Sandhills Trail Race Series (30 Hour - 50k - 25k - 7.5 Mile)

Upstate Race Series / Upstate Trail Series / Upstate Ultra Series

Sandhills Trail & Ultra Festival

30 HR–50K–25K–7.5 MI

Serene lake views and sandy trails beneath towering pines

️

Sat, Feb 20

2027

9:00 AM

start

Sesquicentennial State Park

Columbia, SC

Register

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A 7.75-mile loop of soft pine-needle singletrack, run once, three times, four times, or for thirty hours straight. Rolling hills, lake breezes, and a few smooth paved sections around the water. This is the rare course that is genuinely beginner-friendly and genuinely capable of holding a hundred-mile effort, which is why the weekend turns into a festival rather than a race.

Runner Feedback

Race Day Details

Saturday and Sunday, February 20–21, 2027 at Sesquicentennial State Park, 9564 Two Notch Rd, Columbia, SC 29223. Get directions.

8:00 AM

Packet pickup opens

Picnic Shelter #2, behind the ranger station in the open field adjacent to the start/finish, beginning one hour before your race. No proxy pickups. You can also register race morning from your phone.

9:00 AM

All distances start

Four distances share one loop, which means the 7.5-mile runner and the thirty-hour runner spend the day passing each other, trading places, and cheering from opposite ends of the same effort.

On course

The 7.75-mile loop

A 7.75-mile loop, mostly soft pine needle-covered singletrack with a few smooth paved sections around the lake. The aid station sits at the start/finish, which you hit every 7.75 miles, fully stocked.

10:00 PM

Quiet overnight hours

Thirty-hour runners should plan for limited crew and aid support between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM — the overnight is meant to be quiet and a little lonely.

Finish

Medals and buckles

Afterward there is a music-filled post-race hangout with vibes, snacks, and trail talk. Every finisher receives a medal, hundred-mile finishers earn a belt buckle, and your entry supports local nonprofits through the Giving Series.

Sun 5:00 PM

Time limit

32 hours to complete all distances. If you are in the 30 Hour, expect limited crew and aid support between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM.

After

Results and photos

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.

Course or Race Highlight

Four distances share one loop, which means the 7.5-mile runner and the thirty-hour runner spend the day passing each other, trading places, and cheering from opposite ends of the same effort. The trail is fast, runnable, and forgiving underfoot — pine needles absorb a lot of what asphalt would give back to your legs — and the loop passes both campsite locations, so crews and families are never far from the action.

The aid station sits at the start/finish, which you hit every 7.75 miles, fully stocked. Thirty-hour runners should plan for limited crew and aid support between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM — the overnight is meant to be quiet and a little lonely. Afterward there is a music-filled post-race hangout with vibes, snacks, and trail talk. Every finisher receives a medal, hundred-mile finishers earn a belt buckle, and your entry supports local nonprofits through the Giving Series.

The Course

A 7.75-mile loop, mostly soft pine needle-covered singletrack with a few smooth paved sections around the lake. Rolling hills and lake breezes, serene water views, and sandy trails beneath towering pines. The terrain is fast, runnable, and beginner-friendly, and the loop passes through both campsite locations.

View the course map

Aid Stations

One fully stocked aid station at the start/finish line, which you reach every 7.75 miles.

Available snacks

PicklesCookiesCandyChipsFig NewtonsPretzels

Hydration

WaterCokeGinger ale

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

Cup-less event — please bring your own hydration vessel.

What's Included

Included with every entry

Free Race Photos

Professional photos of every runner, free to download after the race.

Race-day perk

Belt Buckles at 100 Miles

Go the distance in the 30 Hour and you earn the buckle.

What You Get

Finisher Medal

Every finisher

Race Socks

First 100 sign-ups

Race Tee

Add-on at registration

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Custom Race Bib + Chip Timing Live results with splits.

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Custom Race Tattoo + Stickers Race-day extras for every runner.

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On-Site Camping Nearby Sesquicentennial State Park takes reservations — worth it for the overnight distances.

From past races. See all race photos

Race Awards

Top 3 Overall (Male & Female)

The fastest three finishers will each receive a trophy to honor their achievement at the front of the pack.

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 these two series:

Upstate Trail SeriesUpstate Ultra Series

Series Awards

Run the series and earn more than a finish:

Series Finisher — finish 5 races in a series to earn that series’ Finisher coin and Finisher tee. Free and earned on the course, never sold.

Upstate 250 Club — log 250 or more race miles across Upstate Race Series events in a season to earn the 250 Club buckle.

The Anchor Award — the runner with the most race miles across the Upstate Race Series keeps the Anchor Award for the year, and their name goes on it for good.

Age Group Categories

0–9

10–12

13–16

17–19

20–29

30–34

35–39

40–44

45–49

50–54

55–59

60–64

65–69

70–79

80+

Giving Back

This race supports

SC Spinal Cord Injury Association

A Columbia nonprofit offering peer support, education and supplies to South Carolinians living with spinal cord injuries. They host their own race too: Superheroes in Motion.

Visit SC Spinal Cord Injury AssociationSuperheroes in MotionDonate 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

SAVE

$5

GROUPS OF 5+

RUN CLUBS & CREWS

Run it with your crew.

Your club is probably already here. Join it when you register and save when your group hits 5.

1

Find your club

50+ Upstate run clubs are preloaded.

2

Join at sign-up

Pick it during registration, or start your own crew.

3

Hit 5 runners

Everyone in the group saves $5. Early sign-ups get it back automatically.

ALREADY ON THE LIST

Upstate Running ClubRockers Run ClubWR@DRunning for BrewsSwamp CommonersHub City RunnersDouble Stamp Run Club+ 44 more

Find your clubRegister with your crew

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 Can someone else pick up my packet for me?No

Is there race-day registration?

Yes, you can register on your personal mobile device on race day.

Where are the start and finish lines?

Follow the signs that sneak you behind the ranger station and lead you to the open field adjacent to the start/finish line.

Is there gear check or somewhere to leave personal items?

You can leave things under Picnic Shelter #2.

Are there restrooms near the start/finish?

Yes, there are bathrooms at the start/finish line as well as around the campground loop that runners pass each time.

Will I get a medal or a shirt?

All finishers get a medal. Apparel is available during registration or through our online apparel site for direct shipping.

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.

Is there cell service at the venue?

Cell service is limited here — make a plan with anyone meeting you post-race before you lose signal.

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:

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Transfer your entry to another runner

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Switch to a different distance at this race

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Transfer your entry to a different Upstate Race Series event

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Update your personal details — name, address, emergency contact, shirt size

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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

Let's Stay Connected

Follow along, gear up, and keep up with everything Upstate Race Series

This race

Register

Course map

Directions

Race groups

Results

Race photos

Race apparel

Manage my registration

Series & giving

Upstate Trail Series

Upstate Ultra Series

Upstate Giving Series

SC Spinal Cord Injury Association

Superheroes in Motion

Donate

Upstate Race Series

UpstateRaceSeries.com

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