Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
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Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon and 5K
The event is a weekend of road races in Townsend, Tennessee, adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It offers two distances and an optional combined entry called the Black Bear Double, which uses one bib for both races and awards separate finisher medals plus a special double medal and an extra swag item.
The half marathon is a point to point course that starts near Heritage High School and finishes at the Talley Ho Inn. The course is fully paved, will be shared with local traffic on some stretches, and is supported by multiple aid stations. The 5K begins and ends at the Talley Ho Inn along a mostly tree-lined, paved route and includes a single aid station. A time cutoff applies for each distance.
Race weekend includes an expo and bib pickup at the Talley Ho Inn, shuttle service to the start area, and no parking at the start line. The event is wheelchair and stroller accessible. All finishers receive a finisher medal; place medals are given for top overall and age group positions. Race photos are captured by an event photo service and results are posted online after the event.
The event follows a cup-free, zero waste approach: runners are asked to carry a reusable bottle, reusable cup, or a hydration pack. Recycling, compost, and waste sorting stations are provided at the event. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
