The Sawmill Gauntlet
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The Sawmill Gauntlet : Laurens, SC
The Sawmill Gauntlet takes place on December 5, 2026, at 8524 Neely Ferry Road in Laurens, SC. The event includes a Running Division and a 12-hour Ruck Division.
The course is a 2.5-mile loop with a new lap window beginning every 45 minutes. Each participant must complete one full loop within each 45-minute window and return to the starting corral before the next window begins. Missed starts result in removal. There are no pace requirements; progress is governed solely by the clock.
Running Division follows a last-runner-standing format. Runners are eliminated as the field shrinks; the final remaining runner must complete one final solo 2.5-mile lap to be declared the winner. If that final lap is not completed, no winner is declared.
The 12-hour Ruck Division is a time-based endurance event. Participants must carry a 25 lb ruck (dry weight) at all times. Once a participant starts, they must keep moving until their race ends or the 12 hours expire. Short breaks are permitted but any break or stoppage of movement longer than 30 minutes leads to removal. There is no minimum or maximum number of laps. Weight checks will be conducted and the clock runs continuously. To finish, a participant rings a bell to record their end.
A side pot tracks total miles by groups such as ultra runners, military, and first responders; miles count even if a participant does not finish. The event emphasizes discipline and mental durability as core elements of the format. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
