Foothills Trail Supported FKT – Yo-Yo (Out & Back)
Start: Table Rock State Park
Finish: Table Rock State Park
Elapsed Time: 49:35:30
Finish: December 29, 2025 – ~8:59 AM
On December 27, 2025 at 7:10 AM, I set out to establish the supported FKT for the out-and-back (yo-yo) of the Foothills Trail, starting at Table Rock State Park. I had a pacer with me from the beginning.
We left with eagerness and high energy, but almost immediately reached a trail intersection that didn’t feel right. I had run half the Foothills previously from Table Rock, and something felt off. Sure enough, we had taken the wrong trail right from the start. We returned to the trailhead, where caution tape blocked the trail I remembered. A park ranger confirmed the official start lay beyond the tape — a bridge was out, but we could cross at our own risk.
We restarted at 7:25 AM.
Early Miles
We reached the first crew-access point at Sassafras Mountain at 9:46 AM, then Chimney Gap at 10:15 AM. During this section, I fell and unknowingly paused my watch for about half a mile. I didn’t realize it until later, but my inReach continued recording.
I saw the crew again at the Hwy 178 crossing (10:41 AM), then continued with a pacer to Canebrake Trail Crossing at Lake Jocassee (~mile 26.5) at 1:46 PM, where we switched pacers. From there we entered a long stretch without crew access before reaching them again near Whitewater Falls around 7:10 PM — just as night set in.
Getting through those early major sections felt huge. Knowing I’d see crew more frequently overnight helped keep morale up.
Night 1
The night sections passed fairly quickly while talking with my pacer. By early morning, fatigue hit hard, and I took my first dirt nap — five minutes, fast asleep, waking surprisingly refreshed.
We arrived at what we called Pig Pen Aid (~mile 64.8) at 2:07 AM on Dec. 28. Here we realized the inReach had died, but we charged it and resumed tracking. Only a few miles were missing, and my watch had recorded during that time.
From there, the turnaround felt within reach. Fighting sleep, we made it to the western terminus at Oconee State Park at 4:48 AM. I changed socks, ate pizza (elite trail magic from my buddy), and took another short nap.
We headed back east at 5:09 AM.
The Return
Morning light brought renewed energy. We moved well and reached Slatten Branch Aid (~mile 94.7), where we were surprised by an unexpected full-on aid station from Fresh Ground / Leapfrog Café. They made me a hot dog with mustard and fresh fries — absolutely clutch.
We reached the Whitewater Falls area again at 1:37 PM, resupplied, grabbed night gear, and left at 2:02 PM after a brief rally nap.
The next 18-ish mile section felt very long. We reached the crew again at Lake Jocassee, where they hiked in to meet us. Shortly after leaving, my watch died unexpectedly, but the inReach continued recording.
After another short dirt nap, I woke in the middle of the trail with a very sore and stiff left calf. There was no bruising or sharp injury pain, so I pushed on as best I could.
Final Push
Reaching the crew again lifted my spirits. With a fresh pacer, we climbed steadily. Sleepiness got rough, and I took another ~7-minute nap at the next crew stop. Fog rolled in, wind picked up, and conditions felt raw as we summited Sassafras for the second time.
With a calf sleeve on and one last pacer, we headed into the foggy night. Fewer than ten miles remained. I stumbled through exhaustion into the final sunrise.
Dropping down the steep final descent, with a mile to go, I was finally able to run it in.
I finished back at Table Rock at approximately 8:59 AM on December 29, 2025, with an elapsed time of 49 hours, 35 minutes, 30 seconds, setting a new unofficial supported FKT for the Foothills Trail yo-yo.
Exhausted — but deeply fulfilled.