Cottonmouth 8 Mile & Beerlay

Upstate Race Series

Cottonmouth 8 Mile & Beerlay

Lakewood Nature Preserve · Greenville, SC

Run fast. Drink hard. Don't get bit. 

Participant Feedback

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Four laps. Four beers. One two-mile grassy loop that gets meaningfully harder each time around. Run it solo, or split it as a relay team of two to four, one runner per lap. Every beer you bring goes into a giant iced kitty pool, and when it is your turn a volunteer hands you a mystery brew, already cracked and poured. You drink it, you run it. Drink, run, repeat.

Course or Race Highlight

The course is genuinely pleasant — a two-mile grassy trail loop through the shade of Lakewood Nature Preserve, rolling hills, deer and foxes in the trees, and a rustic barn serving as race HQ and beer-staging zone. The hills feel bigger after a beer, which is the entire design of the event. Nothing about the terrain is hard. The format is what makes it hard.

You do not have to drink to take part. Runners under 21 and anyone who would rather stay sober run the same course with non-alcoholic carbonated alternatives and are scored in their own division, alongside Men's, Women's, Mixed, Mixed Masters and Youth. Free Beer Olympics admission is included with every entry — beer pong, tug of war, dodgeball, cornhole, hillbilly golf and spike ball — plus music, a post-race party, and pizza.

Race Day Details

WhatCottonmouth 8 Mile & Beerlay — 8 Mile Solo (four 2-mile laps, four beers) and the 8 Mile Beerlay (relay teams of 2–4, one runner per lap)WhenSaturday, June 5, 2027 — 4:00 PM start, running to 8:00 PMWhereLakewood Nature Preserve, Greenville, SC — start and finish at The BarnAddress220 Lakewood Drive, Greenville, SC 29607Packet PickupOn site inside The Barn from 3:00 PM, 90 minutes before the start. Team captains may collect the whole team's bib and timing tag.

Course

A two-mile grassy trail loop through the scenic, shady Lakewood Nature Preserve just outside Greenville, run four times. Rolling hills, wildlife sightings — deer, foxes, and maybe your dignity — and a rustic barn that serves as race HQ and beer-staging zone.

View Course Map →

Aid Stations

No aid station on the loop. Water is at the finish line — and, of course, beer at The Barn before every lap.

Available snacks:

Post-race pizza (teams can pre-order during race week)

Hydration:

Water at the finish line A mystery beer before every lap

Wildly Charged is our official hydration sponsor — look for the orange 5-gallon jugs at aid stations.

What's Included

Free Beer Olympics Admission

Beer pong, tug of war, dodgeball, cornhole, hillbilly golf and spike ball.

Custom Race Bib

Your badge of the journey.

Chip Timing & Live Results

Track your effort, splits included.

Custom Finisher Medal

To commemorate the triumph.

Custom Race Tattoo

Wear the moment proudly.

Event-Themed Giveaways

A little extra swag for finishing strong.

Race Sticker

Keep the memory riding shotgun on your bottle, cooler, or laptop.

A Mystery Brew Every Lap

A volunteer hands you a randomly drawn beer from the kitty, already cracked and poured.

A Non-Alcoholic Division

Under-21 and sober runners race the same course with carbonated alternatives, scored in their own division.

Post Race Vibes and Media Coverage

Complimentary professional race photos capture the grit and the glory — hang around at the finish line and celebrate.

Race Awards

Top 3 Overall, Solo (Male & Female, 21+)

The three fastest solo runners of each gender — four laps, four beers, one time.

Top 3 Teams in Each Division

Relay teams are scored in six separate divisions, so you are racing crews built like yours: Men's, Women's, Mixed, Mixed Masters (40+), Youth (under 21), and Non-Alcoholic.

Age Group Awards (Male & Female)

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers in each of 15 age categories will earn an age group medal — a custom piece to add to your finisher's lanyard at the end of the event.

Series Recognition

This race counts toward season-long age group recognition in this series:

Upstate Brew Series

Giving Back

Every Upstate Race Series event is part of the Upstate Giving Series, which connects our 30 races with 30 nonprofit organizations serving communities across the Upstate. Your registration and any donation you add at checkout go to work close to home — you are not just running a race, you are funding the work of a neighbor.

Upstate Giving Series

Groups & Teams

$5 Discount & Refund for Groups with 5+ Members

The Upstate Running Club welcomes all local and regional running clubs to our events — the more the merrier. Calling all running clubs and social run groups: Upstate Race Series welcomes crews of all kinds to join the fun. Whether your squad is full of weekend warriors, sunrise chasers, or runners motivated by the promise of a cold drink at the finish, we've got an event for you.

Sign up, share with friends and local running clubs, and cash in on race discounts and refunds when your team, run club, or band of misfits hits 5 runners or more.

Good to Know

Are dogs allowed on the course?

Yes.

Are headphones or earbuds allowed?

Yes, but we will have music jamming.

Can someone else pick up my packet for me?

Yes — team captains can pick up the team's race bib and timing tag.

Is there race-day registration?

Yes, on your personal mobile device.

Where are the start and finish lines?

At The Barn.

Is there gear check or somewhere to leave personal items?

Gear check for your BYOB beer is at the tables just outside The Barn. You are also permitted to set up a personal tent or staging area around the barn.

Are there restrooms near the start/finish?

Yes, three portable toilets at the start/finish lines.

Do I have to drink to take part?

No. Runners under 21 and anyone who would rather not drink run with non-alcoholic carbonated alternatives and are scored in their own division.

Will I get a medal or a shirt?

All finishers receive a medal. Shirts can be purchased from our Apparel Now store.

What happens if there's bad weather?

Upstate Race Series races run rain or shine. In the event of lightning, extreme heat, or hazardous winter conditions, we'll post an update on this page and email registered runners as early as possible. Entry fees aren't refunded for weather delays — see Managing Your Registration below.

Can spectators come watch?

Spectators are welcome. Runner parking fills up race morning — if you're only here to cheer, plan for overflow parking nearby. You'll see your runner pass by every lap.

When will results and photos be available?

Live results post to the RunSignUp results page as each runner finishes. Free event photos are usually up within 48–72 hours on our Facebook page — we'll tag the album so it's easy to find.

Managing Your Registration

Everything about your entry lives in your RunSignUp profile. Sign in, find this race under your upcoming events, and make the change yourself — there is no need to email us first. From there you can:

•Transfer your entry to another runner•Switch to a different distance at this race•Transfer your entry to a different Upstate Race Series event•Update your personal details — name, address, emergency contact, shirt size•Manage add-ons, store items, and apparel purchases

All entries are final. We do not offer refunds or deferrals — but every option above stays open to you right up to race day, so a change of plans does not have to mean a wasted entry.

Manage My Registration →

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