Norris Ultra Dam Hard Trail Race

NORRIS ULTRA DAM HARD TRAIL RACE

DATE TIME PLACE: Saturday morning, November 1, 2025, at 8:00am. Norris Dam State Park, Norris, TN. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Both race options will take place on single track trails and jeep roads spanning across both the Norris Dam State Park and Norris Municipal Watershed areas. The 25k course and 50k course are identical in that the shorter race goes one loop counterclockwise and the 50k two.  The long races will have multiple aid stations easily accessible by road for spectators and people supporting their runners. The 25k option will have a 4:40 time limit and the 50k option will have a 9 hour time limit, with runners required to reach halfway AND leave the aid station within 4 hours to be allowed to go back out.  

DIRECTIONS: From Knoxville: Take I-75 north to exit 122. Turn right off exit towards Norris. From the top of the exit ramp, go 1.4 miles, then turn left on Hwy 441/Norris Freeway. Go about 4.8 miles, then when you approach the dam, turn right at the Norris State Park cabin/campground. Go up the hill about a quarter of a mile to the 2nd pavilion on your right. Latitude, Longitude: 36.224296, -84.084003

ACCOMMODATIONS: Norris Dam State Park has two campgrounds available with water and electric hook-up and dump stations. Norris Dam State Park also has very nice Rustic cabins and Deluxe Cabins available. Check the Norris Dam State Park website for details. There are additional lodging accommodations at Exit 122 at I-75 and Andersonville Hwy 61 junction.

REGISTRATION AND FEES: Preregistration fees: 25k—$45, 50k—$65.  $5.00 discount for Knoxville Track Club members. Note: Late and Day of race registration available but finishers medals not guaranteed. Late registration race fees: 25k—$50, 50k—$70

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT FEES: At the Runsignup page you will see a slightly different fee listed that includes their processing fee that formerly was assessed at the end of the transaction.  Your net cost is the same.  

SPECIAL SERIES REGISTRATION OFFERS: Sign up online for 12 for $199 Dirty Dozen, 9 for $109 Starter Pack, or 3 for $99 Distance Pack bundle deals and SAVE BIG! https://runsignup.com/treadintroddentrails2024series Expired June 1 

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 Runners 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 we extend an extra big thank you to all who have volunteereed so far this season

T-SHIRTS: Special limited edition T-shirts will be printed for the series. This is the same shirt as at all other Treadin’ Trodden Trails races; one shirt per runner PER SEASON please. Taking multiple shirts minimizes monies we are able to donate to trail friendly causes.

SPECIAL FINISHER AWARD: We will be presenting a deluxe finisher's medal to those who finish both the 25k and the 50k.

SPECIAL SERIES AWARDS: Points will be awarded for overall finish (and volunteerism) at each of the TTT Series races. Top point earners at the end of the series (five each male / female and < 40 / 40+) will receive TTT Series awards. Overall top male and female and top male and female masters will win a valuable grand prize provided by one of our irreplaceable and gracious sponsors. In order to qualify for a series award, an individual must be a current KTC member and volunteer at a minimum of two Treadin’ Trodden Trails events. 

RESULTS: Results will be available on Runsignup.com and on webscorer.com

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. There will be only very small cups at the aid stations. 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 adult race (i.e. not the kids mile).Also, and this 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!

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.

INFO FOR RUNNING OR VOLUNTEERING: Contact KTC Trails Series Director Michael deLisle at trails@ktc.org or 865.548.4718 or co-race directors Rebecca Holder at rebecca-holder@att.net or Doug Holder at southernskies@att.net. Volunteer info and signup available at https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/TN/Andersonville/NorrisDamHardTrailRace. More info 865.548.4718.  Volunteer signup is also available at https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/TN/Andersonville/NorrisDamHardTrailRace.  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 3 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.