This is the inaugural Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon. It is a part of the Vacation Races National Park Race Series.
The course for the Great Smoky Mountains Half is a beautiful run through the woods just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The course begins near the high school in Maryville and ends in Townsend, just under a mile from the National Park boundary. The finish line is at the visitors center in Townsend with beautiful views of the mountains.
Miles 9 12 will be even further away from the main road, and this is where some of the hills come in. There is a 364 foot elevation gain on this course. It is a subtle and steady gain. Along these last few miles you have a few ups and downs. See a map and elevation description here.