252+ hr update(it’s over) The Heart of the South. The runners have heart.The communities have heart.The event itself has heart. There really couldn’t be a better name for this run. We...
THE LAST ANNUAL HEART OF THE SOUTH ROAD RACE
Fig, North Carolina to Castle Rock, Georgia
347 Miles
The runners will assemble on Wednesday morning (Jun 15), park their vehicles in a hayfield atop Sand Mountain in North Georgia, and board tour buses. The only thing they will know about their destination is that it will be between 300 and 350 miles away. Once they arrive, they will be able to access maps of the course they will take to get them back to their vehicles. After an overnight stay in a hotel, the field will be bused to the start the following morning. From there, with only the supplies they can carry or obtain along the way, they have 10.5 days to get back.
Twice daily tracking will be maintained, and runners wishing to drop will be transported back to their vehicles. Finishers will be shuttled with their vehicles to motels near the finish for a safe sleep before getting behind the wheel. There is no greater freedom than being totally alone on the open road, relying only on your wits, your skill, and your physical ability to cover ground in order to reach the finish line.
Come experience it for yourself.
June 15 – June 24, 2023
HOTS 2023. It was a festive group of 82!
Tracking
Laz’s updates
252+ hr update
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240 hr update
240 hr update(1/2 day to go!) (The 226 hr update got lost in the shuffle) A day to get them started.3 days of full loads in the meat wagon.A day off while they pushed towards the rock.A day of big...
216 hr update
216 hr update(1.5 days to go) Matt didn’t disappoint last night.He dragged his carcass the last marathon up Sand Mountain,barely able to keep his eyes open and feet on the white line…While the...
204 hr update
204 hr update(2 days to go) Core memories. Talk to a journey runner,ask them about their trek. You are guaranteed to see their face change…their body language become animated…their lips curl and...
192 hr update
192 hr update(2.5 days to go) Summertime at HOTS Helmut trudged onto the Rock just before midnight last night,the first finisher in official summertime.If you try to argue with any of them that...
180 hr update
180 hr update(3 days to go) We had to skip the 7 day update this morning,there is always some point during the raceswhen a perfect little storm comes upand derails the routine. Anyway, early this...
156 hr update
156 hr update(4 days to go) More to do. We have a podium of finishers.Addison Hendricks fulfilled a dream today,many years in the making.It took a quality effort to overcome two previous Last Annual...
Heart of the South
People across Alabama may have noticed something a bit out of the ordinary over the past week or so. Runners and walkers passing through towns that don’t frequently see pedestrians, especially...
144 hr update
144 hr update(4.5) days to go) “I just wanna be done.” For days the only thing to focus onhas been to make miles,to reach the next store…But now what seemed impossible,the finish,just...