RUN FOREST RUN
THE Hurricane Evacuation Race
Image: The docks in Bayou La Batre
320.2 Miles, or more, or less
BAYOU LA BATRE TO Tallapoosa River Overlook, Tallassee, AL
The Basics
Race Start Date - September 20th - October 1st
Start Time - 7:00 AM
The Start Location - Bayou La Batre, Alabama
The Finish - Tallapoosa River overlook, Tallassee, Alabama
Distance - 320.2 Miles, Run Forst Run
Hurricane Evacuation Route West, Start: Mobile, AL - 312.7 Miles
Race Cutoff - 10 Days
Registration Option 1 - Race only
Registration Option 2 - Race + plus transportation to the start + lodging
Runner Support: NONE, NADA, ZERO, “NOT NO WHERE, NOT NO HOW!” Do I need to go on. This is a solo adventure. You may not receive any 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. 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. Tracker information will not be public. Only runners and race staff will have access.
Arizona has “Monument Valley,” Alabama has “Tombstone Gap” located in northeast Alabama near Greenboville, Forest’s home.
Unfortunately, Tombstone Gap is just too far away to include in the Run Forest Run.
Race Schedule
September 19th
9:30 AM - Load buses at Tallassee City Hall to go to Mobile
11:30 AM - Lunch in route, Shrimp Basket, Evergreen, AL
3:00 PM - Arrive at hotel in Mobile
6:00 PM - Dinner and Pre-Race Briefing at Grand Mariner Restaurant on the Dog River
September 20th (The absolute peak of hurricane season)
6:30 AM - Pick up SPOT Trackers at the hotel lobby.
6:35 AM - Load buss to start at Bayou La Batre
7:00 PM - Race Start
6:30 PM - Last run of the Mobile Bay Ferry. Distance from start - 22.8 Miles.
September 30th
6:00 AM - The End
There are two possible courses:
1) The Standard Route - 320.2 Miles: The Standard Route - 320.2 Miles: The race starts in Bayou La Batre, then heads down to Dauphin Island, across Mobile Bay on the ferry, landing in Ft. Morgan. Head east along Mobile Bay to Gulf Shores. Continue into and trough Gulf State Park. Leave the park heading east over the Perdido Pass Bridge, enter Florida, and continue along the gulf to Pensacola. Run past the Pensacola Naval Air Station heading into town. Turn southeast across the Pensacola Bay Bridge over to Pensacola Beach. Go left, east, along the beach, run through Gulf Islands National Seashore, and continue east to the Navarre Bridge. Cross the bridge and turn east into Ft Walton. Angle northeast through Ft. Walton, past Egland Air Force Base, then through Niceville. Here, runners turn north heading to Florala, Alabama. From there they will continue north and northeast through Opp, Elba and Troy. In Troy, angle northeast to Union Springs, then northwest and north to the finish on the Tallapoosa River in Tallassee.
We also offer a shortened version of the “Standard Route” called the Run Forest Run “Mini,” 275 miles. This one starts at mile 45, in Mo’s Landing Park.
2) The Hurricane Evacuation Route - 312.7 Miles: This course starts in the Starbucks Parking lot on Government Street in Mobile. Runners will head east a couple of blocks and turn left on North Ann St for three blocks, then left on Dauphin St. Cut over to Old Shell Rd and continue west through Langan Park. Leave the park heading north through Eight Mile, Saraland, Jackson and Grove Hill. At Grove Hill, runners turn southeast, then east through Monroeville, Evergreen, and Andalusia, to Opp. Here runners join the “Standard Route” heading north to the finish.
Mile Markers & store markers can be turned off and on. Check and uncheck the box at top of left column under “Map Objects” called “Markers!”
The Forest Grump “Standard Route”
The run will start in “Downtown” Bayou La Batre on Shell Belt Rd. Runners will follow this road south through the hard of the Bayou La Batre Shipping industry. It is interesting to say the least.
From the drawbridge in town
Don’t read the name on the building. It could blow my “Grump” cover story.
