Phipps Bend River Run offers challenging course

SURGOINSVILLE — Trail runners from throughout the region will gather at the Phipps Bend Industrial Park in Surgoinsville on Saturday, March 23, for the seventh annual Phipps Bend River Run 10-mile trail race.

The event is part of the 2024 Skelton Law Racing Series presented by Rogersville Attorney Mark Skelton. The race is also included in the State of Franklin Track Club King & Queen Competition, Long Distance Series and Trail Series Competition.

The challenging race will be run on a scenic course along the Holston River. The course will close after two hours and thirty minutes.

According to race director Mark Skelton, “this trail is a Hawkins County treasure, and the section along the Holston River is spectacular.”

Registration will begin at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology at 7 a.m., with the race starting promptly at 8 a.m. A post-race celebration will be held at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology with awards, prizes and refreshments.

Male and female awards will be presented for the top overall, top masters (40+), top grandmasters (50+), top senior grandmasters (60+), and the top three in five-year age group categories. All participants will receive a first quality commemorative shirt.

No headphones, bicycles, strollers, trekking poles, dogs/pets or unregistered runners are allowed on the course.

The gold sponsors for the 2024 Phipps Bend River Run include the Rural Health Services Consortium Inc., the Law Office of Mark A. Skelton in Rogersville, and R. Douglas Strickland M.D. in Kingsport.

The 2024 Skelton Law Racing Series will continue with the Laurel Run Ascent 11-mile trail race on April 13, the Amis Mill 10K road race on May 4, the Wolf Run 7-mile trail race on July 23, the 15-mile Bays Mountain Trail Race on Sept. 7, and the Surgoinsville Half Marathon road race on Oct. 19.

Skelton Law Racing — a fully volunteer community service organization — has presented a series of premier trail and road running events since 1999. Interested sponsors, volunteers and runners for the Skelton Law Racing Series can contact RRCA Certified Race Director Mark Skelton at 423-272-4812 or email markskelton@markskelton.com.

Race applications are available at the Law Office of Mark A. Skelton in Rogersville or online at www.RunTriCities.org.