Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
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Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon & 5K
The event takes place in Townsend, Tennessee on September 17-18, 2027 and offers two race distances over a weekend.
- 5K on mostly paved, tree-lined routes
- Half marathon (13.1 miles) point-to-point course
The Friday 5K runs largely along the Townsend Historical Trail and is described as relatively flat with gentle, rolling terrain. The route starts and finishes at the Talley Ho Inn and includes one aid station.
The Saturday half marathon is a point-to-point course along the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, beginning near Heritage High School and finishing at the Talley Ho Inn. It is an open course shared with local traffic on some sections, is well marked and supported, and includes five aid stations. The course records and a four hour cutoff are part of the event information.
The Black Bear Double registers a single bib for both races and awards separate finisher medals plus an additional Black Bear Double item and standard race shirt collected at the expo.
Logistics include an expo and bib pickup at the Parkman Hotel, parking with shuttle service to the start area from the Parkman Hotel, and no shuttles after the race. Spectators are directed to meet runners at the finish line. The course is wheelchair and stroller accessible.
The event follows a cup-free policy; participants are asked to use a reusable bottle, reusable cup, or hydration pack. Zero waste collection stations will be available for compostables, recyclables, and other waste. Awards include place medals for top finishers and finisher medals for all who complete each race. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