Along Shell Belt Rd, heading for the Dauphin Island Parkway. About mile 3
Runners will follow the Dauphin Island Parkway south, over the DI bridge out to Dauphin Island at mile 20. Once on the island, turn east for 3 miles, 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. You can pay with cash or a credit card. 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 Mobile Bay Ferry departs Dauphin Island at: 8:00 A.M., 9:30 A.M., 11:00 A.M., 12:30 P.M., 2:00 P.M., 3:30 P.M., 5:00 P.M., 6:30 P.M. 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 Ft. Morgan Road for about 10 miles to “Ewing Place Rd” (at Ft Morgan Pizza) where they will switch to the Fort Morgan Trail for the next 10 miles into Gulf Shores. Use caution crossing “Gulf Shores Pkwy” Hwy 59. Cross with the lights using the crosswalk. There are gas stations, a grocery store, and a McDonalds at the intersection.
PLAN AHEAD! Once on Dauphin Island, if you will need any supplies for the next 15 miles, buy them at the stores as you come off the bridge. The next store is a Dollar General at mile 35. There is a small “cafe” next to the ferry loading dock that sells sandwiches, rollups and snacks, but no stores. At the Fr Morgan ferry landing there are porta-potties and coke machines. I don’t think there are any bathrooms at the DI ferry docks. One ferry’s does not have a bathroom. I am not sure about the other.
A little history: As you leave Dauphin Island, look back at the large brown walls of Fort Gaines behind you. This, and Fort Morgan on the eastern shore, were Confederate Civil War forts. As you cross the bay, you will see several Gas Well Platforms in the bay and out in the gulf. The first exploratory well was drilled in the bay in 1978. They found natural gas at a depth of almost “4 MILES,” about the width of the entrance to Mobile Bay. The double platform you will see to your left, sits over the original exploratory well.
Also, look closely to your right, almost due south. You will see a tall, pointed tower about 3 miles out. This is the Sand Island Lighthouse.
View of Fort Gaines as the ferry leaves Dauphin Island.
When runners arrive at Fort Morgan, they will follow the Fr. Morgan Road for about 10 miles to “Ewing Place Rd” at Fr Morgan Pizza. Here, they will switch to the Fort Morgan Trail (to the left of the road) for the next 10 miles into Gulf Shores. Watch for the Dollar General on the right at mile 35. There is another DG and gas stations at mile 42.
When you reach Gulf Shores, use caution crossing the 6 lane “Gulf Shores Pkwy,” Hwy 59. Cross with the lights using the crosswalk. There are several stores and restaurants close to this intersection.
Run Forest Run - From Gulf Shores
After crossing Hwy 59, continue on sidewalks and trails into Gulf State Park for the next 8 Miles. The entire section in the park is on trails and boardwalks. There are no stores in the park. Runners will follow trails along wetlands, boardwalks and tidal lakes. Two pair of Bald Eagles inhabit the park, so keep an eye skyward. Also, keep an eye on the trail. You may come across an alligator. A short way past the Hotel in Gulf State Park, along the boardwalks, you will pass an Osprey nest off to your left. If they are on the nest, you can see them from the trail.
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, pictured below. Two miles past the bridge, you cross into Florida. Just over the line, on your right, and left, you will see 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 staying that late.
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
Past the naval air station runners will continue along Pensacola Bay, then turn south and cross the sound out to Pensacola Beach. Again, turn east along the beach. The only stores you will find for the next 17 miles are located just past this bridge. You will follow the beach east for the next 15 miles. About 10 of those miles are through the “Gulf Islands National Seashore” and again, there are no stores. Stay on the paved trail to the north of the road over most of the section. After the park, runners will continue 3.5 miles through Navarre Beach. The first store you reach will be at the turn to Navarre Bridge. Cross the bridge to the mainland and continue east into Fort Walton.
From town, you will head north and northeast passing through Shalamar and past Elgin Air Force Base. BE SURE you do not miss the “required” excursion through the US Air Force Museum. Then north through Niceville on the way to the Florida/Alabama State Line at mile 177 just before reaching Florala. From there, it’s only 142 miles to the end.
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. Really! Running down backroads and busy highways, with absolutely NO support, day and night, CRAZY!
We dropped the idea “FOR EVER!”