Running Like The Wind
November 2, 2022
Author: David Black, KTC Executive Director
What a great year it has been for the Knoxville Track Club. The year started on the tail end of the pandemic and Omicron scare. As things seemed to be trending to normal, Mother Nature decided to throw a curve ball. The week leading up to the Strawberry Plains Half Marathon the temperatures were dropping and predicted race day temps around zero, with the “feels-like” even lower. Extra precaution was made but overnight before the race brought snow and ice along the race route. The event had to be cancelled in order to keep everyone safe.
Jumping forward to June Mother Nature had another trick up her sleeve. Ultimately the Hal Canfield Memorial Milefest had to be postponed due to dangerously hot temperatures. The race was moved to a Saturday morning and luckily the temps were more favorable.
Overall we have had a truly amazing year. Like any year, there have been speed bumps but many things to celebrate during the 60th anniversary of the KTC including the record setting Townsend event during its 46th year.
But it’s not over yet. We have two amazing trail races left, including our longest trail distance, the Norris Ultra Dam Hard 50k. This also has 25k and 5k options. The Dirty South Half Marathon and 10k will round out the season in December.
The Norris race lives up to its “Ultra Dam Hard” name, but what a great experience. Located on beautiful trails by Norris lake, participants will enjoy some great scenery while pushing themselves. Got a friend or family member doing the 25k or 50k but you aren’t quite up to the distance? The 5k option will still provide some great scenery on a challenging course.
The Dirty South event features the Urban Wilderness in South Knoxville. This wooded escape is just minutes from downtown Knoxville and truly is a special place that we’re blessed to have so close to the city center.
For the road side we have the great holiday tradition Regal Turkey Trot 5k on Thanksgiving morning. This is one of the flattest courses for the KTC. Starting and finishing at the Mill and Mine by the Old City, the course runs up Gay Street, cuts over and crosses the Henley Street Bridget to the South side. Runners then take Blount Avenue and turn left by the Regal headquarters onto Gay Street. There is something special about running Gay Street through our beautiful city. This is an amazing experience for all involved. If you haven’t done this yet, we encourage you to join us for what will likely become a yearly tradition.
In December, take it to the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, as we round out the year with the Pigeon Forge Half Marathon and 5k. This is another one that if you know, you know there’s something special about this event. The race features many miles on the Pigeon Forge Greenway along the West Prong Little Pigeon River. There is one tough hill along the route, but participants are rewarded with panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountains from the beautiful Cal Ripken Experience. The 2021 edition provided the best race photos we have ever seen with an amazing mountain sunrise as the backdrop.
A special note of thanks to Michael deLisle, who has been editing the Footnotes Magazine for thirty years. Michael has done an amazing job with this award winning publication for three decades. While Footnotes is evolving to a new format, he’ll still be highly involved in delivering this great content.
Join the KTC at one of the four remaining 2022 races:
- Nov 4 – Norris Dam Hard Trail Race
- Nov 24 – Regal Turkey Trot
- Dec 4 – Dirty South Trail Race
- Dec 10 – Pigeon Forge Half / 5k
Also, mark your calendar to join us at the following:
- Nov 19 – RunKNOX 10 Year Anniversary Party Saturday November 19 at Albright Grove Brewing Company on Sutherland Avenue.
- Dec 14 – KTC Holiday party at The Mill and Mine. This is a great time as we celebrate our key volunteers for the 2022 year. Hope to see you there !!!