Pistol Ultra Run

This event near Knoxville, TN, has quickly become very popular. Runners score some great swag, can enjoy an optional pre-race pasta dinner, and are pampered by some really nice volunteers, lots of heated aid station support, camaraderie with plenty of other crazy ultra runners, and some really cool finisher's awards. This is a great race for first time and seasoned ultra runners alike. Walkers are welcome too. This event helps to raise funds for some noteworthy local non-profits, including the Foothills Striders, who support local youth scholarships.

The course is a mostly flat (for East Tennessee!), paved, generally eight foot wide greenway that is lit at night time. For those who prefer a softer surface, there is grass alongside some of the trail. It meanders along the Pistol Creek (hence the name for the event), through Alcoa, by several small bodies of water, and over to Maryville's Bicentennial Greenbelt Park. It is a linear route just over 5 miles long with a lollipop at the end of the out-and-back.

All of the races start at the beautiful new Alcoa High School (1205 Lodge Street, Alcoa, TN). All distances will run south about 4.5 miles and return to the start, then continue north to their specified turnaround and return back to the start. The 50K/100K loops will be the same distance (10.35 miles). The 50kers will do this loop three times; the 100kers, six times. The 50/100 mile loops will be slightly shorter (10 miles exactly), with the 10 milers doing it once, the 50 milers five times, and the hundo runners ten times. The event features a very generous 32 hour cut-off for the 50K, 100K, and hundo.