Little River Run 5K

The 6th Annual Little River Run 5K is set for 11 AM on Saturday, November 16th at the Townsend Abbey (7765 River Rd. Townsend, TN 37882). Join Keep Blount Beautiful (KBB) and Little River Watershed Association (LRWA) for a run (or walk!) by the Little River in view of the Great Smoky Mountains! This race is a great way to support a clean, green, and beautiful Blount County. 

The Little River Run 5K represents a joint effort through which both KBB and LRWA encourage participants to engage with their community, enjoy the beauty of Blount County, and help spread the message of environmental stewardship. All proceeds from the run will support the many free events, programs, and educational initiatives offered by both organizations, including litter pickups, stream cleanups, invasive species removal, recycling collections, and educational programs.

Race info and registration: We are offering both an in-person and virtual option for the race. The in-person race is a chip-timed event. Participants of all ages are welcome. Early-bird registration is $25 and ends at 11:59 PM Monday, September 9th. Registration will increase to $30 on Tuesday, September 10th. Registration will increase to $35 on Monday, November 11th. Children 12 and under can register for a rate of $15 at any time. Registration will also be available on race day. Virtual races are not chip-timed and are a flat rate of $30.

Virtual Runners: Virtual runners will not receive a chipped bib and therefore will not be eligible for an award. Virtual run times should be self-recorded (via apps such as Strava or Map My Run) and reported to Keep Blount Beautiful, [email protected], if you want to be added to RunSignUp. 

Course Description: The run begins at the Townsend Abbey (7765 River Road, Townsend, Tennessee 37882) and moves along a flat course by the Little River. The course then curves to connect with the Townsend Historical Greenway for a short time before turning down a side road and then ending back at the Townsend Abbey. Watch a video of the racecourse here You can view the race map here. 

T-Shirts: Runners should register before October 31st to be guaranteed a T-shirt. There will be a limited quantity of shirts available for those who sign up after October 31st. T-shirts may only be available to those who attend the race. 

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 at 12 PM outside of the Townsend Abbey, weather permitting. 

Packet Pickup (and Pint Night): Runners registered for the 6th Annual Little River Run 5K can pick up their race packets on Thursday, November 14th from 5-8 PM (More info to come). Runners unable to make it to the packet pickup can get their packets on race day from 9 AM to 10:30 AM. Those who register after the packet pickup on November 16th will need to get their packet on race day.

Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to help with setting up/tear down, registration/sign-in, parking, and course direction. 

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 Townsend Abbey. Parking attendants will help you park when you arrive. Additional parking will be available at CBBC Bank (7729 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Townsend). Overflow parking will be available at the Post Office (118 Town Square Dr, Townsend), .55 miles from the Townsend Abbey. Please prepare for the event that you may need to use overflow parking. 

Weather: This race is in mid-November, but we all know how unpredictable East TN weather can be! Historically, the high in Townsend in November is 59 and the low is 35, 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.

After the run, hang out at the Townsend Abbey for lunch, drinks, and prize giveaways. Runners and non-runners are welcome for the afterparty. Each runner will receive a free ticket and giveaways will be announced directly after the award ceremony.

COVID-19 Precautions: For the safety of others, if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to COVID-19 please refrain from participating in the Little River Run 5K. We reserve the right to postpone/cancel the race, or change all registrations to a virtual run, should government guidelines recommend no gatherings of the estimated size of the Little River Run 5K per the date of the race.