As the former RD and course designer for the North Georgia Adventure Race, now the course designer for the Checkpoint Zero AR, and new ultra runner I've had the privilege of discovering many very interesting and beautiful places in the Georgia area during my training and course preparation. As part of finding these spots, I've also wanted to include them in races but many times find myself restricted by permitting issues because they happen to fall in designated wilderness areas, or on the AT, or because the landowner is generally grumpy and don't want 300 adventure races tromping through their land.

So, I've had an idea (keep in mind I'm thinking out loud here and definitely in concept stage) for a while to create an Underground Ultrarunning Race Series. 5-10 "races" throughout late 2007 and 2008 officially called runs. Minimal entry fee - free or probably no more than a $10 donation, and a limited number of runners, we provide limited support (water and gu at road crossings, no sag wagon or pick up etc), some prizes for winners or participants, a cookout at the end, etc. Racers show up and are responsible for their safety, sag support, headlamps, maps, etc.

This would be similar to the FA50K at Kennesaw every January, or the Laurel Valley 40 miler in August.

Venues (off the top of my head):

• Georgia Loop (~55 miles) - Start at Skeenah Mill Campground, take Benton Mackaye Trail to Duncan Ridge Trail to AT to BM Trail (at three forks), BM trail to Hwy 60 to Skeenah Mill
• Cohutta Wilderness Loop
• Approach Trail out and back (~16 miles)
• Kennesaw Mountain 50K
• Blankets creek night run
• Soap Creek/Palisades
• Georgia AT
• Out and back on the Wagon Train Trail from Young Harris to Brasstown Bald and back.

Other places/suggestions would be welcome as the purpose is to see interesting/beautiful/cool spots in Georgia.

I'm thinking the first one of these could be in early December and would likely start at Amicolola and go to Springer Mountain and back.

So...would you run in this type of series?

Let me know. If there are enough people interested we'll make it happen.

Tony