Treadin' Trodden Trails
In 2004, KTC board members met with representatives of Knox County and the City of Knoxville. As a result, the Mayors Cup Series of Off Road Racing was born. For four years, the Mayors Cup Series drew small but enthusiastic crowds of trail buffs to wonderful and oft underutilized city and county parks for races on single track trails and on grass. In 2006 and 2007 the Mayors Cup worked with XTERRA to bring local runners an opportunity to compete for points that earned top runners a chance to run in a national championship event.
KTC then formed a Trails Committee and charged the group with presenting a comprehensive schedule of off road events to attract larger crowds and bring trail running to the forefront of running consciousness.
The committee presents the following schedule for the 2011-2012 Treadin' Trodden Trails Off Road Racing Series.
November 19, 2011
North
Boundary Traverse
Tony Owens, Kerry Trammell, Michael deLisle - race directors
Turned over to the City of Oak Ridge by the DOE for public use, the North Boundary area contains over 1300 acres of wooded playland. The main loop traversing the area is gravel jeep road but singletrack trails spur off at a number of points.
Course Overview: An enticing mix of jeep road and singletrack. Starts at the Horizon Center along Hwy 95 and runs south to the gate near Poplar Creek. Once inside the gate, the trail runs west toward Wheat for 3/4 of a mile, then bends right and climbs westward over McKinney Ridge. It rejoins the Poplar Creek road just south of the bridge, then ascends the big hill that forms the northern boundary of the North Boundary area. It passes Hunley Trail, then turns downhill at Gallaher. It loops the quarry counter clockwise, then climbs and returns the way it started, finishing in the Horizon Center at just over sixteen miles. There will be a minimum of two opportunities for water and possibly two more. Should be a blast!
Spring/Summer 2012
Special 10-for-8 Series
Registration Deal
Runners who sign up for all of the first ten races of the 2012 Treadin' Trodden Trails Offroad Running Series can do so for a discounted fee of $80.00. That's only eight bucks a race, folks! Where else can you have so much fun for next to nothing?
January
22, 2012
Wanderers' Trail Race
Tony Owens and Kathy Smith - race directors
This roughly four miles course meanders through the woods, crossing hills, dales, rocks, roots, streams, grassy knolls, and the occasional bit of asphalt.
DIRECTIONS: From Knoxville, take Pellissippi Parkway or Alcoa Highway toward McGee-Tyson airport. Past the airport, bear left toward Maryville on 35 (N. Hall Road) for 3 miles, then turn right onto 321 (Lamar Alexander Parkway). Turn left onto S. Court Street, then turn left into the Maryville College campus. Take your next two right turns, going by the baseball field then between two football fields. Race begins and ends at the pavilion next to the College Cemetery. Or just point your new-fangled GPS device to latitude 35.749133, longitude -83.960869
February 12, 2012
Dark Hollow Wallow
Bobby Glenn - race director
Another new TTT race will be run in the wooded hollows of Big Ridge State Park east of Norris near Maynardville. This 10¼ mile course delves into long forgotten, mud-slogged crevasses known to be haunted by haints, demons, banshees, phantoms, and poltergeists. Many who have embarked on this trail have not returned. A splendid time is guaranteed for all. More details will appear here once finalized.
March 18, 2012
Wild West Ridge Run
Jerry Monroe - race director
A trail runner and mountain biker's paradise, Haw Ridge Park between Oak Ridge and Knoxville offers more than 25 miles of tantalizing trails worthy of the most astute outdoorsman. For years, the committee has felt the extensive trail system at Haw could support more than just a single trail race, and the 2011 TTT race schedule introduced trail buffs to hills and dales not previously trodden in races.
Our race course begins at the West Kiosk and runs on gravel for a short distance to spread out the field before entering the singletracks. Once in the woods, the course climbs, then seeks the shoreline, circumscribing the far western tip of the peninsula on West Shore. Returning to Lake, rather than turning onto it, the course crosses and ascends the main ridge for the first time. Once atop the ridge, the race course winds up and down along the crest till reaching signpost 14, then barrels downhill to Middle, turns west to Twister, and follows it around to its junction with Lake. Red Hill Trail and I Trail are next, whereupon runners reach another confluence with Middle and follow it west to Low Gap. An engaging ascent brings the field up to Ridge, which leads most of the way back. A short downhill stretch brings runners to a welcome reception at the finish line. Race course is about seven miles.
April 8, 2012
I.C.
King of Trails Race
Tony Owens - race director
A delightful circuit of single-track trails, the system at I.C. King Park south of Knoxville offers many miles of winding, hilly footpaths. Frequented by mountain bikers as well as runners, the area is a hidden gem just five miles south of the University of Tennessee.
