Bad Beard Events River Gorge Trail Race

Bad Beard Events River Gorge Trail Race is run in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on November 21, 2026. Three trail distances start in sequence above the Tennessee River Gorge: the 20-mile at 7:30 AM, the 10.2-mile at 8:00 AM and the 6.5-mile at 8:30 AM. The staggered starts mean the shorter fields join a course that is already moving, and everyone converges on the same finish through the morning.

Gorge running in the Southeast usually means technical, rocky singletrack with steady climbing and descending rather than long flat stretches, so effort matters more than pace on your watch. The 6.5-mile is approachable for anyone with a regular running habit, the 10.2-mile suits a road half marathoner moving to trail, and the 20-mile is a solid late-season test before winter ultra training. Downhill-specific work will save your quads.