greenville
downtown
airport
greenville
zoo
greenville
technical
college
greenville
health
system
furman
university
donaldson
center
airport
25
25
25
25
29
29
276
276
123
276
276
183
253
253
170
103
199
869
124
291
186
291
N
0
1
2
MILES
Parking
GHS SWAMP
RABBIT TRAIL
Trail
endpoint
Restrooms
Total trail length:
19.9 miles
Trail surface:
Asphalt
map illustration by
daniellemarks.com
Map for reference only.
Not for navigation.
85
385
travelers rest
greenville
welcome
judson
dunean
gantt
conestee
woodside
berea
sans souci
Lake Conestee
Nature Park
Falls Park
on the Reedy
Cleveland
Park
Paris Mountain
State Park
Swan
Lake
R
e
e
d
y
R
i
v
e
r
R
e
e
d
y
R
i
v
e
r
S
-
2
3
-
2
1
To Mauldin,
Simpsonville,
Fountain Inn
To Easley,
Pickens
59
22
N
.
F
r
a
n
k
l
i
n
R
d
.
Tate Rd.
Cleveland St.
Faris Rd.
A
u
g
u
s
t
a
S
t
.
N
.
M
a
i
n
S
t
.
south
carolina
Lelya Powell. “The trail is really fun, and
it’s not too far from my house. As soon as
I get my bike, I’m going to be on the trail
every day!”
But perhaps there’s nothing that dem-
onstrates the wide-ranging appeal of the
GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail more than the
annual Swamp Rabbit 5k in Travelers
Rest. With 6,000 registered racers, the
event effectively doubles the town’s popu-
lation. Set along the trail, the inaugural
5k officially opened the GHS Swamp
Rabbit six years ago, the runners “cut-
ting” the ceremonial ribbon by gleefully
crashing through it. Though the event
attracts competitive runners, what is
unique about the race is that it is heavily
marketed to people who wouldn’t nor-
mally run a 5k. Its modest $6 entry fee is
meant to attract even the most trepida-
tious racers. After the starting gun fires,
a wave of the swift-of-foot bolts down
the trail and into the forest. Next comes
a second wave: those who are walk-
ing, pushing strollers or gliding along
in wheelchairs. The racers range from
4-year-olds to those well over 80, and for
many, this is their first introduction to
walking, running or rolling for recreation.
Chad Carlson, who coordinates the race
for GHS, has received hundreds of emails
from people saying that the Swamp
Rabbit 5k has inspired them to take con-
trol of their fitness.
“Some people will just barely be able
to walk the trail one year,” Carlson says.
“Then they’ll email me next year to say
that they’ve gotten more active and that
they were able to run the whole thing eas-
ily this time. The race takes about an hour
and 15 minutes, but the last 15 minutes
is my favorite part. That’s when you see
people crossing the finish line who’ve never
walked that far in their lives. The smiles
on their faces are incredible, and we’re just
cheering for them like crazy. It just shows
people what’s possible. It just shows you
that you
can
do it.”
Cam Terwilliger is a freelance writer living
in Baltimore, Maryland, where he enjoys riding
his single-speed bicycle around town.
Danielle Marks
rails
to
trails
u
fall.15
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