The 2012 race will be limited to 100 runners, due to parking constraints and desire to not overwhelm the trail itself, and will be handicapped by age and gender. For more information, click here. Also, since the race will be held on Easter Sunday, expect some holiday-related shenanigans from the race director.
April 29, 2012
Forks of the River Trail Race
Carl Epley - race director
Just east of Ijams Nature Center is an area of more than three hundred acres of grass and woodland. Managed by the State of Tennessee for multi-use, including hunting, part of the area is maintained in food crops for birds, including sunflowers and corn, while additional acreage is wooded. The trails in places are obscure but rewarding and offer visas of the French Broad River. Four-season trail users must be aware of hunting dates and restrictions.
This year's race course will combine wooded singletrack with pathways that traverse cropland and hayfields, covering more than six miles in length. It will be held in concurrence with the first annual Urban Wilderness Weekend.
May 19, 2012
Panther Creek Challenge
John LeCroy - race director
Once again the Treadin' Trodden Trails series will travel thirty-five miles northeast of Knoxville to Panther Creek State Park, a verdant and wondrous paradise of woods and lake, for an arduous romp through the forest.
The course will begin at the overlook in the northwest corner of the park, descend a steep singletrack, and then wind up, down, and around, in a dizzying ten-mile series of circuitous loops through the woods and along the glittering waters of the lake. Last year's 2nd annual event was extremely well received and this year's promises once again to be an event not to be missed by the avid trailster.
June 10, 2012
Stalk Your Quarry Trail Race
Leah Jones - race director
Like the Forks of the River race, this event will start in the parking lot at Ijams Nature Center in South Knoxville. And like Forks, it will begin by winding through the lush, wooded hills behind the nature center. Soon after the boardwalk, however, things change. Before long, runners will test themselves on an extremely steep trail circling Meade's Quarry. After that's done, an exhilarating stretch of new singletrack awaits in the Ross Marble Quarry area southwest of the big quarry. When that's done, runners cross back over the road and engage more of Ijams' trail system, including a breathtaking ascent of the Tower Trail, before winding to a halt near the pavillion. Distance should be something just over seven miles.
June 30, 2012
Lakeshore Trail Trek
Laura Gearhiser - race director
The third new
TTT race for 2012 will trace a relatively unknown but delightful trail that snakes
along the east bank of what used to be the Little Tennessee River southeast of
Lenoir City. The nine mile very runnable out-and-back course will follow the Sinking
Creek Branch of the East Lakeshore Trail
system, extending south from the
Coytee Trailhead 4.5 miles to the Sinking Creek Trailhead, and back again. It
features several bridges including an 85-foot steel and concrete bridge erected
by TVA in 2011, and elevated 15-feet above Coytee Cove adjacent to the Coytee
Trailhead. Aid station will be at the turnaround, 4.5 miles in
July 14, 2012
The
Trail That Can't Be Concord
Michael deLisle - race director
This trail system off Northshore Drive out near Farragut is largely unknown to the tens of thousands who live within minutes of its trailheads. Solely single-track offerings wind and climb up and down through thick undergrowth beneath a dense tree canopy along Fort Loudoun Lake.
Our race will begin in the eastern portion of the park, utilizing virtually every step of trail in that section, including several fun hills, before crossing to the western part for the final two mile jaunt through the woods. One advantage of the earlier date this year will be significantly less overgrowth on the trails, including much less poison ivy. Race distance will exceed eight miles.
August 3, 2012
Haw
Ridge Trail Race
An outdoor enthusiast's paradise, more than twenty-eight miles of rolling, twisting, single-track and double-track trails await the intrepid trail runner at Haw Ridge, situated on a rugged peninsula along the Clinch River between Oak Ridge and Knoxville. So much trail awaits that one can arrive to what appears a full parking lot and complete a run while encountering nary a soul. Recent automobile break-ins, however, have necessitated caution in terms of parking and what to leave (and not to leave) in your vehicle.
The race will be contested along the eastern portion of the park, and although some hills present themselves, the lakeside sections of trail are not prohibitively challenging. Covering varied terrain and offering beautiful scenery, the race will be approximately seven miles in length. A course map from a past race appears here, but there's a substantial chance the course could change at least slightly. Postrace festivities typically last till dusk, with plentiful food and drink available.
September 2, 2012
Norris
Dam Hard Trail Race
Kerry Trammell - race director
Here, adjacent to the Clinch River above and below Norris Dam, many miles of trails await the avid trail runner. From the nearly level trail paralleling Lower Clear Creek, to the knee-stiffening, quad-busting grades of Ridgecrest and Lakeside, the trails in and around the Norris Municipal Watershed and Norris Dam State Park offer a challenging and rewarding array of single-track and jeep roads.
