Registration is officially open for the RockCreek.com StumpJump 50K & 11 Mile Trail Race. Sign up for the StumpJump today!
Even though we’re only a couple weeks away from the River Gorge Trail Race*, now’s the time to start planning your fall race calendar. Come join us for this great race. Racers get a free synthetic race tee, a pair of wool socks, and lots of other goodies. There’s also a free carbo supper and vendor fair the night before. Remember there’s an 11 Mile option if you’re not quite ready to go whole hog, or if you have a friend or spouse who wants to come with you and run a shorter distance.
Much of the popularity of this race has to be attributed to the beautiful scenery. Overall there’s about 2200 feet of elevation gain, and you’re running through the beautiful Suck Creek Canyon and into the Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area. The race begins at Nolan Elementary School, goes through Shackleford Ridge Park to Mushroom Rock, across a swinging bridge over North Suck Creek into Prentice Cooper. Snooper’s Rock offers a great view of the Tennessee River Gorge, the “Grand Canyon of Tennessee,” but you won’t want to spend too much time gawking, because at this point the race course goes onto the popular Mullen’s Cove Loop, which includes the aptly-named Rock Garden, site of many a sprained ankle. This area will slow down even the most nimble runners with its mossy boulders. When you hit the Indian Rock House for the second time, you know you’ve hit mile 20. All that’s left is the trek back across Prentice Cooper to Suck Creek again, and then back up Signal Mountain to the finish at Nolan.
There’s a reason we’re opening registration so early: This has become one of the most anticipated ultramarathons in the Southeast, and we had to turn down a lot of runners last year.
This year all registration will be handled online, and when the race fills up, we can’t help you! So register TODAY.
We had a great race last year with 350 runners, and we expect this to be the best year yet. Race proceeds go to benefit the organization charged with building and maintaining the trails we use for the race. We raised $3000 for the Cumberland Trail Conference last year, and we hope to raise even more this year.
Want to try the StumpJump as your first 50K? Check out our article on training for your first 50K.
Read Jim Farmer’s 2006 Race Report.
Check out the StumpJump 50K Race Map.
*You can still sign up for the River Gorge Race. We’re about halfway full for that race, so sign up for that one too! It’s a great way to get in shape and ramp up your training for the StumpJump.