Little River Run 5K

The 6th Annual Little River Run 5K is set for 11 AM on Saturday, November 16th at the Townsend Abbey (7765 River Rd. Townsend, TN 37882). Join Keep Blount Beautiful (KBB) and Little River Watershed Association (LRWA) for a run (or walk!) by the Little River in view of the Great Smoky Mountains! The Little River Run 5K is a joint fundraising effort that brings together hundreds of people to celebrate the beauty of Blount County and promote a clean, green, and beautiful community. All proceeds from the event benefit KBB and LRWA's many free programs, events, and initiatives that focus on environmental education and sustainability.

Registration: Both in-person and virtual race options are available and participants of all ages are welcome. The in-person race is a chip-timed event and will start promptly at 11 AM. Early-bird registration is $25 and ends at 11:59 PM Monday, September 9th. Registration will increase to $30 on Tuesday, September 10th at 12 AM. Registration will increase to $35 on Monday, November 11th at 12 AM. Children 12 and under can register for a rate of $15 at any time (age-based pricing will be applied at checkout). Virtual races are not chip-timed and are a flat rate of $30. Registration will also be available on race day. 

Virtual Runners: Virtual runners will not receive a chipped bib and therefore will not be eligible for an award. Virtual run times can be self-recorded (via apps such as Strava or Map My Run) and reported to Keep Blount Beautiful, director@keepblountbeautiful.org, if you want to be added to RunSignUp. 

Course Description: The run begins at the Townsend Abbey (7765 River Road, Townsend, Tennessee 37882) and moves along a flat course by the Little River. The course then curves to connect with the Townsend Historical Greenway for a short time before turning down a side road and then ending back at the Townsend Abbey. Watch a video of the racecourse here You can view the race map here. 

T-Shirts: Runners should register before October 31st to be guaranteed a T-shirt. There will be a limited quantity of shirts available for those who sign up after October 31st. T-shirts may only be available to those who attend the race in-person unless picked up at the packet pickup. 

Awards: Awards will be announced to the top three finishers, both male and female, and the 1st and 2nd finishers, both male and female, based on the following age brackets: 0-16, 17-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+. Awards will be announced at 12 PM outside of the Townsend Abbey, weather permitting. 

Packet Pickup (and Pint Night): Runners registered for the 6th Annual Little River Run 5K can pick up their race packets on Thursday, November 14th from 5-8 PM at Little River Trading Company/Cycology Bicycles (2408 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville). During this time, each beer purchase Cycology Bicycles' taproom will benefit the 5K, so make sure to stay for a pint! Runners unable to make it to the packet pickup can get their packets on race day from 9 AM to 10:30 AM in front of the Townsend Abbey. Those who register after the packet pickup on November 14th will need to get their packet on race day.

Parking: Please arrive early to ensure you get to the start line on time. Parking will be available by 8:50 AM on the grass lot to the left of the Chocolate B'ar on Depot Ave. when entering The Abbey from Hwy 321. Parking attendants will assist with parking when you arrive. Additional parking will be available at CBBC Bank (7729 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy). Overflow parking will be available in the grass lot next to the Townsend Post Office (118 Town Square Dr.), 0.55 miles from the The Abbey. Please prepare for the event that you will need to use overflow parking. 

Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to help with setting up/tear down, registration/sign-in, parking, and course direction. Volunteers can sign up by clicking the Volunteer tab on the race website.

Little River Run 5K Pint Night: Join Keep Blount Beautiful, the Little River Watershed Association, and Peaceful Side Brewery on October 17th for a Pint Night benefitting the Little River Run 5K! All day, $1 from each beer purchase (two beers will be selected) will benefit the 5K. KBB and LRWA representatives will be on site from 4- 7 PM to provide more information on the event and other events and programming! Race registration will also be available at this time. 

Post run: Please bring a water bottle to reduce waste. A filling station will be available. After the run, hang out at the Townsend Abbey for lunch, drinks, and prize giveaways. Runners and non-runners are welcome for the afterparty. Each runner will receive a free ticket and giveaways will be announced directly after the award ceremony.

Weather: This race is in mid-November, but we all know how unpredictable East TN weather can be! Historically, the high in Townsend in November is 59 and the low is 35, so plan for a chill but be ready to get warmed up! Dress sensibly, and don't pile on layers; the rule of thumb is to add 10 to 20 degrees to the outside temperature to calculate your running temperature. Race personnel reserves the right to delay, cancel, or suspend the race or modify the course due to inclement weather. As stated on the 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.

COVID-19 Precautions: For the safety of others, if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to COVID-19 please refrain from participating in the Little River Run 5K. We reserve the right to postpone/cancel the race, or change all registrations to a virtual run, should government guidelines recommend no gatherings of the estimated size of the Little River Run 5K per the date of the race.