Chattanooga, TN- Rock/Creek and Andrew Kornylak present the latest video from the Rock/Creek Trail Series, featuring three days of intense trail running from the Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race. The video captures the excitement of this foot race, which in its fourth year has grown to one of the largest in the country, with 200 runners from a dozen states. Kornylak and his team captured dramatic vistas with rolling clouds and beautiful sunsets along with glimpses of runners as they stagger up steep inclines, dash through switchbacks, and grovel along rock stairs.
The video also captures the human element, with the eldest race finisher, Randal Whorton, recalling advice passed down from his grandfather: “Don’t ever get up on the porch and sit in a rocking chair with the old people…” Whorton talks about his experience trying to keep up with the kids, including his son Randy and daughter-in-law Kris, who founded this race.
Inspired by a deeply moving Stage Race experience in Switzerland, the Whortons developed this unique race several years ago to showcase some of the best trails in the Chattanooga area. The race quickly grew from a handful of participants to its current size.
Day one begins at Lula Lake Land Trust on Lookout Mountain and takes runners along 22 miles of mountain trails, up and around Covenant College’s Cross Country Park and back to the Trust’s core property. Day two is a less strenuous 18-mile loop along trails on Raccoon Mountain, on trails developed on TVA’s land by SORBA-Chattanooga. The finish on day three gnashes at runners’ wills as they battle fatigue along 20 miles of the Cumberland Trail on Signal Mountain. The start/finish for this day uses the pavilion at Signal Mountain Middle/High School.
“Signal Mountain in particular was a breathtaking setting for a trail race,” explains Atlanta-based photographer and videographer Andrew Kornylak; “It was probably my favorite trail yet. I partnered with videographer Jordan Shipman for this latest Rock/Creek Trail Series video. Jordan shot some killer footage from all three days of the stage race. I look forward to working with Jordan in the near future! Sharif Hassan also contributed great footage from day 3.”
The race was one of ten offered in the 2010 Rock/Creek Trail Series, making up three of the thirteen dates available to runners throughout the year. Presented by SmartWool, the race was also made possible through the sponsorships of various Rock/Creek vendors including Marmot, Salomon, Patagonia, Hammer Nutrition, and locally, Greenlife Grocery. All proceeds from the race benefit Wild Trails, a new 501©(3) nonprofit working to promote the use, expansion, and protection of trails in greater Chattanooga.
For more information on the Chattanooga Mountain Stage Race, contact Race Director Jonathan Mobley at events [at] rockcreek.com or visit https://www.rockcreek.com/stagerace/
Other videos from the Trail Series are available on Rock/Creek’s YouTube page: https://www.rockcreek.com/youtube/
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