<h5><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )">Welcome to the <span style="color:#e03e2d"><b>Annual Carolina Reaper Challenge</b></span> event! We are pleased to bring a new and exciting twist to four different distances including the 50k, marathon relay, half marathon, and 5 mile distance. This will be great for the first time finishers of these distances as well as give a new challenge to all the speed demons out there! If you have done it in the cold why not test your grit in the heat! We have simply duplicated the Snowbird Challenge for all you true southern heat seekers out there!</span></h5>
<h5> </h5>
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )">&#x1f525; Feel the heat and conquer the challenge at the Carolina Reaper Running Race, where endurance meets the scorching South Carolina summer! Join us this July at the Civic Center Sports Complex for an exhilarating experience unlike any other. Whether you&#39;re a seasoned marathoner or a passionate runner looking to push your limits, our race offers distances ranging from 3.1 miles to an epic 31 miles.</span></h5>
<h5> </h5>
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )">&#x1f3c3;‍♂️&#x1f3c3;‍♀️ Lace up your sneakers and prepare to sweat as you navigate through the picturesque routes of South Carolina&#39;s hottest season. The Carolina Reaper Running Race isn&#39;t just a test of physical endurance—it&#39;s a celebration of resilience and determination. Each mile conquered brings you closer to the finish line, where victory awaits alongside fellow athletes and cheering spectators.</span></h5>
<h5> </h5>
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )">&#x1f3c5; Embrace the challenge and set your sights on greatness. Whether you&#39;re aiming to set a personal record or simply revel in the thrill of the run, the Carolina Reaper Running Race promises an unforgettable experience. Don&#39;t miss your chance to join this premier summer event. Register today and ignite your passion for running amidst the sizzling Southern heat!</span></h5>
<h5> </h5>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">This will be the same race format as our Snowbird Challenge that is held in the winter but simply doing it in the sun chasing heat of the summer! We will toe the line as individuals or as teams to complete the 2.62 mile loop in our 45 minute time format! There will be plenty of space to spread out between laps with water and a few gallons of tailwind and ice to keep you cool! We HIGHLY encourage all participants to bring a bag of ice for our community kitty pool that we will have soaked towels to cool off between laps. </span></h5>
<h3> </h3>
<h4><span style="color:#ba372a"><strong>Event Details</strong></span></h4>
<ul><li>
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 224 , 62 , 45 )"><b><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )">Distance:</span> <span style="color:rgb( 186 , 55 , 42 )">Choose Your Distance Challenge!</span></b></span></h5>
<ul><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000"><strong>Carolina Reaper Challenge</strong> - Sign Up and run as many laps as you can/want.</span></h5>
<ul><li style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )">
<h5><span style="color:#000000"><strong>Finisher Medals</strong> for all who finish at least 2 laps</span></h5>
</li><li style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )">
<h5><span style="color:#000000"><strong>Overall Awards</strong> for top 3 Male &amp; Female in the following distances</span></h5>
<ul><li style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )">
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 224 , 62 , 45 )"><strong>5.2 Miles</strong></span></h5>
</li><li style="color:rgb( 224 , 62 , 45 );font-weight:bold">
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 224 , 62 , 45 )"><strong>13.1 Miles</strong></span></h5>
</li><li style="color:rgb( 224 , 62 , 45 );font-weight:bold">
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 224 , 62 , 45 )"><strong>26.2 Miles</strong></span></h5>
</li><li style="color:rgb( 224 , 62 , 45 );font-weight:bold">
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 224 , 62 , 45 )"><strong>31 Miles</strong></span></h5>
</li></ul>
</li></ul>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000"><span style="color:rgb( 53 , 152 , 219 )"><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )"><b>Relay Teams </b>will be made up of 2-4 runners completing 12 laps in the same 45 minute format</span></span></span></h5>
</li></ul>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#ba372a"><strong style="color:#ba372a">What:</strong></span> <span style="color:#000000">Timed Format Loop to complete as many laps as you can. Each 45 minute lap all runners will start together per the race schedule below.</span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#ba372a"><strong style="color:#ba372a">Where: </strong><span style="color:#000000">Civic Center of Anderson - Sports Complex</span></span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#ba372a"></span><strong style="color:#ba372a">Address:<span style="color:#000000"> </span></strong><span style="color:#000000">144 Civic Center Blvd, Anderson, SC 29621</span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><strong style="color:#ba372a">When: </strong><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )">All Events will Start at 8:00am</span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#ba372a"><strong>Packet Pickup: </strong><span style="color:#000000">1 Hour Prior to your race start time near starting line</span></span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000"></span><span style="color:#000000"><span style="color:rgb( 186 , 55 , 42 )"><b>Event Shirts</b></span> - Our local apparel vendor (Graphic Cow) will be processing all shirt orders. Please follow the link below to pre-order a shirt from the list of races. All race specific shirts will be mailed directly to your home address after the event to commemorate your race experience! The store link will be open until the Monday after each race. </span></h5>
<ul><li>
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 186 , 55 , 42 )"><a style="color:rgb( 186 , 55 , 42 )" href="https://upstateraceseries.itemorder.com/shop/home/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><b>SHIRT ORDER FORM HERE</b></a></span></h5>
</li></ul>
</li></ul>
<h5> </h5>
<h5><span style="color:#ba372a"><b>Address and Parking </b>- </span><span style="color:#000000">144 Civic Center Blvd, Anderson, SC 29621</span></h5>
