What's a trash panda? It's a fun term for a raccoon...because they sort of look like giant pandas (in their coloring) and they sort of look like red pandas (which sort of look like raccoons) and also, they like to dig through the trash. It's also the slightly-bratty-but-still-kinda-cute little sister race to our perennial powerhouse, the spring Raccoon Mountain races.
START/FINISH: Laurel Point on Raccoon Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee
STUFF:
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There will be swag. We have TECHNICALLY surpassed the amount of swag we ordered for this year, but in order to open up more spots to participate in the race, we have some alternative options for swag. If the swag item is something you're just going to toss in the trash, we’d rather you take the alternative swag. Tossing swag in the trash is raccoon behavior, not human behavior! We want to make sure you get something that will make your precious little heart happy.
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Laser burned wooden finisher medal. Produced by a real, live, actual Tennessean. Maybe that Tennessean will dress up like a raccoon to burn them. Maybe that Tennessean will eat out of the trash can, in the name of authenticity. You never know!
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Because we discontinued our Spring Raccoon Mountain race, and our favorite part of that race was the medals with your name on them, we're bringing that to this race. That's right, however you want your medal personalized, it'll be that way on race day! Burned right into the wood. Literally NOBODY ELSE will have a medal exactly like yours. (You MUST be registered by August 31st to guarantee your personalized medal. We’ll personalize what we can get to after that.)
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The most stocked up aid stations you've ever encountered. We won't even make you root around in a trash can for any of it. We won't even pull any of it OUT of a trash can. It's fresh!
We have restocked our Into The Forest I Go mugs, as well as our "Stay Trashy Chattanooga" and "I Run So I Can Eat Garbage" shirts, we've got all new shirts (long sleeve and short sleeve), tank tops, and hoodies and other apparel too! (We don't give these away as swag because everyone has a preference, and we also don't get the cheapest shirt known to man, nor do we cover the back with logos.) We will also have the bargain items out!
You can also register for future races here, with a little discount for registering in cash. Later this year, we have Spookasaurus and the winter Grab Bag, and Freeze Your Half Off in January is also open for registration. We prefer cash but can also take credit cards, Venmo, and CashApp.
COURSE:
We will be using only the trails that connect to Laurel Point. The loop is a little bit more than 3.1-ish miles long. We'll have an out-and-back section marked for each distance to get you to the appropriate mileage. The 5K is a little longer than 3.1 miles, which is why it is a 5-ish K, and if you're not cool with -ish measurements, you probably won't enjoy running/walking/hiking/dorking around with us.
The trail is technical in that there are roots and rocks, but it's not particularly difficult. There are no water crossings. Trail shoes are useful, but not necessary. Hundreds of people have done this race without trail shoes. Beginners, hikers, children of all ages are welcome, and we are supportive to EVERYONE. There is an eight hour time limit for all distances. Yes, ALL distances. You must be out on your last lap by 3:45pm. (That's because the mountain closes, not because we're meanie pantsers.) We don't DNF; we'll give you a finish time for the distance you did complete.
AID STATION:
AKA, what we're known for. There will be one aid station mid-course, and another one at the start/finish/end of the 5-ishK lap. So you're never more than 2 miles from food/drinks/frivolity. that you'll pass on each lap. At the aid station will be Gatorade, water, Coke, Mountain Dew, energy gels, a variety of chips, candy, and cookies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pickles and pickle juice shots, and a full array of non-food supplies like Vaseline, salt pills, etc.
Please bring your own painkillers if you think you will need them (our insurance prohibits us giving any painkillers to you) and use them responsibly!
You are welcome to leave a drop bag at the designated area near the aid station. Feel free to bring a chair to put your drop bag on, a full change of clothes, your teddy bear, whatever you think you'll need to make it through your chosen race distance. Pop up tents with your crew are fine too. We have plenty of space.
Our crew is also known for their unparalleled support. We'll get you to the finish line if you let us help you! We drain and bandage blisters (we will even prep your feet BEFORE the race in an attempt to prevent those blisters from ever happening!), we keep you cooled down with ice, we work on cramps, we give great pep talks and we'll talk you out of quitting with some tough love if that's what it takes. We're here to help you, just like we've helped thousands of people before you. We consider you family, not just another runner with a number like many races.
We're not saying our family isn't a little bit dysfunctional from time to time, but it keeps things interesting, doesn't it? Seriously though, all we want is to get you to the finish line and we'll do what it takes to help you get there, and we'll be waiting there to celebrate with you!
Packet Pickup:
Saturday, September 13, 2025, 7:30am - 8:25am at Laurel Point on Raccoon Mountain.
We might do a "quick and dirty" packet pickup on Friday night. We might not. Depends on how big the race gets. We'll email you if we decide to do it.
This race will be timed and results will be posted. You will be emailed a link.
IMPORTANT!!!! IMPORTANT!!!! IMPORTANT!!!! IMPORTANT!!! IMPORTANT!!! IMPORTANT!!!
This is NOT a slick, corporate, super-professionally produced race. We're still the same grassrootsy, laid-back people we've always been. We cater to the non-competitive, fun-loving runners of the world. We are a bunch of dorks that can measure a course and decorate it with silly raccoon signs and we do our best to make it fun. If you are expecting Ironman-levels of infrastructure and an army of volunteers, you aren't going to get it from us. You have been warned and we won't take you seriously if you complain that we're not like a typical race, because, well, that's never been a secret. If you want to have a good time in an atmosphere that is more 'giant group run' and less 'super professional NYC marathon' or 'snooty judgmental if-you-are-not-fast-we-won't-be-nice-to-you'-type thing, we'd love to invite you to join us! If you're only worried about running super fast and not about enjoying your experience and being around good humans, this is NOT the race for you. We welcome the fast AND
the slow, we just don't want anyone to be disappointed in what they get when they register, so we don't keep it a secret that we value camaraderie over competition! And we make ZERO apologies for that.