Veterans Salute Races

Event Overview

Join us for the Veterans Salute Races to honor and remember our military personnel. A portion of race proceeds will be donated to the Knoxville Chapter of Irreverent Warriors, with the mission of bringing veterans together using humor and camaraderie to improve mental health and prevent suicide and The United Veterans Council of East TN in support of its Wreaths Across America program. Along the last section of the race will be the Veterans Salute Corridor in Founders Park. Signs will be displayed in the corridor to honor the service and sacrifice of our military.

Date/Time

• Date: Sat., Nov 7th
• Note: Please note that both races will begin at a new start time and will run together for 2026
• 8:00am: 5K and 10K Start
• 10:30 am: Race course closes

Location

Farragut Community Center, 239 Jamestowne Blvd, Knoxville, TN 379374

Course Description

The course starts on Jamestowne Blvd in front of the new Farragut Community Center, then runs through the Village Green neighborhood, finishing back at the community center. A major landmark for the course is the Veterans Salute Corridor in Founders Park (formerly Campbell Station Park) situated along N Campbell Station Rd. Signs will be displayed in the corridor to honor the service and sacrifice of our military personnel.

• 5k Course: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/137121862
• 10k Course: 10K runners will run the 5K course twice https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/137116765

Registration & Entry Fee

Registration is non-refundable and non-transferable.

• 5K or 10K: Now through 11/6 - $25 if over 14 years old, $20 if 14 years old or under
• Race Day: $30

T-shirts

Next Level, short-sleeved, unisex shirts.

Packet Pick Up Information

• Fri, Nov 6: 3:00pm – 7:00pm at Fleet Feet Knoxville
• Sat, Nov 7: 7:00am – 7:45am at race start

5K/10K Awards

Overall awards: 1st Male, 1st Female, 1st Master Male, 1st Master Female, 1st Grand Master Male, & 1st Grand Master Female, 1st Senior Grand Master Male & 1st Senior Grand Master Female.

Age group awards: 1st, 2nd & 3rd in the following male and female age groups: <10, 11-14, 15-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85+

Team Competition

Running by yourself is fun, but running together is even better! Your team can win a $50 Mellow Mushroom gift card either by having the fastest team or the largest team. Here is how it works:

• Registration: Make sure your team is registered on Run Sign Up before the race! Create a Team/Group
• Team Size: Your team needs to be a group of 5 or more people. Groups can be family members, coworkers, friends, etc of all ages and abilities.
• Participation: All members need to be signed up for the team by the start of the race.
• Race Requirement: All members must participate in the race, whether that is running and/or walking.

Fastest Team Award: Team with the 3 fastest recorded times wins
Team Spirit Award: Team with the most members wins

Ruck Competition

To compete in the Ruck competition each participant will have a rucksack with the following weight: if you are under 150 lbs, carry 10 lbs and if you are over 150 lbs, carry 20 lbs. Weight may be verified at finish for Top Finishers. The fastest participant carrying a rucksack in the 5K and 10K will receive a special award. Participants competing with a ruck are still eligible for age group awards. We encourage participants to carry non-perishable food items in your ruck sack to donate to a food drive after the race. We donate all food to the Shepherd of Hope Food Pantry, a food pantry run by Faith Lutheran Church.

Even if you are not participating in the RUCK event, you can still donate food to the Shepherd of Hope Food Pantry, a food pantry run by Faith Lutheran Church. The Shepherd of Hope Food Pantry seeks to provide daily bread to equip people for life. Daily bread carries all types of meaning: physical nourishment, spiritual guidance and community.

Charities

• Irreverent Warriors, Knoxville Chapter
• The United Veterans Council of East TN - supporting their WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA program.
• Shepherd of Hope Food Pantry - bring non-perishable food items to donate