Kathrynn Hemphill, right, and Lindsay Howell of Friends of the Smokies help make sure the Cades Cove Loop Lope in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is memorable.
I don’t know how many of you might be runners/walkers/joggers but let me encourage you to at least look at the Cades Cove Loop Lope in Townsend, Tenn., on Nov. 12.
It’s the only footrace inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There is a 10-mile event with a 3-hour time limit (18 minute per mile pace) and a 5K (3.1 miles).
Race proceeds benefit Friends of the Smokies that use funds to help the national park in many, many ways such as historic preservation, wildlife conservation, native plant and grassland restoration, and more.
Registration opens Thursday at 10 AM and is limited to 750 participants. Cades Cove is closed to everyone that morning other than race participants/volunteers before reopening around noon after the course is cleared.
This is the only race where I have seen a bear on the way to the starting line and then bears while running. Normally you also see deer and turkeys. The sunrise over the mountains is spectacular and last year the snow in the mountains made it even more stunning.
Runners from 20 or more states usually participate and while the course is not flat, it’s not overpowering or I could not be getting ready to do it again.
There will be 100 vehicle parking passes/reservations for on-site access to the race that cost $100 each and the passes sell out quickly. All other participants must shuttle to Cades Cove from the Townsend Visitors Center the morning of the race but that’s not a hassle since buses run continually before the race and after you finish.
Race swag (including virtual participants) includes a finisher’s medal, unique T-shirt and normally some other type surprise unique to the run.
The 7th annual Cades Cove Loop Lope 10-Miler will start at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 12 and the 5K about 5-10 minutes later. Registration fee is $75 plus a $5.50 signup fee
Click here to register at 10 AM on Thursday.
