Bays Mountain Trail Race presents unique challenges

KINGSPORT — The next stop in the Skelton Law Racing Series will feature a 15-mile loop course on some of the most scenic and challenging trails Bays Mountain Park has to offer.

The 17th annual Bays Mountain Trail Race will be held Saturday, Sept. 7, at 8 a.m. at Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport.

In addition to being part of the Skelton Law Racing Series presented by Rogersville attorney Mark Skelton, the Bays Mountain Trail Race is also included in the State of Franklin Track Club King & Queen Competition, Long Distance Series and Trail Series competitions. Members of SFTC have selected the race to receive the race or shirt of the year awards eight times.

According to Skelton, the race director, “This race is a favorite of trail runners but is recognized as being one of the most challenging running events in the region.”

Aaron Saft of Asheville, North Carolina, holds the male course record of 1:33:21, which has stood since 2007. Carrie Boyd of Jonesborough set the female course record in 2013 with a time of 1:52:53.

“The race should only be attempted by runners who are prepared for a trail race of this distance and difficulty. The course will be closed after three hours and 45 minutes,” Skelton said.

Registration will begin at 7 o’clock the morning of the race at the Farmstead Museum.

Participants will be allowed free entry into Bays Mountain Park. A post-race celebration with awards and prizes will be held at the Farmstead Museum. Texas Roadhouse of Kingsport will provide a post-race lunch for participants.

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 commemorative shirt.

The gold sponsors for the 2024 Bays Mountain Trail Race are Rural Health Services Consortium Inc., Law Office of Mark A. Skelton in Rogersville, R. Douglas Strickland M.D. of Gastroenterology Associates in Kingsport, Allan Couch M.D. of Southeastern Retina Associates in Kingsport, and Texas Roadhouse in Kingsport.

The final race in the 2024 Skelton Law Racing Series is the Surgoinsville Half Marathon road race on Oct. 19. Participants who run all the races in the Skelton Law Racing Challenge will receive a commemorative sweatshirt, awards and an invitation to a private twilight barge ride and dinner at Bays Mountain Park.

The award-winning, all-volunteer Skelton Law Racing is a community service organization that has presented a series of premier trail and road running events since 1999. Interested sponsors, volunteers and runners can contact Skelton, a RRCA-certified race director, at 423-272-4812 or markskelton@markskelton.com. Race applications are available at the Law Office of Mark A. Skelton in Rogersville or online at www.RunTri Cities.org.