Sunrise Over the Smoke: Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon

Maniacs Fanatics MadnessSeptember 19, 2026Half Marathon#medalmonday, 13 hour drive, 31st state, black bear challenge, cows and horses, DA3721, Destination Athlete, evening 5k, great medals, Great Smoky Mountains, Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon, half fanatics, HF18478, Hilly Half Marathon, Hot and Humid, Katie Galvin, KOA campground, marathon maniacs, medal monday, MM15882, mountain running, national anthem, race expo, running with pup, scenic race, smoke in the mountains, Smokies, state 31, sunrise start, Tennessee half marathon, Townsend Great Smoky KOA, vacation races, Vacation Races medals, well organized race

Katie Galvin(HF18478, DA3721, 15882) – Its been a while since I had a #medalmonday post! Drove about 13 hours on Friday with the pup and made it in time to check in to the Townsend/Great Smoky KOA (highly recommend!!) and then quickly got ready and got over to the race expo and the evening 5k. It was HOT and HUMID but we’ll organized. Then up early Saturday for the Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon! Waiting for the start we had an amazing sunrise, watched the smoke flowing through the mountains, some horse friends and cows mooing along with the national anthem! It was a hot, hilly and humid race but scenic and #VacationRaces gets some great medals!! Black bear challenge completed!! And a great time in the Smokies!
State #31 ✅️