Kentucky fan Selena James was one of over 400 participants in the Cades Cove Loop Lope 10-Miler. (Amy Marshall/Friends of the Smokies Photo)
There’s not a more satisfying moment for a runner — even a slow one — than to accomplish something you really were not sure you could do.
That’s why I was more than just a bit excited when I completed the Cades Cove Love Lope 10-Miler in 2 hours, 28 minutes, 49.18 seconds Sunday. It’s a run inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and one of few runs held entirely inside a national park.
While there are “roller coaster” type hills, especially the final four miles, the course offers gorgeous views including watching the sun rise over the mountains not long after the 7:30 a.m. start. This was my eighth time to do the run and for the eighth straight year I again saw bears along with deer and turkeys.
But to me, this run is about the people you meet and helping the Friends of the Smokies, a non-profit organization that helps fund park projects that need additional funds. It’s also one of the groups now contributing money to help the national park remain open at least through the end of the year if the government shutdown continues.
I finished 362 overall out of 404 finishers but remember only 11 of the 404 runners were 70 or older — and none older than me — so that gives me a sense of pride. I also thought 2 hours, 45 minutes would be the absolute best I could do so I was thrilled with my time.
The best part for me is that Lindsay Howell of Friends of the Smokies was at the finish line for a second straight year providing my own cheering section. This year Kathryn Hemphill and other Friends of the Smokies were also there and when I saw and heard them it gave me such an adrenaline rush when I crossed the finish line that I told them to sign me up again for 2026 — a move I was not so sure about when the soreness hit me again about three hours after the finish. Obviously, after all these years I finally felt that “runner’s high” I’ve always heard about.
The Friends of the Smokies does great work and I appreciate them letting me share stories about runners as well as helping with packet pickup in Townsend the day before the race. That was really fun this year because the race shirts were Kentucky blue and handing those out to Tennessee and Alabama fans was so much fun. I tried to explain to them it was their lucky day to finally have “Kentucky blue” to wear.
It truly was a lucky day for all participants, though, because we each got a $10 gift card from Peaceful Social Club, a unique restaurant in Townsend with a taco bar, draft beers, salads, sandwiches, shareables, pizza and maybe the best looking pretzel with beer cheese I have seen.
An extra like that is why so many runners/walkers come back year after year even though there were fewer of those this year because the 750 participant limit was reached in less than 10 hours after registration opened several months ago. The event drew runners/walkers from 28 states, the same number of states represented in 2024.
Kentucky fans Kathy and Steve Smith of Paint Lick were back again to compete in the 5K — a 3.1-mile run for those who don’t want 10 miles of hills and views. They finished together in 42:30.61.
Sisters Avery, 17, and Ashlyn Vanlandingham, 21, of northern Kentucky again went 1-2 in the 5K with Avery being the overall winner this time in 21:34.09 with Ashlyn only .13 seconds behind. It was Avery’s first win over her older sister, who ran in the NAIA regional in Knoxville Friday and may have qualified for nationals again. Getting a chance to meet them in person and talk was a treat.
I wrote about Savannah Seay doing the Cades Cove 5K last year and then returning home to Mississippi and finding out very quickly she was pregnant. She was back again this year with running partner Susan Hartfield and they both had children with him. Seven-year-old Rachel Hartfield finished the 3.1-mile event in 1:10.16 with Seay and her baby Kamry about seven minutes behind along with Susan Hartfield. But I guarantee you no one had a better time than that foursome.
I got to meet Kentucky fan Selena James of Shelbyville, Tenn. I have communicated with her on social media about Kentucky games but finally got to meet her in person. She had fractured her foot and tore tendons/ligaments in a summer trail race but still finished the 10 miles in about 2:05.37 (a 12:34 minute pace per mile) — and she’s already looking forward to being back in 2026.
I could go on and on about the run and the people but also remember Friends of the Smokies is one of eight partners that immediately joined forces to make the financial contributions necessary to keep the Great Smoky Mountains National Park staffed during the federal government shutdown and a plan is in place if needed to fund park staffing through Jan. 4. Proceeds from events like the Cades Cove Loop Lope help provide funding but donations are also a key part.
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Amy Marshall, special events coordinator for Friends of the Smokies, will join myself and Tim Estes on WPBK (102.9 FM, wpbkfm.com and WPBK app) Thursday at 7:30 a.m. EST to discuss this and a lot more.
Cades Cove Loop Lope
Photos by Friends of the Smokies & Mary Kay Godbey
One Response
Looks like a adventure! I see your growing your hair out Larry. My hair is the longest its ever been in my life. Shoulder length.
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