Dirty South Trail Races
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Dirty South Trail Races
The Dirty South Trail Races take place in the Urban Wilderness of South Knoxville, Tennessee. The event utilizes Mead's Quarry as the primary start and finish area, located near the Ijams Nature Center. The courses consist of varied terrain, including rocky technical singletrack and smooth mountain bike trails.
The following distances are available:
- Half Marathon: A 13.1-mile course through several parks and wildlife areas.
- 10K: A 10 km route utilizing trails in the nature center and quarry area.
- Kids Trail Mile: A 1-mile trail race through the woods for children.
The 13.1-mile course traverses several local landmarks, including the Forks of the River Wildlife Area, William Hastie Park, Marie Myers Park, and Ross Marble Quarry. This route has a strictly enforced four-hour time limit, and runners must maintain a minimum pace of 18:00 per mile.
Participants under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult if competing in the longer race distances. Due to safety and insurance regulations, the use of headsets, earphones, strollers, bicycles, or pets is not permitted on the course. While aid stations and water are provided, organizers encourage runners to carry their own hydration as only small cups are available.
The event location is accessible via public transportation, specifically the Knoxville Area Transit Line 40. Registered participants receive a technical shirt, though sizes are only guaranteed for those who register by mid-November. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
