Stephen Komar, center, with his sister Kathleen Komar and cousin Tommy Belsky after the 2024 Cades Cove Loop Lope.
For Stephen Komar, the Cades Cove Loop Lope experience has become a family reunion.
Komar travels from Milford, Pa., to Townsend, Tenn., for the event because he “loves my Smokies” after going to graduate school at the University of Tennessee.
“This run has become a family reunion with extended family staying in the mountains and running the
Loop Lope,” Komar, 55, said.
This year’s event will be his fourth run — he finished the 10 miles in 2 hours, 1 minute, 38 seconds (a 12:10 per mile pace) in 2024— for the New Jersey professor.
“During the finish line of my second run I stopped to congratulate some of my fellow finishers. We started chatting and it turns out that they were a group of veterinarians who went to UT. We chatted for a few and discussed our mutual scientific backgrounds,” he said.
“Well, during last year’s run, I happened to stop at the top of the mile 7 hill to enjoy the view — and catch my breath). I noticed two runners posing for a selfie. I joked that I would take their picture because it would give me a second to let my heart stop beating out of my chest. They accepted and we shared some pleasantries.
“At the finish I was waiting for my sister and the two runners came across. I said hello and we chatted for a minute. All of a sudden it dawned on us: ‘You are the vets,’ I asked. ‘Aren’t you the professor from New Jersey?’ they asked me.
“Just another small world story that illustrates just how friendly Cades Cove Loop Lope runners are!
Komar does about 10 races per year but says this is the “can’t miss” list on his calendar.
“My favorite run,” he said.
