Count Dracula and his Mistress greet the runners
Start and finish at Couchville Lake picnic shelter in Long Hunter State Park, Hermitage. From the start at upper parking lot, the course goes a quarter mile to a turnaround at the entrance gate, then back onto the winding trail around the lake. After one loop the course circles the picnic area and repeats the loop to finish by the shelter. Considered a flat, fast course with many turns.
Course History
This is one of the new courses that were added when the Running Tour expanded from 12 to 14 races in
1995. Designed by Tomas de Paulis, it had originally a shorter turnaround with a complex looping of the parking lot at the start. One year a wheel chair racer participated. He lost control in one of the sharp turns and ended up in the lake, where he was promptly rescued and could finish. As the name implies, it is held on the last Saturday of October. Famous for its Halloween Costume Contest and charcoal-grilled gourmet hot dogs. In 2012 the race used chip timing for the first time, instead of finishing cards. It was also officially USAT&F certified, which required the turnaround to be moved 17 yards further out.
Course Records Male Female
1996 Lance Winders Mansfield 25 58 CR* Melanie Wallace Clarksville 30 59 CR*
2001 Matt Pulle Nashville 27 20 Maureen Manning Nashville 31 13 CR
2011 Daniel Mueller Nashville 26 25 CR** Jeannette Mathieu Nashville 31 14 CR**
*Note: In 1997 the course was modified and the distance became longer.
**In 2012 the course was certified and the distance became more accurate (34 yards longer).
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