Join Keep Blount Beautiful (KBB) and Little River Watershed Association (LRWA) for the 8th Annual Little River Run 5K, set for 11 AM on Saturday, November 21st at The Abbey (7765 River Rd. Townsend, TN 37882). The Little River Run 5K is a joint fundraising effort that brings together hundreds of people to celebrate the beauty of Blount County, and all proceeds from the event benefit KBB and LRWA's free programs and events that focus on environmental education and sustainability.
Registration: Participants of all ages and skill levels are welcome. Both in-person and virtual race options are available. The in-person race is a chip-timed event and will start promptly at 11 AM. Early-bird registration is $25 and ends at 11:59 PM Monday, September 7th. Registration will increase to $30 on Tuesday, September 8th at 12 AM. Registration will increase to $35 on Monday, November 16th at 12 AM. Children 12 and under can register for a rate of $15 at any time (age-based pricing will be applied at checkout). The virtual race is a flat rate of $30. Registration will be available until 10 AM on race day, but registering ahead of time is highly encouraged.
Virtual Runners: Virtual runners will not receive a chipped bib and therefore will not be eligible for an award. Virtual run times can be self-recorded (via apps such as Strava or Map My Run) and reported to Keep Blount Beautiful, director@keepblountbeautiful.org, to be added to RunSignUp (this is not required). Virtual runners should pick up their race T-shirts at the pre-race packet pickup.
Course Description: The race course is now certified! The race course begins at The Abbey (7765 River Road, Townsend, Tennessee 37882) and moves along a flat course in a neighborhood by the Little River. The course then connects with the Townsend Historical Greenway for a short time before turning down a side road to end back at the The Abbey. The course will not be closed to traffic but is a very low traffic area. Watch a video of the racecourse here You can view the race map here.
T-Shirts: Runners should register by Wednesday, November 4th to be guaranteed a T-shirt. There will be a limited quantity of shirts available for those who sign up after November 4th. T-shirts are only available to those who attend the race in-person unless picked up at the packet pickup on November 13th (T-shirts will not be mailed).
Awards: Awards will be announced to the top three finishers, both male and female, and the 1st and 2nd finishers, both male and female, based on the following age brackets: 0-16, 17-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+. Awards will be announced around 12 PM outside of the The Abbey, weather permitting. Participants must be present to get their award.
Pre-race Packet Pickup (and Pint Night): Runners registered for the 8th Annual Little River Run 5K can pick up their race packets on Thursday, November 19th from 4:30-7:30 PM- MORE INFO TBD. Runners unable to make it to the pre-race packet pickup can get their packets on race day from 9 AM to 10:30 AM at the check-in tent in front of the The Abbey. Those who register after the pre-race packet pickup on November 19th will need to get their packet on race day.
Parking: Please arrive early to ensure you get to the start line on time. Parking will be available by 8:50 AM on the grass lot to the left of the Chocolate B'ar on Depot Ave. when entering The Abbey from Hwy 321. Parking attendants will assist with parking when you arrive. Additional parking will be available at CBBC Bank (7729 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy). Overflow parking will be available in the grass lot next to the Townsend Post Office (118 Town Square Dr.), 0.55 miles from the The Abbey. Please prepare for the event that you will need to use overflow parking.
Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to help with setting up/tear down, registration/sign-in, parking, and course direction. Volunteers can sign up by clicking the Volunteer tab on the race website.
Post run: Please bring a water bottle to reduce waste. A filling station will be available. After the run, hang out at the The Abbey for lunch and/or drinks! Each runner will receive a free giveaway ticket and prize giveaways will be announced directly after the award ceremony. Ticket holders must be present to win their prize.
Weather: Historically, the high in Townsend in November is 60 and the low is 38, so plan for a chill but be ready to get warmed up! Dress sensibly and don't pile on layers; the rule of thumb is to add 10 to 20 degrees to the outside temperature to calculate your running temperature. Race personnel reserves the right to delay, cancel, or suspend the race or modify the course due to inclement weather. As stated on the registration and race pages, there are no refunds or transfers. Participants must abandon the race if ordered to do so by the race personnel, medical staff, fire/paramedics, or police personnel.
