The Sawmill Gauntlet

The Sawmill Gauntlet

Register Friday, Dec 4, 2026 @ 8:00 AM

Location: 8524 Neely Ferry Road, Laurens, SC

Divisions: Ruck Division, Running Division

Registration closes: Tue, Dec 1 @ 11:59PM ET

Race Rules

The course is a 2.5-mile loop. A new lap starts every 45 minutes. Every runner must complete one full loop per window. You must be back in the starting corral before the next lap begins. Miss the start. You’re done. There are no pace requirements-only the clock. The cycle is relentless. The clock never stops. The miles stack up. The field gets smaller. This continues until only one runner remains.

Winning the Race (Running Division)

The final remaining runner must complete one last solo 2.5-mile lap. Finish it and you win. Fail it and nobody wins. This race rewards refusal, not speed.

12-Hour Ruck Division

This is a time-based endurance grind, not a last-runner-standing race. The ruck division uses the same 2.5-mile loop. Participants must carry a 25 lb ruck (dry weight) at all times. Once you start, you keep moving until your race is over or the 12-hour clock expires. When you are finished, ring the bell. Your race ends there. You may take short breaks, but any break longer than 30 minutes results in immediate removal. If you stop moving for more than 30 minutes at any point, you’re done. There is no minimum or maximum number of laps—only time under load. Weight will be checked. The clock will not stop. The course does not care.

The Point

This is not about medals. It is not about comfort. It is not about motivation. It is about suffering management, discipline, and mental durability. The body will ask you to stop. The mind decides when you listen. Endure. Or ring the bell.