trending marshes &
through the woods
P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y C A P E F E A R G E A R / S T E V E K L E M
Runners at last year’s Southern Tour Ultra navigate a course
that goes over and through creeks and swamps.
that a course had to be created. The race takes place on a piece of
private, underdeveloped land in Scotts Hill used most of the year
for hunting. The trail that was mapped and cleared includes marshy
areas and Carolina bays.
“You don’t even feel like you’re in Wilmington,” Clifford says.
Organizers added a new path to the trail this year to keep it
interesting for the repeat participants.
While the challenge and the views attract a crowd, it’s also about
the atmosphere. Participants are encouraged to camp out on Friday
night, and enjoy classic rock, barbecues and a giant bonfire.
“It really is like a festival,” Filer says.
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Certified personal coach Tom Clifford and leaders from the
Wilmington Health Foundation began developing the idea for a
Wilmington ultramarathon after Clifford ran a three-day relay in
Michigan.
“It’s very different and unique,” Clifford says.
Wilmington is not known for its trail running, says Tay Filer,
captain of a 10-member relay team called Monkey Butt. Filer says
it’s pretty cool to run a trail race on a private tract of land.
Most ultras are held in areas that have abundant trail systems,
such as Asheboro’s Uwharrie National Park or mountainous regions
in western North Carolina. The Southern Tour Ultra is unique in
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