Clemson 8 Challenge
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Event Overview
The Clemson 8 Challenge is a multi-format event held in March 2026. It includes an in-person, officially timed race on the Clemson University campus and a virtual challenge. The event is open to the general public and offers several participation categories.
Event Format and Distances
Participants can choose from several events:
- 800 Meter Kids Run/Walk/Stroll (for ages 10 and under)
- 8 K or 8 Mile - Race Day (for the general public and a separate category for college students & younger)
- 8 Mile - Race Day 35-lb. ROTC Ruckers
- 8 Mile Relay Virtual Challenge (for High School JROTC/P.E. Class)
- 8, 14.2 & 26.2 Mile - Virtual - General Public
The in-person race day is on a Saturday in early March. The virtual challenge for the general public runs for eight days following the in-person event. High school JROTC teams have a longer window to complete their challenge, extending into April.
Course and Participation
The in-person course is an 8-mile route around the Clemson University campus, starting and finishing in front of Tillman Hall. Participants are asked to stay on sidewalks and follow pedestrian laws. For those who cannot complete the full campus route, an option to circle Bowman Field is available. Water and a portable restroom are available at the start/finish and at a point along the course.
Virtual participants can complete their chosen distance by running, walking, biking, hiking, swimming, or skiing on their own course in their own town, either in one day or spread over the eight-day period.
Historical Context and Purpose
The event honors Clemson alumni who were prisoners of war during World War II, specifically those who endured the Bataan Death March in 1942. The "8" in the event name represents the annual miles that the last surviving Clemson alumnus from that march, Colonel (later Honorary Brigadier General) Beverly "Ben" Skardon, walked each year to honor his comrades. The Clemson 8 Challenge was created to allow him to continue this tradition.
All proceeds from the event benefit Clemson University's Military-Affiliated student organizations. The stated goal for the 2026 event is to raise funds to help send teams to compete in the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon in New Mexico.
Participant Information
Registration includes a participant packet with a 100% cotton Comfort Colors t-shirt, a wooden "challenge coin," a race bib, and a window decal. The first 500 individual registrants are guaranteed a race bib. In 2026, every race day participant will have an opportunity to win items from the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
