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DETAILS
Race Start
Both races begin at 8:00 a.m. at the Main Group Shelter; follow signs in the park to the beach.
Packet Pick-up
Saturday 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Race HQ, cabin #15 in Fort Mountain State Park
At start/finish area on race day, starting at 6:00 am.
Directions to Fort Mountain State Park
Address: 181 Fort Mountain State Park Road, Chatsworth, GA, 30705
From I75 Northbound from Atlanta: Exit #293, GA 411 to Chatsworth; travel approximately 39 miles to Chatsworth and turn right onto GA 52; park gate is on left in approximately 8 miles
From I75 Southbound from Chattanooga: Exit #336, US 41 to Dalton; travel approximately 16 miles to Chatsworth and turn left onto GA 52; park gate is on left in approximately 8 miles
Cutoffs
Marathon: 8-hour time limit.
Cutoffs along the course are as follows:
3.5 hours at aid station #4 (approx. 11 miles)
4.5 hours at aid station #5 (approx. 14 miles).
Please do not harass the aid station volunteers to let you continue after the cutoff. The cutoffs are for your safety. We need you off the mountain trails before dark. Furthermore, it will be the discretion of the race director and EMT supervisors to pull a runner from the race if it is determined unsafe for the runner(s) to continue.
Aid Stations
12-miler: 4 aid stations with variety of food, drink and support; Fluids only at station #3
Marathon: 8 aid stations with variety of food, drink and support; Fluids only at station #3 and #8
For the marathon it is highly recommended that you carry a water bottle. The distance between aid stations #5 and #6, and #6 and #7 will take some runners over 1 hour. Please plan accordingly.
Parking fees
There is a $5 parking fee in the State Park. This fee is NOT included in your entry. Fee envelopes will be available at check-in. There are numerous Self Pay Boxes throughout the park. Georgia Annual State Park passes may be purchased at the park headquarters.
Postrace Celebration
Postrace food and beverage will be served to celebrate your finish.
Volunteers
If you don’t plan on running or have someone attending who would like to volunteer, please let us know. Email us at mysterymtnmarathon@getguts.com with the subject “MMM Volunteer”. Volunteers have the option of a free tent space on Saturday night; just let us know if you are interested.
What’s in a name?
Mystery Mountain Marathon derives its name from a mysterious stone wall found at the top of Fort Mountain. Measuring 855 feet in length, the wall varies in height from two to six feet but was most likely considerably higher in the past. Remains of large circular depressions made of various sized stones are scattered at regular intervals along its length. The wall has intrigued researchers for decades. Why was the wall built? Who built it? When was it built?
Most researchers believe Fort Mountain’s wall was constructed around 500 AD. Many believe that the wall was constructed by Native Americans as fortification against other more aggressive tribes, or for ancient religious or ceremonial purposes. Although the wall predates the Cherokees, the Cherokee people referred to the wall-builders as “moon-eyed people” because they could see better at night than by day. Another myth claims that the Welsh prince Madoc arrived in Mobile Bay around 1400 AD, and was pushed northward by aggressive native tribes, building the wall for protection. Some geologists (unromantically) believe that the wall might be the result of natural weathering processes. Regardless, with no definitive proof to date and none likely to be found, the low rock wall continues to be shrouded in mystery and intrigue.
Lodging
GUTS has been secured the #3 Pioneer Camp site. We are charging $5 per tent. It is available on Saturday, October 9th for tent campers. Please email us at Race Director or include a note with your entry form. You can either pay at check-in on Saturday, or include the extra $5 when you send in your entry.
Fort Mountain State Park – cabins, campsites (w/power&cable, walk-in, or platform); http://gastateparks.org/net/go/GaStateReg.aspx?s=0.0.1.5; 1-800-864-7275
Cohutta Lodge & Conference Center (3 miles from park); http://www.cohuttalodge.com/;
800-394-9790
Best Western (downtown Chatsworth, 8 miles from park); http://www.bestwestern.com/; 613 S 3rd Ave Chatsworth GA 30705; 706-695-1411
Key West Inn (downtown Chatsworth, 8 miles from park); 501 GI Maddox Pkwy Chatsworth GA 30705; 706-517-1155
Cohutta Springs Conference Center (17 miles from park); http://www.cohuttasprings.com/index.html; 706-695-9093
Weather
All runners should be aware of changing weather. Conditions can change quickly in the mountains so be prepared. Fort Mountain: October Avg High: 72, Avg Low: 48
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