"There's nothing out there in the dark that's not there in the light."
Frank Burns
The 30th (and final) "BETHEL HILL MOONLIGHT BOOGIE"
and
The 19th "BOOGIE MARATHON"
Saturday, June 8, 2024
6:00 P.M.
Ellerbe, North Carolina
Doug Dawkins, Race Director
Timing by Brad Smythe, Clockwork Timing
"Come with no expectations and you will not be disappointed."
PLEASE NOTE: REGISTRATION IS CLOSED AND THERE IS NO WAITLIST.
Yes, this is the final Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie 50-mile event. I'm not sure about the marathon yet. It may happen in 2025 or it may not.
MARATHONERS BEWARE:
This is not your normal marathon. This is all rural, not a city marathon. You will be in the middle of nowhere all the time with no porta-potties, no splits, no mile markers, no spectators, and late in the run possibly even no other runners. There are only 7 houses on the course. Aid stops are over 5 miles apart, so you will need to carry a water bottle. If you decide to quit, there are no pick-up vans, so you will either have to walk to the aid station or hitch a ride with somebody. The race will start at 6pm and the temperature will probably be about 85 degrees with little shade. Darkness comes about 9pm, and there are no street lights. You will need a light for the reasons cited in the waiver. If you need to be catered to every couple of miles along the course or worry running in the dark, perhaps you should not come. We really have seen everything listed in the waiver except the polecats and they are there too. The drop out rate among veteran 50-milers is usually 40% or so. Think long and hard before you enter this event. Ask yourself "Am I ready for this? Or would I be better off doing an event where I still have somebody to look after me?" If you're not ready to step up and be responsible for yourself all the way, stay away. Find an easier event.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Both courses are certified. Five repeats of a 6-mile loop and a 4-mile out-and-back for the fifty miler. Start and finish is at the church. All rural and all paved. There are several long hills and some smaller ones too. This is not mountainous but is definitely not flat. The marathon course is the same as the 50 but with less repeats. Marathoners and 50 milers start together. Shortly after the start marathoners will make a left turn and do an out-and-back that is necessary to get the distance correct. The out-and-back just after the start is only done once and is not repeated on later laps. 50 milers will not do the early out-and-back.
LOCATION and PARKING:
Bethel Church, 2063 Grassy Island Road, Ellerbe, NC. The church is about 6 miles west of Ellerbe, NC. Look for the link to written directions at the bottom of this page. The best parking is along the roadside. You will run right by your car twice each lap. With so many cars, the best way to park is to back your car straight off the road with the front of your car facing the road. Your car takes up much less space that way and you cannot get blocked in. Make sure you leave plenty of room between your car and the road. You need the space to run through here and this road is open to traffic. Then you can set up your chair and personal station behind your car and be safe from traffic.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
There are plenty of motels in Rockingham, and the Ellerbe Springs Inn is close by in Ellerbe. Since you will be running all night, you may not need a room.
CUT-OFF:
I do like to let my volunteers go home at a reasonable time. They will be with us all night. Therefore, all 50-milers must start the last lap no later than 4:30 am. That means you have to do the first 40 miles under 10 1/2 hours. Marathoners must be finished by 3 am [9 hrs. time limit].
SAFETY:
All participants must wear a headlamp or other light and run with it "turned on" after dark. No strollers allowed. All participants must go through the chute (from both directions) and be counted each time it is passed. Runners who withdraw must notify either the race director or the chief timer. Medical personnel will be stationed at the church aid station. In the event of an emergency on the course, first call 911 and then notify on-site personnel at the aid station.
SHIRTS:
Shirts are the traditional Boogie design and 100% cotton. Please indicate your desired size on the registration form. You must register by May 25 to have a shirt included. Shirts will be presented at packet pick-up.
AWARDS:
The 50 mile event has awards for male and female first place overall and for male and female first place Mangum Track Club. To be eligible for the MTC award you must check that you are a Mangum Track Club member on the entry form. The marathon has a first place overall male and female award. Additionally, all 50 mile finishers will receive a large pottery mug, and all marathon finishers will receive a coffee size pottery mug. There will be no awards ceremony. All finishers, both 50 miles and marathon, will receive their finisher's mug immediately after they cross the finish line. Awards will not be mailed unless we run out and have to purchase more. Make sure and get yours at the finish.
AID STATIONS:
This is a green race. We try to limit our impact. Please bring a water bottle to carry with you. Also, we may serve dairy and eggs at the aid stations, but no meat will be served at either station. Our main aid station will be near the start/finish and will be passed at approximately 6 miles and 10 miles of each loop. The main station will have water, Gatorade, and a variety of foods. Food offerings will be plentiful and enough to get you through a 50-mile event. The dog pen aid station will have only water and a few snack items along with the usual characters. Another note about the aid stations. Volunteers sign up for the whole event. I don't do shifts. They get tired too. Take the initiative to fill your own water bottle and wait on yourself at the table. Don't expect a volunteer to jump up every time you come by.
GENERAL INFO:
The race director reserves the right to change or update details of this event at any time. Packet pickup will begin at 5pm near the start. Most runners will finish the first loop in daylight. All runners will be required to have a light after dark. The course is open to traffic, so the lights are not only for you to see with, but also so you can be seen. Littering upsets the race director, and if you are seen littering you will be asked to go back and pick it up. Leave all trash within 300 feet of the aid station. This includes empty gel packets.
ALCOHOL:
Please keep your alcohol off church property. The only complaint I have ever had from church members is about alcohol. Respect their wishes. If you plan to have an alcoholic beverage after the finish, park your vehicle along the roadside and away from the church, not in the church parking lot. Bethel Baptist Church members have been very generous by allowing us to use their property for 29 years now! The church is absolutely the best location for the Boogie. Please do not do anything that would cause me to lose this location.
REGISTRATION:
Registration is now closed.
No refunds. No waitlist. No deferrals. No transfer of entry to another person. No Race Day Registration.
For additional information, contact Doug Dawkins
doug@theboogieraces.com
910-206-2095
