Orlando Sentinel28%
Skunk Ape Night Run: An 18-mile trail race through Green Swamp 6%
By Patrick Connolly9%
7/31/2026, 2:00:16 AM
Keywords: Trail Running, Skunk Ape Night Run, Green Swamp, Florida, Patrick Connolly, O Town Blazers, 30k, Ultramarathon
BS Summary: This article contains 20 faulty reasoning types, including Optimism Bias, Availability Heuristic, and Anecdotal, with Post Hoc (False Cause) as the most egregious example at 8.3% saturation with 105 hits. Analysis detected 769 faulty-reasoning hits from 1,265 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 17.7% and a BS Rank of 6% (23,789 of 25,289 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 94.10% of the article peer group.
It started with a simple text message: “3 p.m.
Barr Street.”
The message came from my friend Kevin Bolton, with whom I went on a four-day bike ride across Florida last year.
Recently enamored with trail running, he extended the invite to do a 9-mile run through Little Big Econ State Forest.
Though I hadn’t been running in months, I knew his walk/run interval approach would be doable for me.
On our afternoon journey, I got to hear about Bolton’s new role as the leader of Orlando-based trail-running group O-Town Blazers and his upcoming races, including the Skunk Ape Night Run on July 18.
I was immediately intrigued.
After a fateful trip to the Everglades five years ago to search for the fabled Florida Skunk Ape, I was eager to explore the creature’s habitat in the Green Swamp Wildlife Management Area near Dade City.
I was also equally excited and nervous to tackle my longest-distance trail run yet, a 30K (18.6 miles).
After (not quite enough) training runs at Shingle Creek, I hopped in the car with Bolton and three other trail runners for our nighttime adventure in the woods.
For reasons I can’t explain, we began belting out “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow,” harmonies and all, as we pulled into the parking lot for the race.
We were giddy with energy reminiscent of childhood, excited to go play in the woods.
As we walked up to the pavilion with snacks and race bibs, we were greeted by Skunk Ape statues and funny flags reading “Fall for roots, not feelings” and “Don’t Tread on Skunk Ape.”
Joseph Fuller, the race director, said his goal is to make trail running as accessible as possible with a $15 entry fee and post-race potluck.
He said that for a third of participants, this was their first trail race.
“You have different backgrounds, way different professions and political beliefs coming together,” he said.
“Out on the trail, that doesn’t even matter.
You’re all out there doing the same thing for the same goal.”
As this would be my longest run to date, my goal was simply to finish, ideally in a decent time.
Though I wondered if this was a good idea, I chugged a Celsius energy drink before the race, hoping the caffeine would give me an extra boost.
Just after 7 p.m., a group of nearly 160 runners set off, including nearly a dozen O-Town Blazers, some determined to set new personal records and others wishing simply to finish the 18-mile course.
We warmed up in the middle of the pack, easing into the race with Bolton’s wife Dani and friends Hanna and David.
Bolton began taking the run/walk intervals approach after we had some space on the trail, which helped ensure I had the stamina to finish the race.
By mile two, we were skipping some of the walks and running under 10-minute miles as Bolton and I left the rest of our group behind.
He was eager to put space between the other runners and us on the course.
As sunset approached, we saw golden rays poking through rows of pine trees, casting a magical glow onto the Florida Trail where we ran.
Watching out for ruts and roots kept my mind occupied, though I was cognizant of the effort I was putting in.
About an hour into our race, I told Bolton that my heart rate was around 180 beats per minute during our running stretches.
His was around 135 or 140 after many recent training runs, the conditioning certainly paying off.
I didn’t feel tired yet, but I knew my running companion was in better shape than I was.
Still, having someone to push my limits helped the miles go by faster.
We also got to celebrate triumphant moments, like reaching the top of a hill for the most magnificent sunset view.
That’s also when the dusk chorus of crickets, cicadas and frogs began to swell.
As day gave way to night, we stopped at an aid station lit with party lights and music where I grabbed a few snacks for the road, a small slushie and some pickle juice to help with muscle cramps.
Then we embarked on the berm loop.
This section was feared by runners in the past because of the deep, loose sugar sand.
This time, the ground had been packed down by recent rains, with grass growing in the sand, making it a much more ideal running surface.
We narrowly avoided running through a giant spider web whose owner was home and equally as massive.
I also spotted a deer running across the trail and other runners in the distance lighting up the trail with their headlights.
As we left the berm and headed back into the woods, I realized we had already run a half marathon.
Talking made the miles go by a bit faster, although the last few miles on an open forest road were truly a slog.
I felt gassed, like I was about to fall asleep upright while running.
We were three hours into our run, with hardly any breaks other than quick stops for water or snacks.
It was also when my gut started acting up.
Water sloshed around my stomach as I ran, and I couldn’t consume enough liquid to replenish what I had sweat out.
Bolton was determined to get me to the finish line as we picked up our pace, passing runners as the finish line inched closer.
My stomach was what ultimately held me back after skipping several walking intervals.
“You go, Superman!”
I yelled to my friend as he forged ahead, eager to run through the final mile.
I had to walk; I didn’t feel like I had another option.
But I was so close to the finish line.
I mustered up the last little bit of stamina I had left in my tank and ran through the finish line.
In just under three hours and 30 minutes, my nighttime adventure was complete.
I took a much-needed seat and cracked open a well-deserved beer as we waited for our companions to finish.
As more runners completed their 18-mile push, people began to hang out, socialize and feast on a smattering of pizza, wings, pasta, sliders, donuts, brownies, cookies and so much more.
The informal nature of this race actually encourages more connection, Fuller said.
“I want to go to a race where it is my getaway, my relaxation.
I want a place where I can hang out with all my friends like an awkward family reunion,” he said.
“The potluck encourages people to stick around, share, hang out and tell stories.”
Even though Green Swamp has been the location of reported Skunk Ape sightings, we didn’t see the mythical creature out on the trails.
But we did find camaraderie and fulfillment in trying something hard together and cheering each other on.
Bolton reflected on the sense of nostalgia and energy the day created.
“It reminded me of those carefree adventures growing up, when we were allowed to stay out late,” he wrote following the event.
“We all have careers, responsibilities, families and plenty of stuff going on outside of trail running.
But for one Saturday night, we threw a middle finger up to adulthood and responsible bedtimes to become a bunch of Florida Skunk Apes.”
Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
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