Skunk Ape 100 Mile Endurance Run

Skunk Ape 100 Mile Endurance Run

Welcome to the Skunk Ape 100 Mile Endurance Run right in the heart of Florida in the beautiful and historic Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. In the heart of Florida, you’ve got beautiful sand pine scrubs, pine flatwoods, longleaf pines, lakes, ponds, prairies, and riverine hardwoods. Registrations past April 1st: Shirt sizes will be what is available on race weekend!

The Deets

Date: April 24-25th 2027 Where: The start will be at the Santos Trailhead, which is part of the beautiful Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. Address: 3080 S.E. 80th St, Ocala FL 34470 Start time: 7:00 am Cut-Off: 36 Hours Elevation Gain: 1,562’ (Double that for the 100 Mile) - Outbound: +871’/-865’ - In-bound: +691’/-701’ Pre-Race Pick-Up: Santos Trailhead - April 23rd (Friday) - 4-9pm Central Florida Trail Fest: At the Pre-Race Pick-Up! Guidebook and Rules: Coming Soon

Pre-Race and the Central Florida Trail Fest

Swing by to grab your bib and then stick around to meet some of the coolest folks in the trail running community. This is your chance to hang out with local Race Directors, Running Coaches, Podcast Hosts, Running Clubs, Outdoor Organizations, Business', and community groups that make Florida's running and trail scene so special. This year, thus far, we’ve got Combat Racing, A1 Ultras, Where’s the Finish Podcast and the Florida Trail Runners Podcast, PacerTravel, Marion County Runs, F3 Ocala, Williston Ruckers, Brick City Ruckers, the O-Town Blazers, and YouRunYou. They'll have tents set up to meet and greet and hangout with you all! I’ll keep adding to this list as more groups come out. Where: Santos Trailhead, Ocala, FL - April 23rd (Friday) – 4pm - 9pm

Awards

Overall Awards: The Top Four Male and Female will take home an amazing piece of art work crafted up Brie at Wicked Skins! Her wooden trophies are some of the best around. Finisher Awards and Swag: 50 Mile: Finishers Plaque! 100 Mile: The Belt Buckle! As for the swag? This race is loaded up! We’ve got a Shirt, Hat, Pint Glass, Beer Opener, Pins, the STICKERS, and more! And of course, a bag to put it all in! You can also click the add on’s for additional swag like the jacket, quarter-zip, and the joggers. They’ll be ready for pick-up at packet pick-up and on race weekend! Other additional swag like other shirts, hoodies, and crew necks may be purchased on the Bonfire Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/skunkapeevents/

The Course

This be a 50ish Mile somewhat sorta out-and-back on the Florida National Scenic Trail and the paved trails in the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. You'll get the tour of the Greenway! You'll also be running through the beautiful Ross Prairie Wildlife Management Area. FUN FACT! The highest most southern switch back in the United States is located between Ross Prairie and the Pruitt Trailhead! You’ll have an Outbound Route then an In-bound Route. Outbound is all Florida Trail and the Ross Prairie, in-bound is on the Florida Trail (bypassing Ross Prairie) onto the paved path, and then back onto the Florida Trail. 100 Milers will do the course twice! Trail Surface: Single Tract Trail, Sand, Roots, Short Climbs, Paved Trail. CalTopo Course Map: https://caltopo.com/m/GHHF0 Strava Map: https://www.strava.com/routes/3213342409496682708 UltraPacer Map: https://ultrapacer.com/course/66175752ac5f9cc0f0e989cc Garmin Connect: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/260256859 AllTrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-daca412-7?u=i&sh=mpvxfj Course Marking: Out-bound - Runners will be following the pink ribbons in trees with reflectors (as well as any other directional signage marked “Outbound” on the top). - In-bound: Runners will be following pink flags at ground level with reflectors (as well as any other directional signage marked “in-bound” on the top).

Aid Stations

All of the Aid Stations, staffed or unstaffed, will be stocked with a variety of Soda, Pickles, Pickle Pops, Gummy Worms, Mustard Packets, Gu’s, Chips, Cookies, Salt Tabs, various produce (like bananas, grapes, and oranges), and some brand of powder electro's (probably Gatorade). We will also provide band-aids and women’s hygiene products in a plastic box at all the Aid Stations. All the AS’s should have some type of hot food, or coffee. Oh yeah, expect to be given fun glow up lights and fun stuff for the night miles! Every aid station is a party.

Distance Between Aid Stations

Outbound: Start to Land Bridge AS: 6.65 Miles Land Bridge AS to 49th Ave AS: 3.8 Miles 49th Ave AS to Ross Prairie AS: 7.14 Miles Ross Prairie AS to St. Rt. 200 AS: 5.7 Miles St. Rt. 200 AS to Pruitt Trailhead AS (Turnaround): 6 Miles In-bound: Pruitt Trailhead AS (Turnaround) to St. Rt. 200 AS: 6 Miles St. Rt 200 AS to 49th Ave AS: 6.5 Miles 49th Ave AS to Landbridge AS: 3.9 Miles Land Bridge AS to Finish: 6.7 Miles

Drop Bags

Will be collected at start. Both 50 and 100 Milers have two Drop-Bag locations at the 49th Avenue Aid Station and at the Pruitt Trailhead Aid Station. 100 Milers will have a third Drop-Bag location at the Ross Prairie Aid Station. Drop Bags must be marked with the name of the Aid Station and have your name written on it with duck tape. Please try to keep drop bags no larger the a standard draw string bag. Drop Bags will only be returned to the Start/Finish after that Aid Station has packed up and left. So keep that in mind when choosing what bag you’re going to use. All aid stations will be accessible for you to drive out too in the case you have to collect them early (or after you’re done with the 50 Miler).

