Trash Panda, An Awesomesauce Event presented by Run Chattanooga

🐾 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.

📍 Start/Finish Location

Laurel Point on Raccoon Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee

🎁 Swag and Merchandise

• Swag Options: 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. If the swag item is something you’re just going to toss in the trash, we’d rather you take the alternative swag. Tossing swag in the trash is raccoon behavior, not human behavior!
• Finisher Medal: Laser burned wooden finisher medal. Produced by a real, live, actual Tennessean. Maybe that Tennessean will dress up like a raccoon to burn them. Maybe that Tennessean will eat out of the trash can, in the name of authenticity. You never know!
• Personalized Medals: Because we discontinued our Spring Raccoon Mountain race, and our favorite part of that race was the medals with your name on them, we’re bringing that to this race. That’s right, however you want your medal personalized, it’ll be that way on race day!
• Aid Station: The most stocked up aid stations you’ve ever encountered. We won’t even make you root around in a trash can for any of it. We won’t even pull any of it OUT of a trash can. It’s fresh!

🏃‍♂️ Course Details

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 5K is a little longer than 3.1 miles, which is why it is a 5-ish K, and if you’re not cool with -ish measurements, you probably won’t enjoy running/walking/hiking/dorking around with us.

• Trail Difficulty: The trail is technical in that there are roots and rocks, but it’s not particularly difficult. There are no water crossings.
• Shoe Recommendation: Trail shoes are useful, but not necessary. Hundreds of people have done this race without trail shoes.
• Welcoming Environment: Beginners, hikers, children of all ages are welcome, and we are supportive to EVERYONE.
• Time Limit: There is an eight hour time limit for all distances. Yes, ALL distances. You must be out on your last lap by 3:45pm.

🥤 Aid Station Information

AKA, what we’re known for. 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 Products: At the aid station will be Gatorade, water, Coke, Mountain Dew, energy gels, a variety of chips, candy, cookies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pickles and pickle juice shots.
• Supplies: A full array of non-food supplies like Vaseline, salt pills, etc.
• Personal Items: Please bring your own painkillers if you think you will need them (our insurance prohibits us giving any painkillers to you) and use them responsibly!
• Drop Bags: You are welcome to leave a drop bag at the designated area near the aid station. Feel free to bring a chair, a full change of clothes, your teddy bear, whatever you think you’ll need to make it through your chosen race distance.

🎫 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 Notes

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 are expecting Ironman-levels of infrastructure and an army of volunteers, you aren’t going to get it from us.

If you want to have a good time in an atmosphere that is more 'giant group run' and less 'super professional NYC marathon' or 'snooty judgmental if-you-are-not-fast-we-won’t-be-nice-to-you'-type thing, we’d love to invite you to join us! If you’re only worried about running super fast and not about enjoying your experience and being around good humans, this is NOT the race for you.

Register for the Trash Panda Race Here!