Dirty South Trail Races 2026

The Dirty South Trail Races start and finish at Mead's Quarry, south of Ijams Nature Center on Island Home Avenue in Knoxville. The adult races include a trail half marathon and a trail 10K, both starting at 9:00 a.m.; the Kids Trail Mile begins at 8:30 a.m. This is South Knoxville trail running, not road racing: the long course combines rocky, technical singletrack with smoother, flowing mountain-bike trail. The half marathon has a four-hour limit, requiring runners to maintain a pace faster than 18:00 per mile. The 13.1-mile course crosses Forks of the River Wildlife Area, William Hastie Park, Marie Myers Park, Ross Marble Quarry, and Ijams Nature Center. The 10K utilizes the main nature center trails and those around Mead's Quarry, while kids have their own mile. The race emphasizes practicality and local involvement: KTC members receive a registration discount, runners are advised to carry their own water as aid stations will have minimal cups, and participants are encouraged to carpool or use Knoxville Area Transit Line 40. Series awards are for KTC members who also volunteer during the season, with top three in each division earning free race entries and winners announced at the KTC Holiday Party in December. Headphones, bikes, strollers, roller blades, and pets are prohibited on the course, and runners under 12 require an adult for the adult races.