BIG SOUTH FORK TRAIL RACE

DATE TIME PLACE: Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 8:30 am (Eastern Daylight Time). Starts and finishes at the Bandy Creek Campground in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This 17.5 Mile out-and-back, loop course starts and ends at the John Litton General Slavens Trailhead. The first 1.5 miles is paved and gravel, with the balance being a single track trail. Aid stations at (roughly) 3.5, 5, 12, and 14 miles. 10k course is a loop course consisting primarily of single track trail. Course closes 1:30 pm. For maps, elevation profiles, and more, click here

DIRECTIONS AND LODGING: From Knoxville, take I-75 north to Oneida, Exit 141 (40 minutes) and follow the signs to Big South National River and Recreation Area. Proceed to the Bandy Creek Campground. Camping space is available at the Bandy Creek Campground. Reservations can be made through the NPS reservation service (www.nps.gov) at 1.800.365.CAMP. GPS coordinates for start: 36.490481, -84.700717

REGISTRATION AND FEES (NO REFUNDS AND NO BIB TRANSFERS): 17.5 mile trail race: $65. 10k trail run: $45. All runners MUST pre-register! KTC Members eligible for $5 discount. Additional picnic lunches are $10.00 each. KTC coupons can be used toward fee. NO LATE OR RACE DAY REGISTRATION. 

PLEASE DON'T TAKE A BIB IF YOU'RE NOT RUNNING. This is safety-related - we want to make sure that everybody who starts the race stays safe. If you take a bib, we think you're running the race. Then when you don't show up at the finish, we have to try and track you down and make sure you're not lost in the woods or hurt. So please -- if you're not running the race, don't take a bib. Also, if you have to drop out of the race, please let one of the race officials know so you are accounted for.  Also, don't crunch or fold the bib, or tear off the bottom.  We need an unspoiled bib to record your time and finish place.

SHIRTS: Each 17.5 Mile runner will receive a limited edition long-sleeve BSF Trail Race sweatshirt. Each 10k runner will receive a long-sleeve cotton T-shirt. If you choose the no shirt option, deduct $5 from fee for either race.

AWARDS: Top 3 Overall, top Masters (40+), Grandmasters (50+), Veterans (60+) for Male and Female. Awards to the top Clydesdale (male, 200 lbs+) and Athena (female, 150 lbs+). Overall winners not eligible for age division awards (three deep). Age divisions grouped in 5-year increments starting with 14—19.  Treadin' Trodden Trails Grand Prix points (i.e., 100-90-80, etc.) will also be awarded for the 17.5 mile race. and half points (i.e., 50-45-40, etc.) for the 10k race.

SPECIAL TTT SERIES AWARDS: This year we'll be awarding the top 3 in each division free race entries: 1st gets the full monty, all 12 races, 2nd gets the 9 race series, and 3rd gets entry into 6 races. Additionally we'll hold a drawing so that two lucky runners get a pair of shoes, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Runner's Market. We'll once again be presenting the awards at the annual KTC Holiday Party in December.  Reminder, to qualify for series awards (and free shoes!), you'll need to be a member of KTC, and you will need to have volunteered two times during the course of the 2025 TTT series. There's still lots of time to get those volunteer points in - and a big thank you to all of the vols so far. 

POST RACE CELEBRATION: All runners are invited to a family picnic in the staging area immediately after the race. Extra meal tickets $10.00.

RESULTS: Results will be available on the Knoxville Track Club website: www.ktc.org

COURSE ETIQUETTE: We reserve the right to disqualify anyone who exhibits unsportsmanlike conduct or is abusive to volunteers. Due to insurance regulations, no headsets, earphones, bicycles, baby strollers, roller blades or pets on the course.

SAFETY: Aid and water stations will be provided, but in an effort to be greener, we urge all runners to carry their own water.  If you don't own a handheld, consider purchasing one.  We also strongly recommend that anyone sensitive to insect stings or bites carry their own medication. Finally, we urge that everyone do some pre-race training offroad, as there is no substitute for experience. We want you to have a good time.

SAFETY POLICY CLARIFICATION: Our primary goal is to keep everybody safe out there in the woods. We've had some interest by younger folks in running the longer races, and we're all over that idea, but we are also concerned about their safety. For the remainder of the season (and moving forward), if a runner is under 12 years old, he or she will need to be accompanied by an adult in order to run the race.  Also, it is less of a safety concern and more of a concern for the welfare of our volunteers: We'll need to start enforcing the 18:00/mile minimum pace. This has been our policy all along but we've gotten a little lax and this keeps our volunteers in the woods far longer than they should have to be. Moving forward each race will have a sweeper, and runners will need to be moving at greater than an 18:00/mile pace to stay in the race. Don't get caught by the sweep!

INFO FOR RUNNING OR VOLUNTEERING: Contact Trail Series Director Michael deLisle at 865.548.4718 or email trails@ktc.org or reach out to Race Director Bobby Glenn at 865.548.7664 or bgruns@icloud.com.  For Big South Fork information, please call 931.879.3625.  Volunteer info and signup available on Runsignup.com.  We value volunteerism highly. Runners can take their participation in the KTC TTT series to the next level by volunteering! Not only does the success of each trail race depend on our great community of volunteers, but volunteerism is required for placement in the esteemed Grand Prix Rankings. In order to qualify for a Grand Prix award, runners must also volunteer for a minimum of 2 events. Each trail race has opportunities for both folks running in the event and those preferring to provide support during the race. Volunteer positions can be found and selected on the respective race page on Runsignup.com. No experience is necessary and one might argue that volunteering is more fun than running. Come out, support the community and secure your place in the Grand Prix hierarchy!

KTC SAFETY POLICY: KTC’s mission is to encourage lifelong physical well-being through running and walking. That is accomplished through a variety of events and programming.

The Knoxville Track Club puts the safety of its participants, spectators, staff and volunteers first. Dangerous weather conditions pose a unique challenge to an event of any size, distance or location.

Therefore, KTC has adopted the following Inclement Weather Policy:

Weather forecasts will be monitored prior to the event, with special attention placed on the possibility of heavy rain, thunder and lightning, high winds, extreme temperatures and humidity. If necessary, athletes will be made aware of these conditions on Knoxville Track Club’s website (www.ktc.org), as well as through other available means of communication such as e-mail, Twitter, Facebook and public address announcements.

The Executive Director and Race Director in consultation, when available, with law enforcement, fire/EMS, other medical officers and other officials, will monitor the weather and make a decision if any action will be taken to modify the race. Possible changes include: Altering the start time, altering the course, or in extreme situations cancellation of the event. Visible lightning occurring within 30 minutes of the scheduled start will cause the race to be postponed for a minimum of 30 minutes. Additional sightings will continue to delay the race in 30-minute increments up to a maximum of 3 delays.

Race personnel reserve the right to delay, cancel, or suspend the race or modify the course due to inclement weather. As stated on 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.