you.
PHONE: All runners are asked to bring their phone. Put it in airplane mode if you like or turn it off but you'll need it if you need to get out before we hit aid stations or the finish
Parking/Pickups at finish:
Note, the game that night will normally be at the destination town. Some years it is pushed out a week.
Parking will be nearly impossible near the Chapel or the Well on the night of a game
at Duke: you might try the Bryan lot.
at UNC: you might try one of the Rosemary Street garages
Better to plan on drivers just sitting with cars until we arrive.
I have spoken with the Duke Chapel staff and security previously and they assured me at 3:00 pm on Saturday game days we would be able to access the road leading into Duke Chapel (Chapel Drive). At mile 25, we'll have a good sense of our arrival, which should be about 70 minutes after that, max.
If you have not arranged transportation home please check with me
Permission: We will be running on two parcels of private property for about 7-8 minutes in a short bushwhack stretch that is within the 20 to 25 mile water stops. I have secured permission from both land owners and they know we will be passing through. Please be courteous and respectful throughout the day but most importantly during this short phase in hopes that we might secure permission again in the future.
Crew - REMINDER: This is a self-supported run. Other than water, you need to bring your own food either in your drop bags that Mrs Srkapple will bring to the water stops or with you (and note there is a stretch where there is no crew access at mile 20.) Your crew can meet you at 5, 10, 15 and 25 as well as the finish. But NOT 20.
Hydration: Thanks to Bobcat, we'll have a cooler with water. Mrs. Skrapple will have this at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25. Also at the 10/20 (depending on which year), Morph assures me there will be water at a secret location (ie, his place) in Duke Forest.
IMPORTANT: On the out to Duke: This is going to be a challenging run once we get into miles 15+. Please take care to hydrate and fuel properly early and often. Go for 300-400 calories per hour and ensure you are taking necessary electrolytes. Bring food with you or in your drop bags and make sure you eat. Plan for 8 hours on the trail even if we come in a bit sooner.
On the return, same general route but slightly easier on the back-half.
DNF - I'm the first to admit that on any day, good or bad things can happen. If you need to drop, I will help navigate you to get to the nearest road and promise not to leave you in the woods to die. But you may need to use your phone's mapping once you get to a main trail or fire road to get out to the paved road for a pick-up ride or uber. This is your responsibility so please take this seriously. The longest you could be from a paved road is about 1 mile but when you are done with a run, a mile can seem like 10. So if you start bonking, speak up and let us help you before you fade and need medical help.
Medical: We'll have experienced folks with us through mile 20. After that, who knows! I'll have a medical bag at 25 and the finish with basics like antibiotics, bandages, etc. But, as mentioned, we are finishing near Duke Hospital.
Sharing: I'm asking that no one Strava this run given the permission we needed to secure. More on that when we are out there and especially appreciate folks honoring this request. (and I mean sharing the route in any fashion electronically)