Annual Midnight 8K Held

    The Pigeon Forge Midnight 8K road race is set to take place at the end of this month.
     Participants will line up at 11:55 p.m. on July 31 and the race will start at midnight.  The course is flat and fast.
     This race has been a very popular event since 1981 when David Morris and several members of the Smoky Mountain Striders started the race.  Morris and Co-Directors managed the race for 15 years before turning the race over to the Pigeon Forge Police and High School.  After a few years, the race was cancelled and has not been held for about 7 years.
     The Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center will serve as the Official Headquarters and hotel for the event.  Pre-race staging will take place in the parking lot at the Sevier County Bank on the Parkway.
     Cost for registration is $20 through July 16.  All mail-in entries must be postmarked by July 16, 2010.  Knoxville Track Club members are eligible for $5 discount during pre-registration only.  Cost beginning on July 17 is $25 through July 28 and registrations are accepted online only.  No registrations will be accepted July 29 or 30.  Race day registration cost is $30.  Any participants choosing the no t-shirt option will receive $5 off anytime.  Participants can go to www.ktc.org for details on registration.  
     Expected participation is between 500 and 750 participants.  There is a wheelchair division in this event.
     Sponsors for the event include PigeonForge.com as the Title Sponsor, the Holiday Inn Pigeon Forge Hotel and Convention Center, the City of Pigeon Forge, Sevier County Bank, and Collier Restaurant Group.
     The Knoxville Track Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage lifelong physical well-being through running and walking.  The vision of the Knoxville Track Club is healthy living, healthy community – one step at a time.  A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Pigeon Forge High School for athletic teams.  
     For more information on this event, contact Co-Race Director David Morris at (865) 607-8717 or at smokymtnhiker@aol.com or Co-Race Director Caroline Lamar at (865) 384-7441 or at carolinelamar@hotmail.com.  
     For more information on the Knoxville Track Club, contact Kristy Altman at (888) 217-5635 or at kaltmanruns@gmail.com.