Description
Welcome to the Box Turtle Express trail races! We are excited you are interested in our event but more so excited that you are interested in joining our local community of trail runners for a beautiful morning on Bauxite Ridge.
This event is homegrown by local trail runners to share this fantastic trail system with the greater Chattanooga community. In partnership with the MERC, we are able to use their facilities as race HQ and for the start/finish. We love these trails and all proceeds from the race will go back into the trail system for maintenance and improvements.
The BTE 15K will start with a long climb atop Bauxite Ridge linking together some of the best trails it has to offer. The BTE 8K will share the same start and finish as the BTE 15K; however, it will stay solely on the Box Turtle trail loop. Our kids 1K run will be a super fun run along the paved MERC loop which has it's fair share of elevation change and winds through the woods as well.
We are partnered with the Tennessee Aquarium to have Eastern Box Turtles and an Aquarist at the race to showcase this wonderful species and its' habitat.
For more information, please visit www.boxturtleexpress.com
Partners
Our partners help make this event possible! They are great people who generously support our local trails and running community. Please show them your appreciation and support when you get the chance.
+ OH! - The Outdoor Happiness Movement
+ Fast Break Athletics
+ Patagonia
+ Tennessee Aquarium
+ MERC
BTE 15K Map
BTE 8K Map
BTE 1K Kids Run
Race Day - Labor Day
Race Start Times
+ BTE 15K - 8:00 AM EST
+ BTE 8K - 8:15 AM EST
+ BTE 1K Kids Run - 10:00 AM EST
Location
MERC (McKee Employees Recreation Center)
10620 Apison Pike, Collegedale TN 37315
Bib Pickup (Race Morning)
+ BTE 15K & BTE 8K - 6:30 AM EST - 7:45 AM EST
+ BTE 1K Kids Run - 6:30 AM EST - 9:45 AM EST
SWAG
We are bringing high quality swag to our race make the total runner experience great! Our partners Patagonia and Fast Break are stepping up big time to help us provide Patagonia Capilene Micro Cool Trail Tee's as the official BTE race shirt! This is a very nice running shirt and a favorite of our local running crew! Because this is not your average cotton race tee, please review the sizing chart carefully as we won't have the ability to order extras for size exchanges.
Patagonia Men's Size Fit Guide
https://www.patagonia.com/guides/size-fit/mens/
Patagonia Women's Size Fit Guide
https://www.patagonia.com/guides/size-fit/womens/
Awards
BTE 15K (Premier Race)
Men's OA Podium | 1st ($300) - 2nd ($200) - 3rd ($100)
Women's OA Podium | 1st ($300) - 2nd ($200) - 3rd ($100)
Course Record Bounty - $100 This will be set year 1 (2026) | If not broken in future years, the $100 will continue to roll over until broken!
KOM/QOM | First male & female racer to crest Bauxite Ridge at approximately mile 1.5 will win a KOM/QOM prize
BTE 8K
Men's OA Podium | 1st - 2nd - 3rd Custom Award
Women's OA Podium | 1st - 2nd - 3rd Custom Award
BTE 1K Kids Run
Finisher Medals!
Refunds & Transfers
There are no refunds, transfers or deferments for the event. That said, we will work with you to arrange pickup of your racer packet which includes your swag should you not be able to attend the race.
Event's current local time: 4:48 AM ET
