Pineywood Ruck Relay

The Pineywood RUCK Relay is a 27-mile tactical team challenge taking place on Saturday, April 25, 2026. This mission-style race begins at the Upshur County Courthouse in Gilmer and concludes at the Gregg County Courthouse in Longview, Texas. Designed for teams of 2 to 4 members, the course is split into five legs of 5 to 7 miles each. Unlike traditional trail races, this event is self-navigated and self-supported, requiring participants to manage their own transitions, navigation, and transportation. All participants must adhere to strict ruck weight requirements based on body weight, with a mandatory 7-hour cutoff time for the entire mission.

Gilmer, the starting point, is the county seat of Upshur County. The city has a population of approximately 5,025 residents. The racial makeup of Gilmer is 69.9% White, 12.4% Black or African American, 12.2% Hispanic or Latino, and 16.1% identifying as two or more races. The destination city, Longview, is significantly larger with a population of about 82,000. Its demographic profile is 54.7% White, 20.6% Black or African American, 21.8% Hispanic or Latino, and 1.6% Asian. Geographically, the route traverses the East Texas Pineywoods, characterized by dense pine and hardwood forests. The terrain features rolling hills with a total elevation gain of approximately 1,700 feet. Late April weather in the region typically sees mild mornings around 11°C (52°F) and afternoon highs reaching 26°C (78°F).

The relay course uses a mix of highway shoulders, backroads, and sidewalks. Because there are no road closures or course markings, teams are responsible for their own safety and must remain on the left side of the road facing traffic. Checkpoints located every 5 to 7 miles serve as the designated swap zones for teammates. Upon completion, teams are awarded the Pineywoods Ruck Relay finisher patch and tee, with special awards for the top three teams and a "Dead Freakin' Last" (DFL) award for the final team to finish. Participants must arrange their own return transportation from the Longview Courthouse back to Gilmer after the event concludes.