The Course
These types of timed endurance races can be found all over the country, Simmons says, but most feature a 1-mile loop. What makes the Locomotion 12 interesting is that it’s a 2-mile loop through Camp Jordan — which also makes the 144 Challenge that much more difficult. Running 1 mile in 5 minutes or less is one thing. Running 2 miles in a row at that high-speed pace is another.
On the heels of the inaugural Chattanooga Marathon, the Chattanooga Track Club is taking its next running event back to the basics with the Locomotion 6- and 12-hour race at Camp Jordan.
The inaugural event, slated for April 2, is void of the typical bells and whistles associated with other CTC events, says race director Charlene Simmons.
"It's really about being out there and enjoying the six to 12 hours of running and walking," she says. "Long term, I'd love to see it be a community event with different public service groups competing against each other."
The race is for runners and walkers at any speed, with an option to participate in the six-hour division or the 12-hour division. Participants can join in as a solo racer, or they can enter as part of a team of up to six people.
"Teams are great because that makes it a lot more of a manageable event for someone new to endurance running," says Simmons. "What sounds like an insane event becomes a far more achievable event for a variety of individuals."
Then there's the "144 Challenge."
"We wanted to do something kind of quirky for the fast runners," she says, explaining that a team who can run 144 miles - 72 laps around the 2-mile loop course - will win $500 as a prize. That means the team would have to maintain a 5-minutes-per-mile pace to finish the 144 miles before the 12-hour cutoff.
"I would be on the floor if someone won it this year," Simmons says with a laugh. "Every year that award is not awarded, it will go into the account for next year, so the amount will increase. Our hope is, maybe in a few years when there's a lot more money on the line, it might entice people to put together a dream team to come in and run."
Registration is closed to participate in this year's event, but check out the action and join your running community at Camp Jordan. Find out more at locomotion12.com.