News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cumberland County’s Hiking Marathon returns for its 7th annual event this September.
The marathon was started in 2015 to highlight some 25 miles of trail in Fairfield Glade, as well as the available trails around the area. Friends of the Trails President John Conrad said the marathon’s structure is not for competition, but to get the community out and enjoying what the county has to offer.
“It takes the participant through some beautiful parts of the county that they never knew about,” Conrad said. “Many many people live in Cumberland County and know nothing about Black Mountain. You can drive up to the top of it and the beautiful views there are across Grassy Cove, it’s just gorgeous up there.”
Conrad said participants have the opportunity to hike 26.2 miles of trails over the course of 30 days starting September 1st. Conrad said the event has grown in popularity over the years. He said in its first year it had some 300 participants and that as of last year, had grown to around 2,100 sign-ups.
Conrad said that those who complete at least one trail will receive a T-shirt and if you complete all trails you will receive a patch at the Hit the Trails Festival on the first Saturday in October. He said that the organization will even provide swag to participating dogs. He said the event is free to participants and is something for all people to enjoy.
“The way it’s structure it’s not a very strenuous activity,” Conrad said. “Because although we call it a marathon and it is 26.2 trails that you agree to hike on in the month, you do have 30 days to do it. So you can do three or four miles in one day, and take a couple of days off and do three or four miles again. So lots of kids and grandmothers alike do it and have no problem.”
Conrad said sign-ups for the free event open Sunday, August 15th. The deadline to register is August 31st.
