Sassafras 8 Mile

Sassafras 8 Mile is run in Sunset, South Carolina, on March 7, 2027. The single format, the Sassafras Struggle, covers 8 miles (12.9 km) and starts at 9:00 AM. The route climbs to the summit of Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina, with panoramic views over the Blue Ridge Mountains, then takes on a rugged descent. Refreshments, awards and post-race festivities follow the finish.

A course built around one long climb and a rough descent is less a distance race than a hill race, and your finish time will say nothing about your road 10K fitness. Train for it by running hills weekly, both up and down: it is the downhill pounding on tired quads that hurts for days afterward. Shoes with real grip are worth having, and on the steepest sections, hiking is often faster than forcing a jog.