2011-2012 Tennessee State Parks Running Tour

2011-12 Running Tour Sets Record It was a record year for the Tennessee State Parks Running Tour, as overall participation and many individual races set highest-ever levels of participation. Congratulations to all the Grand Prix champions in each category: Women’s Final Standings. Men’s Final Standings. Thanks to everyone who participated throughout the series. Big appreciation goes out to all the Race Directors and Volunteer Race Director Tomas Depaulis for an outstanding season.  We’ll look forward to seeing runners back to kick-off the 34th Running Tour for 2012-13 at Rock Island State Park in October.

2011-2012 is the 33rd year of the annual Tennessee State Parks Running Tour. This unique fall and winter series of foot races with distances varying from 5 to 13 miles is the oldest state parks running series in the nation. There are a total of 21 races this season, beginning with the Rock Island 5 Miler on October 8, 2011, and concluding with the Fall Creek Thaw 15K on March 3, 2012. All races start Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. local time, so note whether your race is located in either Eastern or Central Times Zones. Pre-registration is $6 for the no-shirt option or $19 that includes a high quality, long sleeve shirt with State Parks Running Tour logo in different colors for each race. Race day registration is $13 and does not include a shirt.

The Tour also encourages runners and volunteers to accumulate Grand Prix points by participating in multiple races. By finishing in at least five events, Grand Prix points attained from a maximum of ten races (out of a possible 19) count toward special Championship Awards presented at the end-of-season banquet following the last Tour race on March 3, 2012. There are male and female Championship Categories in six different divisions: Youth (0-19); Open (20-39); Masters (40-49); Grand Masters (50-59); Senior Grand Masters (60-69) and Seventy Plus (70+). In addition, the top ten volunteers from the series will also receive an award during the Running Tour banquet on March 3, 2012 at Fall Creek Falls State Park.

Please join us for a memorable race experience at any of the 21 different Tennessee State Park stops on the 2011-2012 Running Tour.

Good running and thank you for your support.

Tomas de Paulis
Volunteer Running Tour Director
Tennessee State Parks