Smoky Bear Turkey Chase 5 K

Top 10 Reasons to Run the Smoky Bear Turkey Chase 5K

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It is November so it is time to consider running in the SCHS Smoky Bear Turkey Chase 5K. I ran it last year and can’t wait to do it again. Here are my top 10 reasons why you should consider this 5K race in our own backyard. I’ll use some pictures from last year to illustrate some points.

  1. It is fun! It is laid back and relaxed as you will ever find a 5K. Show up and run by yourself. You will still have a blast.

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2.   Proceeds support the SCHS STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Scholarship.

3.   You will meet nice people. There will be families that are both local and visitors for the holiday weekend.

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4.   Race conditions are very comfortable. If it is like last year, the race is mostly on a flat surface. You will not be far from shelter or a bathroom. That is important to some of us!

5. You can walk or run the 5K. Do it at your own pace.

6. You may find yourself running alongside local dignitaries and celebrities too. At the starting line, I found myself standing by Judge Gary Wade and Coppley Vickers. You will probably see Coach B and Kristi Atchley at the race.

7.   You have a decent chance of winning an award. If you are over 40 then you have a very good chance of winning an award. If you are over 50 then you have an outstanding chance of winning an award! Last year, there were 3 awards in every age division. I actually won in my age group!

8.   You will probably laugh several times. Student encouragers will use humor to keep you moving.

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9.  You may get to meet someone famous. Last year, we met a famous Spartan racer.

Jamie McCart ran the race and won in his age group. Train hard, guys! He had an interesting story last year. Click this link to see his story on my blog last year.

https://outandaboutinsevierville.com/2016/11/28/part-2-the-best-thanksgiving-5-k-in-tennessee-the-smoky-bear-turkey-chase-2016/

10.   You can be in and out in an hour and a half. Go home and eat Thanksgiving dinner with little guilt.

Bonus: You will have the best afternoon nap ever.

Want to sign up? You can find them on Facebook. Here is a link. https://www.facebook.com/SCHS-Foundation-5k-1467641556852735/

This is the best little 5K race in Tennessee on Thanksgiving Day. Come run with us!

It is a fun, healthy way to get out and about in Sevierville. 

The Best Thanksgiving 5 K Race in Tennessee ( Part 1) : Smoky Bear Turkey Chase 2016

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I found the best little Thanksgiving 5K in Tennessee—and it is right here in Sevierville. Although I wasn’t feeling that great Thanksgiving morning, I made my way to SCHS to see the race for myself, and maybe just to run a 1 K.. It held a lot of fun surprises. Here is what happened…

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There were a lot of cars in the vocational school area. Racers, volunteers, and well wishers were heading to the stadium.

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These racers were ready to go.

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Registration, T-shirts, food, merchandise, and rest rooms under the stadium roof.

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Check in was quick and easy. Nancy Trundle Hewitt, Executive Director of the SCHS Foundation, wished us well. She is the force behind this group and we appreciated all her leadership, especially on Thanksgiving morning.

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Kristi Sims Atchley and her daughters were ready to run. At least one of them has run in a St. Jude’s race in Nashville. Young veteran racers here.

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Leia Loveday is a veteran runner and was ready move!

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Kariss Waite and her husband support the SCHS Foundation and raced really well. A SCHS alum, Kariss hasn’t raced in about a year, but wanted to support the science classes.

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The Smoky Bear mascot and a turkey encouraged the racers minutes before the race.

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Always take a camera to this race. So fun!

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Finish line ready to go.

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Front line racers warming up and ready to go.

When the starting gun rang out, I was actually tying my shoe! I couldn’t believe it. However, all went well and I didn’t lose any seconds. Many thanks to the SCHS Junior who videoed the start so I could be in line with the racers and not lose any time. Thanks!

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Official time keeper for the race. He was busy taking pictures, video, stats, etc. The course included one lap on the track, run up the road by the visitor’s gate, up to the back parking lot, run across the back row toward the vocational school, take a right on the main entrance, return to the stadium and down to the track. Repeat 2 more times. It was mostly flat, except for the slight incline up to the visitors gate. However it was great because you were always on campus and near help, bathrooms, shelter, etc.

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Dean of LMU Law School, Gary Wade, and Coppley Vickers support the Sevier County High School Foundation to raise money for Dr. Suzanne South’s Science lab. Proceeds also support a STEM scholarship.

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Waiting for racers to finish and to hear the awards presentation.

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Having fun waiting for the awards results.

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This family came from two separate states to spend the Thanksgiving holiday in Sevier County. They like to run 5 Ks and Googled to find this race. They rented a cabin for the holiday, but started Thanksgiving with this 5 K.

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This is a Sevier County family out for an early run. The mother works at Pigeon Forge Primary School.

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SCHS volunteers got to the stadium at 6:00 a.m. to prepare for the Smoky Bear Turkey Trot. Thank you!

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It was fun to read the posters meant to motivate runners.

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That must have been a workout pushing up the hill to the visitor’s gate.

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Gary Wade finishes strong. The Smoky Bear mascot congratulates with a high five.

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The crowd waiting for awards presentations.

I am dividing this blog story into two parts because there was an adventure sports celebrity in attendance for the event. In an hour, I will publish the second part of this article. We will see some awards and I’ll introduce you to the adventure sports celebrity. I got the scoop!