The 2012 Norris Dam Hard Trail Race will offer an exciting option. Racers will choose either the original loop, which this year will approach fifteen miles, and a double loop option that will total 50k. The single loop sends runners along a new five mile section of trail along Norris Lake, then explores the eastern part of the watershed before returning with a heart pounding ascent, then a downhill finish.The second loop will mostly run the first one in reverse, with a few slight modifications. A festive award ceremony and picnic celebrationwill follow at the adjacent pavilion.
COURSE
DESCRIPTION:
Start: Shelter 2 Norris Dam State Park East Entrance. Leave shelter run to Tea Room. Take Tall Timbers Trail to bottom of hill……down steps…..turn right at bottom of the hill to the NEW lake View Trail. New Trail turns left and goes down steep hill. Stay on Lake View Trail for 5 miles. Trail will intersect with Highpoint Trail, turn left. Take Highpoint Trail to Upper Clear Creek Rd. Turn left…..up the hill……to the Boundary Trail, turn right. Take Boundary Trail to Belmont Trail, turn right back to Upper Clear Creek. At Upper Clear Creek, turn left to Red Hill. At Red Hill Trail turn right. Follow Red Hill Trail by Cemetery to the White Pine Trail. Turn left on White Pine Trail….at gate on left…..follow White Pine Trail down hill to Clear Creek Trail. Turn right on Clear Creek Trail. Follow Clear Creek Trail to Bridge. At Bridge, turn right on High Point Trail. 100 yds, turn left on Ridgecrest Trail. Follow Ridgecrest Trail to Freeway Trail. Turn left on Freeway Trail. Follow Freeway Trail to Longmire Trail, turn right. Follow Longmire Trail back to Highpoint Trail. Turn left on Highpoint Trail. At top of hill, turn left on road and returns to shelter. Turn right at split in road. Once in park, follow markers to finish.
DIRECTIONS: From Knoxville: Take I-75 north to exit 122. Turn right off exit towards Norris. From the top of the exit ramp, go 1.4 miles, then turn left on Hwy 441/Norris Freeway. Go about 4.8 miles, then when you approach the dam, turn right at the Norris State Park cabin/campground. Go up the hill about a quarter of a mile to the 2nd pavilion on your right.
September
29, 2012
Big South Fork 17.5 Mile Trail Race
One of the most well-respected trail races in the east, the Big South Fork Trail Race has attracted avid trail runners from throughout the region. Since its inception in the mid-1990's, Race Director Bobby Glenn has presented a trail racing classic suitable for hardcore ultra enthusiasts as well as road runners looking for a challenging introduction to off road running.
The course starts and ends at the John Litton General
Slavens Trailhead.
The first 1.5 miles is paved and gravel, with the balance
being a single track trail. After a short paved section to exit the campground,
runners will follow the gravel road out of the campground area. After about 1
mile on the gravel, runners will enter the trail and descend
through the John
Litton Farm to the Litton/Slavens trail. Taking a left there, they continue 2.5
miles to the Grand Gap Loop. Taking a right
there, they follow the 6.8 mile
Grand Gap Loop, and then return the entire 5.1 miles to the trailhead via the
Litton/Slavens trail. Aid stations at
(roughly) 3.5, 8.5, 12, and 14 miles.
Course closes in 5 hours.
There is no day of race registration, so sign up early!
October 20, 2012
- date tentative
Cumberland Trail 50k
Susan Donnelly - race director
Course Overview: The race takes you on a challenging, out-and-back route on the rugged New River section of the Cumberland Trail. This section crosses the high point of the trail, Cross Mountain, at over 3000'. Be prepared - this course could take up to twice your PR for a 50k. The climb up Cross Mountain is steep and will be slow. The course is 80% single-track trail and 20% gravel road. The race course starts through Cove Lake State Park, then uses approximately 9.3 miles of the Cumberland Trail before diverging off the trail and onto ATV and gravel road the rest of the way to the halfway point. It returns to the finish using the same route.
LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS: The course starts and finishes in beautiful Cove Lake State Park. The race will start at the pool parking lot and finish at Picnic Shelter #3. Parking for both start and finish is at the pool parking lot. Please do not park in the picnic area, since people are using the other picnic shelters and the parking capacity here is limited. Cove Lake is located in East Tennessee's Campbell County, 30 miles northwest of Knoxville, on U.S. 25W and I-75 between LaFollette and Lake City. From I-75, take Exit #134, travel 0.5 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway and take the first left turn.
November
10, 2012
Dirty South Half Marathon
Leah Jones - race director
The final new TTT race for 2012 might be the best of all as we assemble in the new wilderness paradise of South Knoxville to hammer out 13.1 miles of trail racing, as well as celebrate the year's accomplishments. Race specifics will be announced soon.