The Snowbird Challenge (13.1 - 26.2 - 50k & Relay) 2027
- Date
- Saturday, January 23, 2027
- Start time
- 9:00 AM start (New York)
- Location
- Greenville, South Carolina
- Entry fee
- From $35 · goes up to $40 on Dec 1, 2026
- Included with entry
- Includes socks
- Fundraising
- Takes optional donations when you register
Registration is open.
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Official race websiteAdd to calendar: Apple or Outlook · Google
Events and entry fees
| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reindeer Relay (12 x 2.62) | Relay | Jan 23, 20279:00 AM | $35$40 after Dec 1, 2026 | – |
| Snow Bird Challenge (13.1 - 26.2 - or 50k) | Half Marathon | Jan 23, 20279:00 AM | $50$60 after Dec 1, 2026 | – |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
The Relay fee goes up to $40 on Dec 1, 2026.
Race day planning
Entry fee schedule
- Reindeer Relay (12 x 2.62): $35 until Nov 30, then $40 until Jan 4, then $50 until Jan 23.
- Snow Bird Challenge (13.1 - 26.2 - or 50k): $50 until Nov 30, then $60 until Jan 4, then $75 until Jan 23.
Online registration closes Jan 23, 2027, unless the race fills first.
How the price compares
At $50, entry is about 29 percent below a typical half marathon in South Carolina, which costs $70 right now.
What a typical finish looks like
A typical finisher at a half marathon in Greenville runs 2:03:06, about 9:23 a mile, based on 7 races with published results. Women typically finish in 2:08:07 and men in 1:55:18.
Light and altitude
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:34 AM, and the Reindeer Relay (12 x 2.62) starts at 9:00 AM. The start sits about 970 feet above sea level.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
Start location and course
2959 New Easley Hwy, Greenville, SC 29611
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. Course maps are the organizers' own.
2025 results
All results (4 years)Snowbird Challenge Half Marathon
Snow Bird Challenge 50k
Snowbird Challenge 5 Miler
Aggregated from official results (Upstate Race Series) for The Snowbird Challenge (13.1 - 26.2 - 50k & Relay). Individual finisher names are not stored here.
How fast do you need to be at The Snowbird Challenge (13.1 - 26.2 - 50k & Relay)?
At the 2025 Snowbird Challenge Half Marathon, the fastest tenth finished in 1:38:56 or better, the top quarter in 1:48:05, and half the field in 1:58:21; the last tenth came in after 2:30:24.
At the 2025 Snow Bird Challenge 50k, the fastest tenth finished in 4:20:34 or better, the top quarter in 4:41:57, and half the field in 5:00:34; the last tenth came in after 6:09:31.
At the 2025 Snowbird Challenge 5 Miler, the fastest tenth finished in 45:22 or better, the top quarter in 48:43, and half the field in 52:01; the last tenth came in after 1:06:28.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | n/a | 1:33:24 |
| 30-39 | n/a | 1:54:18 |
| 40-49 | n/a | 1:48:23 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
What would my time get me?
Where a finish time would have placed in 2025.
Finishers by year
Down 12 percent since 2022.
All events combined, from official results.
The Snowbird Challenge (13.1 - 26.2 - 50k & Relay) Half Marathon year by year
From 2022 to 2025, the field went from 42 to 36 finishers, and the median time dropped from 2:04:13 to 1:58:21.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 (+13%) | 1:58:21 | under 1:38:56 | 1:23:58 |
| 2024 | 32 (-43%) | 2:08:06 | under 1:40:15 | 1:20:49 |
| 2023 | 56 (+33%) | 2:04:07 | under 1:39:59 | 1:19:52 |
| 2022 | 42 | 2:04:13 | under 1:35:19 | 1:24:43 |
From each year's official results for the Half Marathon; virtual options are left out.
How fast is it?
Faster than most US 50Ks
The fastest quarter of the 2024 50K field finished under 4:42:02, against 5:37:54 in a typical US 50K, so times here run 17 percent faster.
- Half Marathon: Faster than most South Carolina half marathons. The fastest quarter of the 2023 half marathon field finished under 1:47:06, against 1:53:06 in a typical South Carolina half marathon, so times here run 5 percent faster.
Compares the fastest quarter of each field, so walkers and first-timers do not skew it. It reflects the course and the field together: a flat course, cool weather, or a competitive crowd all make times faster.
Typical race-day weather
Around January 23 the day usually runs from 29°F at dawn to 49°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 24% of days. Cold snaps dip to 20°F and hot years reach 61°F.
Based on 80 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
Race details
- Where
- 2959 New Easley Hwy, Greenville, SC 29611Map
- Course
- Road
- Start elevation
- About 970 feet
- Included with entry
- Event Socks
- Donations
- Accepted when you register
- Distances
- Half Marathon, Relay
- Editions
- 2027 (Jan 23, 2027), 2026 (Jan 24, 2026), 2025 (Jan 25, 2025), 2024 (Jan 27, 2024), 2023 (Jan 21, 2023), 2022 (Jan 22, 2022)
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
Plan your race
Quick answers
- When is The Snowbird Challenge (13.1 - 26.2 - 50k & Relay)?
- Saturday, January 23, 2027, starting at 9:00 AM.
- How much does it cost?
- Entry starts at $35 before processing fees, and rises to $40 on Dec 1, 2026.
- When does registration close?
- Online registration closes Jan 23, 2027, unless the race fills first.
- Is the entry fee high for South Carolina?
- At $50, entry is about 29 percent below a typical half marathon in South Carolina, which costs $70 right now.
- Do runners get a shirt or medal?
- Entry includes socks, according to the race's registration page. Check it for sizes and whether kids' races get the same.
- Can I donate to a cause when I register?
- Yes. The registration form offers an optional donation, usually for the charity or nonprofit the race supports. The race's own page names the cause.
- What distances can I run?
- Half Marathon, Relay.
- How big is it, and how fast?
- In 2025, 36 runners finished the Snowbird Challenge Half Marathon; the median finish was 1:58:21 and the winner ran 1:23:58.
- Is it a fast course?
- The fastest quarter of the 2024 50K field finished under 4:42:02, against 5:37:54 in a typical US 50K, so times here run 17 percent faster.
- Where does it start?
- 2959 New Easley Hwy, Greenville, SC 29611.
- Is there a course map?
- Yes, the organizers publish the route on Strava; the link is under Start location and course.
From the organizers
Upstate Race Series
The Snowbird Challenge
Riverwest Preserve · Greenville, SC
Waddle, waddle, welcome, pals
Participant Feedback
“
A 2.62-mile paved loop through a 240-acre nature preserve that used to be a golf course, run as many times as you have the legs for. Five miles, a half, a full, 50K, or twelve laps split across a relay team of friends — you decide how deep into January you want to go. Rolling cart paths, wooden bridges, waterfalls, and riverfront views, over and over, until you are done.
Course or Race Highlight