Crew and Crewing

All the aid stations will have crew access. Please see the race Guidebook and Rules for full details on where the aid stations are located and the guidelines and rules pertaining to the crew. You and your crews must be courteous and respectful of the campsites near the aid stations. Be courteous to other park users, pedestrians, bike riders, campers, and drivers. They take priority over you.

Pacer and Pacing

50 Mile: No pacers for the 50 Miler. -However, runners over the age of 60, or others needing special assistance, may have a pacer at any time. 100 Mile: -Pacers may join the runner after 50 Miles. -Pacer may, and is encouraged, to help the runner navigate. -Runners over the age of 60, or others needing special assistance, may have a pacer at any time. Please see the race Guidebook and Rules for all the details pertaining to Pacer and Pacing.

Cut-Offs

50 Mile Course Cut-Off: 36 Hours April 26th Sunday, 7pm - That’s an average of 43 Minutes 12 Seconds per mile. 100 Mile Course Cut-Off: 36 Hours, April 26th Sunday, 7pm - That’s an average of 20 Minutes 53 Seconds per mile. For 100 Milers: Santos Trailhead (Mile 51.76): Runners must complete the first round of the course by the 19th Hour. That’s an average of 20:53 minutes per mile. - Cut-Off Time: April 26th Sunday, 2am Pruitt Trailhead AS - Turn Around Point (Mile 80.02) - Cut-Off Time: April 26th Sunday, 10:52am St. Rt. 200 AS In-Bound (Mile 86.52) - Cut-Off Time: April 26th Sunday, 1:07pm 49th Ave AS In-Bound (Mile 92.52) - Cut-Off Time: April 26th Sunday, 3:13pm Landbridge AS In-Bound (Mile 96.42) - Cut-Off Time: April 26th Sunday, 4:33:32pm

2027 Skunk Ape Trail Series

The Skunk Ape Trail Series connects all four of the Skunk Ape Events trail races together into one challenge! This includes the Skunk Ape’s Revenge, the Skunk Ape 100 Mile Endurance Run, the Skunk Ape Night Run, and the Wild Boar Night Run! It doesn’t matter which distance you choose, just as long as you show up and get that finish! Everyone who completes the Skunk Ape Trail Series will be given a 2027 Jacket!

Trail Sisters Approved Race

Skunk Ape Events is a come one, come all atmosphere. It doesn’t matter what pace you run, your size and shape, experience level. Whether you run the entire race, walk the whole thing, or crash and burn. What does matter is that you are experiencing a valuable and enjoyable time on the trails, surrounded by those who are supportive and empowering. Trail Sisters was created to constitute for an equitable outdoors both recreationally and throughout the industry. Female voice and representation are essential in the future of our outdoors, impacting the role we play both on and off the trails. To break through long-standing barriers, Trail Sisters generates educational content and resources, while fostering an inspirational community that encourages self-advocacy and life-long friendships.

Campsites

Take advantage of the great opportunity to camp right by the Start and Finish at the Santos Campground! Santos Campground- Near the start and finish! The 25-site Santos Campground provides power and water hookups for RVs, trailers and tent campers. There is a bathhouse and dump station available as well. https://reserve.floridastateparks.org/Web/#!park/60 Ross Prairie Campground- You’ll be close to the Ross Prairie AS and the St. Rd. 200 AS is just down the road. This will be that middle section of the course, not a bad spot when is comes to crewing. Ross Prairie is a full-service campground with 14 sites, each available with 30- and 50-amp electrical pedestals as well as potable water hookups. Picnic pavilions, a dump station and a bathhouse are available in the campground. https://reserve.floridastateparks.org/Web/#!park/58 Shangri-La Campgrounds- This campsite is not on the course, but is part of the Cross Florida Greenway. They’ve got 24 pull-through campsites are popular with equestrians and are available for RVs, trailers and tents. Horse wash racks are also available. All sites are primitive and do not include electricity or water. Campers have access to picnic pavilions and an accessible restroom with showers as well as a dump station available. https://reserve.floridastateparks.org/Web/#!park/62

American Trail Running Association

This event adheres to the ATRA standards in regards to safety, accurately measured and marked course, provide timely results, and awards. We follow the standards of Leave No Trace and being environmentally friendly, as well as, a strong effort on clean-up and trail maintenance.

ITRA and the IAU

This event stands by the guidelines of the International Trail Running Association and the International Association of Ultrarunners. We follow the same mission to give a voice to trail runners from all continents to promote trail running throughout the world and defend its ethical values.

What is the Cross Florida Greenway?

The Cross Florida Greenway is unique in many ways. Occupying more than 70,000 acres of land formerly known as the Cross Florida Barge Canal. This was one of the nation's largest incomplete public works projects has been transformed into the diverse Cross Florida Greenway. When the bridge was finished in 2000, the Cross Florida Greenway Land Bridge was the first true land bridge in the United States, modeled after a design used in the Netherlands. It’s essentially one massive planter! The Greenway is also a wildlife corridor and the first in Florida to have a “land bridge” across a major interstate that both trail users and wildlife utilize. Black bears use the Greenway as a major corridor, especially on the eastern end near the Ocala National Forest.