THE RABUN HALF MARATHON
June 1, 2025 @ 7am near Sky Valley, Georgia
RABUN HALF MARATHON
JUNE 1, 2025 @ 7am
Sunday
near Sky Valley, GA
The Rabun Half Marathon showcases some of the prettiest wilderness in North Georgia
This 11.5ish mile course takes you on 4 miles of pristine single track, crossing 14 footbridges over creeks and small waterfalls. You will summit Rabun Bald, the 2nd highest point in Georgia, and enjoy the 360 degree views overlooking 3 states. You will tackle some killer downhill vert and then visit two, with an option to see a third, beautiful waterfalls before finishing.
THE COURSE
The Rabun Half Marathon is 11.5ish miles, nearly 6000 ft of elevation change (2700 ft gain), and traverses the trails and fire roads as follows:
START!
You'll climb USFS 7 (Hale Ridge Rd) for 2ish miles
Hang a left on the Bartram Trail and enjoy 4.2 miles of pristine singletrack
Summit Rabun Bald!
Go behind the firetower and descend about 2200 ft down 2.8 miles
Turn left and climb USFS 7 (Hale Ridge Rd) for about 2 miles
At the road intersection, go straight to hop on the Holcomb Creek Trail
Visit Holcomb Creek Falls and Ammons Falls
Turn right and you'll see the Finish
RACE HISTORY
Originally created by "The Run Bum" in 2013 as a preview course for the newly imagined Sky to Summit 50k, the Rabun Half Marathon has since taken on a life of its own. No longer a Run Bum race, the Rabun Half Marathon takes participants to the purest form of trail running and racing and focuses on the beauty of what the wilderness offers. The Rabun Half Marathon offers no swag or finisher awards. Instead each runner is rewarded with the course itself.
Since 2016, Susan Burkley has continued the relaxed vibe of the Rabun Half Marathon.
ITEMS TO NOTE
Here's some important stuff to help you enjoy your race.
This is a cupless race. Bring a water bottle and/or collapsible cup and don't do gross things with the containers.
Don't be a litter bug!
Bring a camera! Go up the firetower! Visit the waterfalls!
Aid along the course:
There is a station with water/gatorade at the Three Forks (8ish miles) trail head.
If you want food, gels etc... bring it and carry it.
Weather:
Here's what I look at for weather for this event: http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Rabun-Bald/forecasts/1000
You're welcome to use whatever works for you.
Parking:
PLEASE CARPOOL! Meet up with other runners in Dillard/Clayton/Franklin and drive in from there. All vehicles are to park along ONE SIDE of Hale Ridge Rd/USFS 7, and no vehicle is to impede traffic flow or access to any intersecting road or trail head. There is no parking in the actual Start/Finish area, outside of start/finish volunteers. Please follow the directions of the parking volunteers.
Cut-off:
You have 4 hours to complete the course. It will take most people 2-2:45. DO NOT COME AND HIKE THE WHOLE THING!
Course Records:
Men: Kyle Boykin (2021) - 1:32:22
Women: Abigail West (2023) - 1:50:32
No SWAG:
No SWAG means you get nothing but a sweaty hug, a high-five, and/or a pat on the back (or an elbow bump - thanks Covid!) when you finish. If you need "stuff" to validate your race efforts, then this event if not for you.
Race day registration:
Definitely! If you can find us, you can run! Just bring $45 in EXACT CASH ONLY.
Covid Considerations:
Please give this link a look to see what we're doing to reduce the possible transmission of Covid-19: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14ktSyyO-86nTPyU0cFhs711QxfKnPmrK60OSE99-NAk/edit?usp=sharing This applies to all Run the Cohuttas events as well as the Rabun Half Marathon, so if you read something that doesn't quite make sense for this race, that's why.
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