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )">The address for the civic center is a bit tricky! As you are driving down Civic Center Blvd please note that the location will be on your RIGHT and you will follow the event parking arrows down Jim Ed Rice Parkway to the 4 Baseball Fields and Tennis/Pickleball court parking. Please look for event parking signs that will guide you there. Drop Pin Address -  (G8V8&#43;4R, Anderson, SC 29625)</span><br /> <br /><span style="color:rgb( 186 , 55 , 42 )"></span></h5>
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 186 , 55 , 42 )"><strong>Timing:</strong></span></h5>
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )">During packet pickup, participants will receive a bib number and a timing chip with an ankle strap that will be worn on the left ankle. We will record lap splits for each each runner and will add them to your cumulative total at the end of your race distance. After your final lap please return the timing chip back to the appropriate slot at the timing table and pick up your finisher medal. We do have a $10 replacement fee for timing chips that are pre assigned to all the runners and teams. We will use these lap splits to determine final positioning of the race. Overall winners will be determined by the fastest cumulative time (not the fastest last lap). </span></h5>
<h3> </h3>
<h4><span style="color:#ba372a"><strong>Lap Schedule for Live Event</strong></span></h4>
<ul><li>
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 186 , 55 , 42 )"><strong>Lap 1 - 8:00am Death Pepper, Ghost Pepper, Jalapeno Pepper, Carolina Reaper Pepper!</strong></span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><strong style="color:#000000">Lap 2 - 8:45am</strong></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )"><strong>Lap 3 - 9:30am </strong></span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><strong style="color:#000000">Lap 4 - 10:15pm</strong></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><strong style="color:#000000">Lap 5 - 11:00am</strong></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><strong style="color:#000000">Lap 6 - 11:45am</strong></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><strong style="color:#000000">Lap 7 - 12:30pm</strong></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )"><strong>Lap 8 - 1:15pm </strong></span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><strong style="color:#000000">Lap 9 - 2:00pm</strong></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><strong style="color:#000000">Lap 10 - 2:45pm</strong></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )"><strong>Lap 11 - 3:30pm </strong></span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><strong style="color:#000000">Lap 12 - 4:15pm</strong></h5>
</li></ul>
<h3> </h3>
<h4><span style="color:#ba372a"><strong>Carolina Reaper Race Format</strong></span></h4>
<ul><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">The race loop is 2.62 miles from start to finish. </span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">Each race has a designated number of laps to complete</span></h5>
<ul><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">50k (12 Loops)</span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">Marathon Relay(10 Loops)</span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">Half Marathon (5 Loops)</span><span style="color:#000000"></span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">5 Mile (2 Loops)</span></h5>
</li></ul>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">The Timer will Ring the Kettle Bell starting at 8:00am</span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">He will continue to ring the bell 12 times every 45 minutes</span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">At the beginning of each loop runners will  given 45 minutes to complete the loop. </span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">If a runner fails to complete the loop under 45 minutes they will be disqualified </span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">All runners must wait until the top of the 45 minute mark to start their next loop. </span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">If you complete your loop in 25 minutes you will have to wait 20 minutes before the next loop. </span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">If you complete your loop in 40 minutes you will have a 5 minute break. </span></h5>
</li><li>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">The personal tent area is located directly behind the start and finish lines</span></h5>
</li></ul>
<h3> </h3>
<h4><a href="https://www.strava.com/routes/3270746705442409638" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><span style="color:rgb( 186 , 55 , 42 )"><b>Click for Strava - </b></span><span style="color:#000000">Course Map - HERE</span></a></h4>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">The course at the Civic Center of Anderson Sports Complex consists of paved walking paths and a small section of road. Runners have the option to run in the grass on the walking paths if you want some softer running. The course gains 100 feet of elevation per the 2.62 mile loop. The course starts and finishes on the back side of the baseball headquarters at the Sports Complex. The course will showcase walking paths along the tennis court, the community park, two ponds, an old haunted house, and finish in the middle of the 4 baseball fields. </span><span style="color:#000000">This location will have indoor bathrooms, an area for runners to place a 10 x 10 canopy tent for shade in the grass, and a convenient location adjacent to the parking lot for a quick pit stop at your car if needed. The concessions will be open for runners to grab a soft drink, sports drink, snacks, and/or hot dog and hamburger. </span></h5>
<h3> </h3>
<h4><span style="color:#ba372a"><b>Aid Stations</b></span></h4>
<h5><span style="color:#000000">There is one aid station at the start and finish line. Items may include: pickles, cookies, chips, Little Debbie snacks, assorted candy, chicken/veggie broth, fig newtons, &amp; pretzels. Liquids will include water, Tailwind Nutrition, coke, and ginger ale. If you would like to donate an aid station supply of something that we do not offer or that is homemade feel free! </span><b><span style="color:#bc0c0c"><i>Cup-less Event: Please provide your own hydration vessel for use at our aid stations </i></span></b></h5>

Carolina Reaper Challenge (50k - 26.2 - 13.1 - 10k) - Race Reviews