RUN FOREST RUN

More information

Fitzpatrick Bridge over the Tallapoosa. The final 550 yards!

Lodging near the finish

The race will finish in Tallassee, Alabama. A small town in east central Alabama, located between Montgomery and Auburn. The Tallapoosa River runs right through the middle of town. The race will finish at the east end of the Benjamin Fitzpatrick Bridge, pictured above.

The shuttle will be at the library just across the bridge in East Tallassee. As soon as you drive off the east end of the bridge, the library will be on your left. Parking will probably be in the field behind the Methodist Church across the street from the library. The shuttle will leave precisely at 9:30 AM for Mobile. Remember, anything you take on the shuttle, you will have to carry with you during the race or throw away.

Motels - Tallassee: There is a “Travel Inn” motel in Tallassee, 2.5 miles from the race finish. Read the reviews “carefully” before reserving a room! But it’s cheap.

Hotel - on I-85 in Shorter: There is a Days Inn located 12.5 miles from Tallassee on Interstate-85 at exit 22, the Shorter exit. The reviews seem pretty good. I have never stayed there and know nothing about it. It is located on the course at mile 308.

Hotels - Montgomery: There are several major hotels at Exit 11 off I-85 as you are entering Montgomery from the east. They are about a 25-minute drive from Tallassee. Most will include breakfast in the room fee.

Lodging in Mobile

Official Hotel: We have not yet set up an “Official” RFR hotel near the start. As of now, we plan to use the use the Hampton Inn, off I-10, in Tillman’s Corner. Hampton Inns are usually nice and not too expensive, about $100 per room. The hotel is 16 miles, 22 minutes from the race start in Bayou La Batre. There is a Walmart Supercenter one mile from the hotel. The shuttle will make a supply run, probably after the dinner, for those that need to buy “what you left in your car back in Tallassee!”

Pre-race dinner in briefing: We plan to have the meal at the “Grand Mariner Restaurant and Marina,” on the Dog River. It is only 8 miles from the Hampton Inn. When I lived in Mobile many years ago, I kept my sailboat at the Grand Mariner, and this was my favorite restaurant. And the setting is “awesome.”

The Trip South - Tallassee to Mobile

At this time, all details are tentative. However, we have driven the course from end to end. We have evaluated the route based on distance between towns, distances between gas stations, (especially 24-hour stations) traffic, and the availability of restaurants and hotels. We have also thrown in some interesting places and amazing scenery. The course will follow the Gulf Coast for the first 128 miles. That’s 40% of the course.

We do not plan to have the shuttle follow the course heading down to Mobile. That would take too long, and we know everyone would like to get to the hotel early to rest and “unwind” before dinner. We will drive straight down I-10, stopping in Evergreen at the Bates House of Turkey (founded 1923) for lunch about 11:30 AM. We may need to place orders in advance. They are always busy.

Alternate - Driving the course or part of the course in route to Mobile: Which would you prefer?

1) Straight shot down I-65 to Mobile with one hour stop for lunch, no bathroom stops - 210 Miles - 5 hours with stops

2) Add driving to one additional town: Troy - 248 Miles - 6 hours with stops.

3) Drive all the way through Troy and on to Elba & Opp 272 Miles - 8+ hours with stops.

4) Drive the course through Alabama and Florida to I-10, then I-10 to Mobile (2-hour lunch and bathroom stops) - 286 Miles - 9+ hours

5) Drive full course to Gulf Shores, then north to I-10 and west to Mobile (3-hour lunch and bathroom stops.) - 333 Miles - 11+ hours. If you want this option, drive it yourself!! We are not doing it.

Driving straight to Mobile, we should arrive at the hotel about 2:30 PM. We will make arrangements with the hotel for early arrival. We will likely have the pre-race briefing in the hotel lobby, if that’s ok with the hotel before dinner. We will also make a Walmart run after returning to the hotel from dinner. Anyone wishing to go, just let us know.

Breakfast at the Hampton Inn is served starting at 6:00 AM. We plan on leaving for Bayou La Batre no later than 6:30 AM. That should give everyone time to eat. We will start the race at 7:00 AM, “IF” possible. If we are late, we will adjust the ending cutoff to match.

This is the start location.

The course was precisely measured starting exactly at this power pole.

A few Photos from Along the Course

Bayou La Batre, Along the Shell Belt Road

On the Dauphin Island Bridge

Heading to Dauphin Island

Dauphin Islands nice hiking path all the way to the Ferry.

The ferry ride across the bay.

The ferry dock on Dauphin Island. Where runners will wait when they arrive.

Fort Morgan to Gulf Shores and beyond.

Sunset on Mobile Bay, from Jesse’s, on the Ft Morgan Road.

Gulf State Park

The Gulf State Park Hilton

The trail along Ft. Morgan Road

The sign says: “No fishing or crabbing while alligators are present”

If you want a good night’s sleep your first night on the road, I highly recommend the Gulf State Park Hilton. It’s just steps off the course. Their breakfast is worth the hike over to the hotel. It is a bit “pricey.”