5K races near Greenback

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.

Pink on Eureka 5K is a charity run and walk in Athens, Tennessee, on the Eureka Trail near East Madison Avenue. The event includes a timed 5K and a 1-mile walk, allowing runners, walkers, adults, and K-12 students to participate in the fundraiser. All proceeds support American Cancer Society breast cancer research. Terra Running Company provides timing services. Race swag includes shirts, and medals are awarded to the top three finishers in nine age categories, with separate overall male and female awards.

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 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.

The True Hero Veterans 5K is a chip-timed road race in Tellico Plains, Tennessee. It begins at 9:00 AM from Tellico Plains High School on Hwy 68. The event honors veterans and active military personnel; runners are encouraged to wear patriotic clothing. It also serves as a fundraiser for the Tellico Plains High School Baseball team, lending the morning a local school-and-community atmosphere instead of a large commercial race feel. The course is a certified single loop starting and finishing at the high school, passing through downtown Tellico Plains. Finishers receive an athletic dry-fit shirt. Awards will be given for both overall and age-group categories following the run. Chris Hollinghead directs the event, now in its fifth year. Packet pickup is available before the start, with an awards ceremony planned for late morning.

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 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.

The Rock’in Santa Half Marathon and Sunshine Santa 5K are road races held in Knoxville, Tennessee, beginning at 9:00 AM and featuring a December holiday theme. This event typically attracts between 100 and 500 participants, offering both a half marathon and a 5K distance. The courses are fast, flat loops with a park-run atmosphere within Victor Ashe Park. Christmas rock-and-roll music is featured along the routes. Participants in the half marathon receive custom Rock’in Santa long-sleeve performance hoodies, while 5K runners get Sunshine Santa long-sleeve shirts. All proceeds benefit Sunshine Ambassadors, a program that uses dance to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities.