RUN FOREST RUN
Hurricane Evacuation Race
323 Miles, or more
BAYOU LA BATRE TO RUSSELL CROSSROADS, ON lAKE MARTIN, aLABAMA
The Basics
Race Start Date - March 2020
Start Time 6:00 AM
The Start Location - Bayou La Batre, Alabama
The Finish - Russell Crossroads on Lake Martin, Alabama (Start/Finish location of the Lake Martin 100)
Distance - 336 Miles, Run Forest Run
Distance - 301 Miles, Run Forst Alt Run
Hurricane Evacuation Route West, Start: Mobile, AL - 331 Miles
Race Cutoff - 11 Days
Registration Option 1 - Race only:
Registration Option 2 - Race + plus transportation to the start + lodging
Runner Support: NONE, NADA, ZERO, “NO WHERE, NO HOW!” Do I need to go on. This is a solo adventure. You may not receive and assistance or aid in any form or you will be disqualified. If you need outside help, you are finished. If you think you are dying, call 911. You are finished. Get in a car, you are finished.
SPOT Trackers: All runners must carry a SPOT Tracker at all times during the run. We will provide the trackers.
Tentative Schedule
March 1, 2020
7:00 AM - Breakfast at Fanny’s at Russell Crossroads on Lake Martin, near Alexander City, AL
8:00 AM - Load busses to start
11:30 AM - Lunch in route
4:30 PM - Arrive at hotel in Bayou La Batre (Bayou Inn and Suites)
6:00 PM - Dinner and Pre-Race Briefing at Catalina Restaurant ($20 - $30)
March 2, 2020
5:50 AM - Pick up SPOT Trackers at the hotel lobby.
6:00 AM - Race Start at Hotel
6:30 PM - Last run of the Mobile Bay Ferry. Distance from start - 22.8 Miles.
There were two tentative courses. One through Florida, the other through Alabama. 3.5 Miles are on the Mobile Bay Ferry. We thought we might offer a shorter version, starting in Gulf State Park. And, of course, there is the “all-important” Hurricane evacuation route.
The Original Forest Gomp Route - All in Alabama
The run will start in “Downtown” Bayou La Batre and go east to the Dauphin Island Parkway. There runners will turn south crossing the DI bridge, ending on Dauphin Island. On the island, turn east a short distance, to the Mobile Bay Ferry. Board the ferry for the 3.5-mile, 45-minute ride across the entrance to Mobile Bay, to Fort Morgan. on the eastern shore. The pedestrian fee to ride the ferry is $6. Don’t forget that! Swimming the pass is not allowed. (Yes, Forest sometimes swam across, but not RFR runners.)
The 3.5-mile Dauphin Island Bridge.
The current bridge was built in 1982 after the original bridge was destroyed by Hurricane Frederic in 1979.
The ferry from Dauphin Island leaves every 1.5 hours starting at 7:00 AM. The last trip leave DI at 6:30 PM. Everyone should have plenty of time to cover the 23 miles from the start to the ferry before 6:30 PM. The trip across takes 45 minutes. When runners arrive at Fort Morgan, they will follow the Fr. Morgan Road for 15.8 miles to Peninsula Blvd., where they will switch to the Fr Morgan Trail for the next 5 miles into Gulf Shores.
Once in Gulf Shores, turn north, cross over the Intercostal Canal on the Gulf Shores Parkway and continue north and east to, and along, Mobile Bay’s Eastern Short. You will pass through the beautiful towns of Magnolia Springs, Point Clear and Fairhope before heading into the heart of Alabama.
The Route North Along Mobile Bay
Runners cross over the Intercoastal Canal leaving Gulf Shores and continue North for a few miles along the Gulf Shores Hwy. You will then angle east and north to Magnolia Springs. Runners pass through the community under tunnels of Live Oaks.
Runners will follow Oak Street, in Magnolia Springs for about a mile.
After leaving Magnolia Springs, you will follow Alt 98 along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay for 14 miles of the most beautiful roads you will ever run along. At Point Clear, you will pass the Grand Hotel on the way to Fairhope.
The Grand Hotel
Along Alt. 98 in Fairhope
About the Florida Route
Gulf Shores is where the two route options split. At Gulf Shores Parkway, Hwy 59, the Florida route continues straight ahead entering Gulf State Park. Runners will follow sever miles of park trails along wetlands, boardwalks and tidal lakes. Two pair of Bald Eagles inhabit the park, so keep an eye skyward. Also, keep an eye to the trail. You may come across an alligator.
The Sugar White beaches and trails of Gulf State Park
After leaving the park, runners will continue east along Perdido Beach Blvd for about a mile before going over Perdido Pass Bridge. Two miles past the bridge, you cross into Florida. Just over the line, you will see to your right, what may be the most famous landmark on the gulf coast, the Flora-Bama Lounge and Oyster Bar founded 1964. It’s open until 2:30 AM! I do not recommend a long stop here.
The Perdido Pass Bridge, Orange Beach
Past the Flora-Bama, runners will continue east along Perdido Key for the next 5 miles before moving to the “mainland” and into Pensacola. You will pass by the Pensacola Naval Air Station, Home of the Blue Angles. Watch the skies. When they are in Pensacola, the Blue Angles are frequently seen flying along the gulf coast. As of now, we will follow the Gulf Beach Parkway, just north of the base. We are going to try to get permission to cross the base on Redford Blvd.
Blue Angles Pensacola Air Show - 2026
Past the naval air station runners will continue along Pensacola Bay, then out to Pensacola Beach. After several miles along Santa Rosa Island, runners will cross back to the mainland and continue east into Fort Walton. From town, you will head northeast passing through Elgin Air Force Base for the next 18 miles.
It’s too bad we decided not to do this race. It would have been fun. What actually happened was, Governor Kay Ivey allowed businesses to start back up way before other states did. We were able to start having races again in May. There just wasn’t time to put this together after that.
Of course, it was a ridiculous idea from the start. No one in their right mind would run such a ridiculous race, running down back roads and busy highways, with absolutely NO support, day and night. CRAZY! We dropped the idea “FOR EVER!”