5K races near Alcoa

The Finish on the Field 5k is a fall 5K race in Knoxville. It begins at 8 a.m. and finishes inside Covenant Health Park in the Old City. A virtual race option is available. This event is in its second year and has moved to a new ballpark for its finish. Thousands of runners, Knoxville Track Club members, and volunteers participate. The race is part of the KTC's Grand Prix Series, a year-long team and individual competition. Participants receive a finisher medal. Early registrants are guaranteed a unisex race shirt. Awards are presented after the 5K. Photographers document the course and finish. Results will be available via text or online, with downloadable finisher certificates.

The Thompson Cancer Survival Center Race Against Cancer is an afternoon race organized by the Thompson Cancer Survival Center. Runners register before the start, and the race begins at 3:00 p.m. The day focuses on cancer survivors as much as the race itself. Before runners line up, the event includes a Survivor March and Photo, followed by a Tribute to Survivors.

The Peanut Butter Jelly Jog 5K is a 5 km run in Graham, North Carolina, starting from The Bridge at 615 West Harden Street. It is scheduled as a morning race in November, with one main distance rather than several race options. The published course details only name the start point, so the clearest anchor is The Bridge on West Harden Street. Registration includes an early-bird price, a higher regular price after the early September cutoff, and a lower fee for children 12 and under, which makes the event accessible to both adults and younger runners.

Whiskey Run Knoxville begins and ends at El Mezcal Mexican Restaurant on North Forest Park Boulevard in Knoxville, Tennessee. This event is the Knoxville location for the Whiskey Run, a running series held in multiple cities based on a straightforward concept: run, then taste whiskey at the finish. The series also includes events in Atlanta, Augusta, Huntsville, London, Miami, Nashville, Rome, St. Louis, and Toronto, placing Knoxville within a schedule that spans the U.S. South, Midwest, Florida, and Ontario. What distinguishes this from a typical community road race is the post-race arrangement: select whiskey tastings and a gathering area are available after the run.

The Light The Way 5K is a nighttime 5K held annually at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It takes place in November, coinciding with the park’s Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. Runners and walkers navigate Dollywood after dark, surrounded by millions of Christmas lights. The course begins near Dollywood’s toll booths, follows the park’s tram road, and concludes amidst the Christmas light displays within the park. Over half of the 5K route extends beyond the park's main area. The course was re-certified to enhance the race setup. Participants should aim to complete the 5K within approximately 90 minutes. A 1-mile Fun Walk is also available for slower walkers and families.

The Farragut Fall 5K takes place in November in Farragut, Tennessee, starting at Mayor Bob Leonard Park on Watt Road. The primary event is a 5K run, alongside a 1-mile fun walk/run for those seeking a shorter, more relaxed pace. The race begins in the morning, presenting as a local community event rather than a major destination race. The event includes separate 5K and 1-mile categories for military veterans, aligning with its November date. A “Sleep In” option is available for those who wish to support the cause without participating in the run or walk. This race has a history spanning over twenty years, and parking has occasionally been directed to Harrison Road due to park construction affecting standard access.

Dollywood's Light The Way 5K is a nighttime 5K in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, run through the park's Christmas lights during the Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. The race begins near Dollywood's toll booths on Dollywood Parks Boulevard, offering runners a route after dark integrated with the theme park's holiday display, with millions of lights surrounding them as they approach the finish. The course follows Dollywood's tram road initially, with over half of the route situated outside the park, before directing runners back through the Christmas lights to conclude the race. The course has been re-certified, participants must be clear by 12:30 a.m., and individuals uncertain of finishing the 5K within 90 minutes are directed to the 1-mile Fun Walk. It appeals to runners seeking a festive 5K rather than a typical road race, along with walkers and families extending a Dollywood holiday weekend.

The Secret City Half Marathon and 5K begin and end at Melton Lake Peninsula in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Both races take place in November, featuring a 13.1-mile half marathon and a 3.1-mile 5K on the same morning. Over 1,200 runners and walkers are anticipated, with the event welcoming families alongside those competing in the longer race. The half marathon route extends along Melton Lake Drive, incorporating city streets and greenways within Oak Ridge. It passes an active quarry, proceeds down a tree-lined private road, and concludes back at the peninsula by the water. The 5K route remains nearer to Melton Lake, heading north towards Elza Gate Park before returning via the walking trail. Volunteers mark the course before sunrise, police assist with road crossings, and roads will remain open, though drivers might encounter brief delays at intersections with Melton Lake Drive and Emory Valley Road.

The Smoky Bear Turkey Chase 5K is a Thanksgiving Day run and walk in Sevierville, Tennessee. It is a relaxed local 5K, not a high-pressure race, and participants can cover the distance at their own pace. Proceeds support the SCHS STEM Scholarship, directing funds toward science, technology, engineering, and math students. The event attracts local families, holiday visitors, runners, and walkers who want to move before Thanksgiving dinner. The course is mostly flat, with shelter and bathrooms conveniently located. Most people can finish the outing within about an hour and a half. Age-division awards are given three deep, with good odds mentioned for runners over 40 and over 50. Student encouragers add jokes along the route, and the field may include Sevierville figures such as Coach B, Kristi Atchley, local dignitaries, and the occasional strong racer like Spartan racer Jamie McCart.

The Regal Knoxville Turkey Trot 5K and Little Gobbler Kid's Run is a Thanksgiving morning running event in Downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, beginning at 227 West Depot Avenue. The children's mile starts at 8:00 AM, with the 5K following at 8:45 AM. This schedule allows families to include the children's race on the same morning as the main event without rushing between them. The 5K follows the downtown Knoxville course used in previous years. An elite corral on Depot Avenue, based on predicted finish time, is available to reduce crowding at the start. The Little Gobbler Run is for children aged 12 and under. Parents can accompany their children without registering for the 5K. Awards will be presented to the top three overall male, female, and open finishers.

Run LoCo is an annual winter race in Lenoir City, Tennessee, held at the Tellico Lake Canal Day Use Area. Participants can choose between a certified half marathon beginning in the morning, and the 5K Elf on the Run, starting shortly after, which encourages holiday costumes and family involvement. The half marathon is chip-timed and follows a course near Tellico Lake and the Tellico Dam area, offering open water and dam-side scenery instead of a downtown setting. All participants receive a hoodie and medal. Parking is available in the Tellico Dam Area, and race proceeds benefit the Loudon County Education Foundation.