By Dylan Sell
Swap your pumpkin spice latte for a water bottle, lace up your running shoes, and start training for Palmetto Bluff’s second annual Buffalo Run on Sunday, October 11th. For one glorious fall day, running enthusiasts can experience the beauty and serenity of Palmetto Bluff’s undisturbed wildlife on a trail that winds throughout the sprawling 20,000-acre property.
We caught up with some of our Buffalo Run fans and asked them how they are preparing; since the race offers 10K, 30K and 50K options, runners of all types have a chance to get in on the fun. From purchasing quality socks to eating goo, our running experts have all the tips to run your best race yet. Here’s what they had to say.
Beginner Running Tips from Courtney Hampson
Ah yes, running. My nemesis. And greatest love. Me and running go together like Bogey and Bacall. And oil and water. And ice packs and cortisone shots.
Seven years ago when I saw thirty-five coming down the pike, I decided to get in shape. I started by walking – a lot. Every once in a while I would intersperse some running. Then, I graduated to boot camp, where if I could survive running the “big lap,” which was roughly 600 meters, I considered it a victory. Then I had the crazy idea that I could run a mile straight, and then two, and then three. Who have I become?
Soon, my boot camp buddy lured me to CrossFit and somewhere amidst her deception she also convinced me to run a half marathon with her. Coincidentally, Palmetto Bluff had just announced its inaugural half marathon, and well, since that was my idea, I felt compelled to make that my first race. Since then I have run dozens upon dozens of races, in a handful of states, including four half marathons.
I’m not sure I will ever consider myself a runner. I like to joke that I am more of a lumberer. My pace ranges anywhere from 10:20 to 12:30 minutes a mile. And I am actually ok with that. Once I stopped watching the clock, I actually started to enjoy running. Yet, I still find it mildly hilarious that I am writing running tips. Of course, the fact that I am the editor’s boss may have something to do with that.
The 10k race is really my sweet spot. And by sweet spot I don’t mean I am breaking any records, I simply mean a 10k has never made me want to puke on my sneakers. I feel like even when I am not running regularly I can easily graduate from three miles to six in terms of training.
So, my tips for running go a little something like this.
%GALLERY%Intermediate Running Tips from Mike Beckwith
So you’ve decided to compete in the Buffalo Run – great! This is a great race with lots of challenges, a beautiful course, and winding trails through both woods and flat ground.
To make the most of your experience, it helps to know what to expect and how to prepare. For me, this is an endurance race and I don’t run for speed. As a result, my training is a little different for the 30K race. In fact, this race is in my week 13 of training for the Savannah Rock and Roll Marathon.
If you’re headed to the Buffalo Run to participate or cheer someone else on, bring a chair and a shade umbrella. Some runners even bring 10 x 10 tents. Believe me, you will need shade!
Have fun and see you at the start!
Advanced Running Tips from Tim Price
You are thinking of taking on the 50k…congratulations! Even contemplating running 31 miles is more than most people ever dream of. For me, distance running is a passion, obsession, and, honestly, a very large part of my identity. I have completed 23 marathons, a handful of ultras, and hundreds of shorter races in the past six years. Running, especially distance running, is something I love and cannot get enough of.
To successfully run this distance, and this particular race, here are a few guidelines you will want to follow.
So whether this is your first, fifth, or 50th race, remember what you love about running, get yourself mentally and physically prepared, hydrate/fuel along the way, and, of course, have a great time out there!
I will see you all nice and early on October 11th for another go at the Buffalo Run 50k!
An Endurance Experience
As a part of Palmetto Bluff’s Endurance Running Series, the Buffalo Run is designed to test the strength of longer distance runners with three race course options: 10K (a single lap of the course), 30K (three laps) and, the ultimate endurance run, 50K (five laps). The race is a trail run with only the first 100 meters being on asphalt – most of the course is sandy paths and gravel roads navigating through the towering pines and ancient maritime forests of Palmetto Bluff.
For a Good Cause
All participants registering before October 4th will receive a t-shirt and participants in the 30K and 50K races will also receive baseball caps. Male and female winners of each race will receive trophies. But entry fees do more than just pay for t-shirts, hats, and awards: portions of all registration monies will be used help the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy fund its research projects.
And the name Buffalo Run?
So where did the name “Buffalo Run” come from? The race (and the restaurant in Palmetto Bluff’s village) is named for a large buffalo nicknamed “Old Bill” that escaped from nearby Bull Island in the 1960s. The island’s owner kept a small herd of American bison for the amusement of his guests. Old Bill and a few of his buddies, lured by the aroma of lush food plots across the river, braved the tidal waters and swam over to the Bluff. For Old Bill’s companions the visit was brief as they soon headed back to Bull Island. Old Bill, however, decided that the forests and fields of Palmetto Bluff were the perfect habitat and that there was no reason to leave. He might have spent years at the Bluff, savoring the tasty crops planted by game managers, if he had been able to keep his bison temperament in check; it wasn’t long before Old Bill’s unpredictable and aggressive behavior made his continued presence at the Bluff impossible. Straws were drawn and one lucky hunter made Old Bill not only a legend, but also trophy for the wall at Buffalo’s restaurant.
Marie McConnell Director of Member relations, Palmetto Bluff Club Where are you from and how did you get here? I am from Buffalo, New York—born and raised. Go Bills! My husband and I got married at Sea Pines in Hilton Head in 2012 and fell in love with the ...
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