Trash Panda, An Awesomesauce Event presented by Run Chattanooga

Event Overview

What's a trash panda? It's a fun term for a raccoon...because they sort of look like giant pandas (in their coloring) and they sort of look like red pandas (which sort of look like raccoons) and also, they like to dig through the trash. It's also the slightly-bratty-but-still-kinda-cute little sister race to our perennial powerhouse, the spring Raccoon Mountain races.

Event Details

• Date: September 12, 2026
• Location: Raccoon Mountain Pumped Station Reservoir - Laurel Point, Chattanooga, TN
• Website: Trash Panda Race

Start/Finish

Laurel Point on Raccoon Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Swag

• Swag Items: There will be swag. We have TECHNICALLY surpassed the amount of swag we ordered for this year, but in order to open up more spots to participate in the race, we have some alternative options for swag.
• Finisher Medal: Laser burned wooden finisher medal. Produced by a real, live, actual Tennessean.
• Personalization: Names burned into your medal by race day if registered by August 31st.
• Stocked Aid Stations: The most stocked up aid stations you':ve ever encountered.

Apparel

We have restocked our Into The Forest I Go mugs, as well as our "Stay Trashy Chattanooga" and "I Run So I Can Eat Garbage" shirts, we’ve got all new shirts (long sleeve and short sleeve), tank tops, and hoodies and other apparel too! (We don’t give these away as swag because everyone has a preference, and we also don’t get the cheapest shirt known to man, nor do we cover the back with logos.)

Future Races

You can also register for future races here, with a little discount for registering in cash. Later this year, we have Spookasaurus and the winter Grab Bag, and Freeze Your Half Off in January is also open for registration. We prefer cash but can also take credit cards, Venmo, and CashApp.

Course Description

We will be using only the trails that connect to Laurel Point. The loop is a little bit more than 3.1-ish miles long. We':ll have an out-and-back section marked for each distance to get you to the appropriate mileage. The trail is technical in that there are roots and rocks, but it':s not particularly difficult.

Time Limit

There is an eight-hour time limit for all distances. You must be out on your last lap by 3:45pm. (That’s because the mountain closes, not because we’re meanie pantsers.) We don’t DNF: we’ll give you a finish time for the distance you did complete.

Aid Stations

There will be one aid station mid-course, and another one at the start/finish/end of the 5-ishK lap. So you’re never more than 2 miles from food/drinks/frivolity that you’ll pass on each lap.

• Available Items: At the aid station will be Gatorade, water, Coke, Mountain Dew, energy gels, a variety of chips, candy, and cookies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pickles and pickle juice shots.
• Non-food Supplies: A full array of non-food supplies like Vaseline, salt pills, etc.
• Drop Bags: You are welcome to leave a drop bag at the designated area near the aid station.
• Crew Support: Our crew is also known for their unparalleled support.

Packet Pickup

Saturday, September 13, 2025, 7:30am - 8:25am at Laurel Point on Raccoon Mountain. We might do a "quick and dirty" packet pickup on Friday night. We might not. Depends on how big the race gets. We'll email you if we decide to do it.

Important Note

This is NOT a slick, corporate, super-professionally produced race. We’re still the same grassrootsy, laid-back people we’ve always been. We cater to the non-competitive, fun-loving runners of the world. If you want to have a good time in an atmosphere that is more 'giant group run' and less 'super professional NYC marathon', we’d love to invite you to join us!