The Longest Night (50mi - 50k - 26.2 - 13.1 - 10k)
Date and time
Saturday, December 19, 2026
Location
220 Lakewood Drive, Greenville, SC
Date and time
Saturday, December 19, 2026
Location
220 Lakewood Drive, Greenville, SC
Date and time
Saturday, December 19, 2026
Location
220 Lakewood Drive, Greenville, SC
Upstate Race Series / Upstate Trail Series / Upstate Ultra Series
The Longest Night
50 MI
50K · Marathon · Half · 10K
A backyard elimination race, run from dusk to dawn
Sat, Dec 19
2026
6:00 PM
start
Lakewood Nature Preserve
Greenville, SC
Register
Course mapDirectionsRace groupsDonateResultsRace photosApparel
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A 1.5-mile loop extending from a central barn, run through the longest night of the year, on a lap schedule that requires every loop under 25 minutes. Four laps is a 10K. Nine is a half. Eighteen is a marathon. Twenty-one is a 50K. Thirty-four is fifty miles. It begins at six in the evening and does not care what time you would normally go to bed.
Runner Feedback
Race Day Details
Saturday evening into Sunday, December 19–20, 2026 at Lakewood Nature Preserve, 220 Lakewood Drive, Greenville, SC 29607. Get directions.
4:30 PM
Packet pickup opens
Begins at 4:30 PM inside the barn, 90 minutes prior to the start. All packet pickup is done right on site, and you pick up your own.
6:00 PM
All races start
The Longest Night — 50 Mile (34 laps), 50K (21 laps), Marathon (18 laps), Half Marathon (9 laps), and 10K (4 laps) on a 1.5-mile loop
On course
A wide grassy loop
The course extends 1.5 miles from the central barn on wide grassy trails, run as a loop.
Time limit
Under 25 minutes a lap
All runners must adhere to the posted lap schedule, completing each lap in under 25 minutes. The full lap-by-lap schedule is below.
7:45 AM Sun
Final lap
Every lap sets off on the clock below, 25 minutes apart, from six on Saturday evening to a quarter to eight on Sunday morning.
Finish
Under the stars
When you finish, don't disappear into the dark — stick around for music and a post-race hangout where the celebration continues under the stars, with good tunes and good people.
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
Running through the night changes the whole shape of an effort. The loop is short and the trails are wide and grassy, so navigation is never the problem — the problem is the hours between midnight and dawn, when the field has thinned out, the temperature has dropped, and the only thing keeping you on schedule is the fact that you said you would be.
The barn is the whole world for the night: packet pickup, the aid station, hot soup and broth, and the place everyone regroups between laps. When you finish, don't disappear into the dark — stick around for music and a post-race hangout where the celebration continues under the stars, with good tunes and good people.
The Course
The course extends 1.5 miles from the central barn on wide grassy trails, run as a loop. All runners must adhere to the posted lap schedule, completing laps in under 25 minutes.
View the course map
Lap Schedule
Every lap sets off on the clock below, 25 minutes apart, from six on Saturday evening to a quarter to eight on Sunday morning. There are no early starts — if you finish a lap ahead of schedule, you wait for the next one with everyone else. Your distance ends on its final lap, marked here.
Saturday evening
LapSets offNoteLap 16:00 PMAll races startLap 26:25 PM Lap 36:50 PM Lap 47:15 PM10K final lapLap 57:40 PM Lap 68:05 PM Lap 78:30 PM Lap 88:55 PM Lap 99:20 PMHalf marathon final lapLap 109:45 PM Lap 1110:10 PM Lap 1210:35 PM Lap 1311:00 PM Lap 1411:25 PM Lap 1511:50 PM
Sunday morning
LapSets offNoteLap 1612:15 AM Lap 1712:40 AM Lap 181:05 AMMarathon final lapLap 191:30 AM Lap 201:55 AM Lap 212:20 AM50K final lapLap 222:45 AM Lap 233:10 AM Lap 243:35 AM Lap 254:00 AM Lap 264:25 AM Lap 274:50 AM Lap 285:15 AM Lap 295:40 AM Lap 306:05 AM Lap 316:30 AM Lap 326:55 AM Lap 337:20 AM Lap 347:45 AM50 Mile final lap
Parking
Barn parking holds 150 spots, first come first served. Once that fills, use the field lot adjacent to the barn, and after that participants may park along the road. Your registration covers the facility reservation cost to host the event.
Aid Stations
One central aid station at the barn, which is also the start/finish hub — you reach it every 1.5-mile lap.
Available snacks
Hot soup and broth (veggie)PicklesChipsCandyFig Newtons
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
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Hot Soup and Broth All Night Veggie, and exactly what you want at 3:00 AM in December.
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Custom Race Bib Your badge of the journey.
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Chip Timing & Live Results Track your effort, splits included.
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Race Branded Finisher Medal To commemorate the triumph.
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Custom Race Tattoo Wear the moment proudly.
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Event-Themed Giveaways A little extra swag for finishing strong.
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Race Stickers Keep the memory riding shotgun on your bottle, cooler, or laptop.
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Post Race Vibes and Media Coverage Complimentary professional race photos capture the grit and the glory — hang around at the finish line and celebrate.
From past races. See all race photos
Race Awards
Finish and You Have Beaten the Night
This is a backyard elimination race run against a lap schedule rather than against the field. Every finisher earns a medal. Shirts are ordered and shipped separately.
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
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
Pickens County Meals on Wheels
Liberty-based volunteers who deliver hot meals and a friendly visit to homebound seniors across Pickens County. They host their own race too: 5K Glow Run.
Visit Pickens County Meals on Wheels5K Glow RunDonate 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.
Create or join a race group
Good to Know
Are dogs allowed on the course?
Yes, just on a leash.
Are headphones or earbuds allowed?
Yes — rock out.
Can someone else pick up my packet for me?
No. All packet pickup is done right on site, so they are welcome to collect it when they arrive. Don't be late.
Is there race-day registration?
Yes, but this race will and has sold out.
Where are the start and finish lines?
Right at the barn.
Is there gear check or somewhere to leave personal items?
Your gear can go with your personal aid station setup, either inside or outside the barn.
Are there restrooms near the start/finish?
Four of them, right on site.
Can I bring a portable firepit, table, tent, or cooler?
Yes, all are fine — just make sure the firepit is above and off the ground.
Are pacers allowed?
No. With so many runners registered, we are unable to have anyone on course who is not participating.
Will I get a medal or a shirt?
Medal, yes. Shirts are ordered and shipped separately.
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:
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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
Pickens County Meals on Wheels
5K Glow Run
Donate
Upstate Race Series
UpstateRaceSeries.com
Instagram @upstateraceseries
Facebook: Upstate Event Management
Apparel store
31.1 mi
50.0 mi
Marathon
Half marathon
10K