Lace up to honor local veterans
Area runners can lace up their running shoes to celebrate veterans with the annual Veterans Salute Race Saturday, Nov. 7.
“This is a recurring event that supports veteran causes,” Town Community Development director Mark Shipley stated in a report to Farragut Board of Aldermen.
“The event set-up will begin at 8 a.m. and the breakdown will conclude at 10 a.m, for both the 5K and 10K,” he said.
The event will start and finish at the Farragut Community Center, 239 Jamestowne Blvd.
“Participants will follow some streets in the Village Green subdivision and finish along the west side of North Campbell Station Road, where the outside southbound lane will be coned off for the section of the race described as the ‘Salute Corridor’ along the frontage of Founders Park,” he said. “There will be over 20 volunteers and three or four [Knox County Sheriff’s Office] officers at key points on the course to help with traffic flow.
Shipley said the course starts in front of FCC on Jamestowne Boulevard, runs through Village Green neighborhood and finishes back at the community center. Set-up will begin at 6 a.m., and it will close down at 10:30 a.m.
“Join us for the Veterans Salute Races to honor and remember our military personnel,” said event organizer Shahin Hadian, owner of Fleet Feet Knoxville. “A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Knoxville chapter of Irreverent Warriors, with the mission of bringing veterans together using humor and camaraderie to improve mental health and prevent suicide, and United Veterans Council of East Tennessee, in support of its Wreaths Across America program.
“Along the last section of the race will be the Veterans Salute Corridor in Founders Park, Hadian said. “Signs will be displayed in the corridor to honor the service and sacrifice of our military.”
Other races soon to take place are the:
• annual Farragut Frosty 5K event from 6:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Dec. 19, starting and ending at Farragut Community Center. With 500 participants expected, the event raises funds for Farragut High School cross country teams.
• annual Hot to Trot 5K/10K/Fun Run from 7 to 11 a.m, Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, starting at the Fleet Feet Knoxville store, 11619 Parkside Drive, and runs through Turkey Creek. Some temporary closures will occur with access remaining for emergencies. The 10K involves two laps of the 5K course and the Fun Run is on a portion of Parkside Drive. About 200 spectators are expected.
