Little River Run 5K

The 5th Annual Little River Run 5K is set for 11 am on Saturday, November 18th at the Townsend Abbey in Townsend, TN. Join Keep Blount Beautiful and Little River Watershed Association for a run (or walk!) along the Little River in view of the Great Smoky Mountains! This race is a great way for runners and walkers alike to come out and support a clean, green, and beautiful Blount County. 

The Little River Run 5K represents a joint effort through which both organizations encourage participants to be active and 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 Keep Blount Beautiful and the Little River Watershed Association, including litter pickups, stream cleanups, invasive removals, recycling events, and educational programs.

We will be offering both an in-person and virtual option for the race. 

Race info and registration: This will be a chip-timed event. Participants of all ages are welcome. Early bird registration is $25 and ends 11:59 PM Monday, September 4th. Race tickets will be $30 beginning Tuesday, September 5th. Race registration increases to $35 starting Monday, November 13th. Children 12 and under can register for a rate of $15. Registration will also be available on race day. Virtual race runners are a flat rate of $30 since they are not chip timed.

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:   

Virtual Runners: Virtual runners will not receive a chipped bib and therefore will not be eligible for a race medal. 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 know your placement. 

T-Shirts: There will be a limited quantity of shirts available for those who sign up after October 31st.

Awards: Awards will be announced to the top three finishers, both male and female, and then 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 Abbey, weather permitting. 

Packet Pickup: Runners can pick up their packets on Thursday, November 16th from 5-8 PM (Location TBD). During this time, each beer purchase will benefit the Little River Run 5K, so make sure to stay for a pint! Runners unable to make it to the packet pickup can get their packets on race day. If you register after November 16th, you will need to get your packet on race day. 

Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to help with setting up/tear down, registration/sign-in, parking, and course direction. If you would like to volunteer, email [email protected] or fill out the form at http://www.keepblountbeautiful.org/little-river-run-5k. 

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 raffle prizes. Runners and non-runners are welcome for the afterparty. Each runner will receive a free raffle ticket with the option to purchase more. The raffle 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.