About
WELCOME TO THE 12th YEAR FOR THE PISTOL PARTY!
This is a great urban ultra and half/full marathon to start spring off with a bang! This event near Knoxville, TN (USA), has quickly become very popular, always filling before registration closes. With distances from 13.1 to 150 miles, there's something for everyone!
Runners get some great swag at check-in and are pampered by some really nice volunteers, spoiled with amazing support at heated aid stations, enjoy camaraderie with plenty of other crazy ultra runners, and can score some really cool finisher's awards. This is a great race for first time and seasoned ultra runners alike. Walkers and push rims are welcome too. We’re here to have a good time!
All of the races start at the Alcoa Springbrook Pool Center (636 Vose Rd, Alcoa, TN). The certified courses are mostly flat (for East Tennessee!), paved, generally eight foot wide greenway that is lit at night time. For those who prefer a softer surface, there is grass alongside some of the trail. It meanders along the Pistol Creek (hence the name for the event), through Alcoa, by several small bodies of water, and over to Maryville's Bicentennial Greenbelt Park. It is a linear route just over 5 miles long with a lollipop at the southern end of the out-and-back and a short side spur on the return trip back to the Start/Finish.
The 50K/100K loops will be the same distance (10.35 miles). The 50kers will do this loop three times; the 100kers, six times. The 50/100 mile loops will be slightly shorter (10 miles exactly), with the 10 milers doing it once, the 50 milers five times, and the hundo runners ten times. The event features a very generous 32 hour cut-off for the 50K, 100K, and hundo. The nighttime 50 mile race starts at 20:00 Saturday, with a 20 hour cut-off. The half and full marathon start at 08:00 Sunday. All races end at 16:00 Sunday.
Plan to arrive Friday afternoon for check-in, packet/swag pick-up, score some official Pistol gear at the Pistol Corral Store, meet other runners in the tribe, and enjoy other pre-race activities. There are REAL indoor heated restrooms at a couple of locations along the course. In addition to awesome aid stations and amazing runner support, all participants receive a FREE finisher's food truck meal ticket. Yes, you will definitely be spoiled! Can't get any better for a spring race!
