Trail and indie movie buffs can combine their passions during the Trail Running Film Festival in the Lost Highway Lounge at Yellowhammer Brewing.
The 7-film evening is Aug. 23, with doors open at 5 p.m. and films beginning at 6. The festival is presented by Brooks Running and hosted locally by the Huntsville Track Club. The short films celebrate the trail community, spirit and adventure.
This year’s films, length and producer:
- Not a Running Story (12 min) — Becky Bates
- We Belong (6 min) — Scot Proudfoot
- Fellsman (3 min) — Billy Barraclough
- Dipsea Generations (30 min) — Milo Zanecchia
- Dicks-A-Thon (18 min) — Paddy O’Leary
- Project Tombstone (5 min) — Dylan Young
- Song and Flowers (27 min) — Max Haimowitz
The Lost Highway Lounge at Yellowhammer Brewing is on Clinton Avenue West. Entry to the film fest is complimentary for Huntsville Track Club members with an active, current membership. Non-members may attend for $10 per ticket.
Tickets should be reserved because seating is limited. If you register but can’t make it, cancel the reservation so someone else can jump in.
Reserve tickets at Trail Running Film Festival Tickets and find out about HTC membership here or join/renew here.
Bad Beard Events
Joins Aravaipa
Bad Beard Events is joining the Aravaipa Running calendar, with Aravaipa marking a major investment into the Southeastern trail running community.
Bad Beard Events joins White Mountain Endurance (Northeast) and Great Lakes Endurance (Midwest) as Aravaipa’s newest regional community hub. Bad Beard has a permanent presence in Chattanooga.
Bad Beard Events began in 2001 with Chattanooga’s first competitive trail races: River Gorge 10.2-mile and Stump Jump 50K. Ginny Smith joined the organization (then Rock Creek Races) in 2014, evolving from a race team member to director, and eventually taking co-ownership of the series. She has been the solo operator and director for the past four years. Bad Beard Events will continue to feature its iconic event lineup in the Chattanooga area, supported by the same passionate local team.
Looking Ahead
Moving forward, Aravaipa’s mission is to protect the unique character of each individual race and support the local team to ensure a seamless transition. It also will continue to give back to local, non-profit organizations that maintain and protect Chattanooga’s incredible backyard wild spaces.
“Bad Beard has never just been about putting on races. It’s been about people and place. It’s about the volunteers who show up over and over again, the land managers who trust us with these incredible places, the local businesses that have supported us from the beginning, and the runners who come back year after year because they feel like they’re part of something bigger. That’s the community we’ve built together over the past two decades,” said Ginny Smith, Owner and Race Director of Bad Beard Events.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve created, and I couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter with Aravaipa Running. They share that same respect for the trails and the communities that make these events possible. I know they’ll continue to honor what we’ve built while helping these races grow in ways we never could have imagined.”
True to Bad Beard’s founding mission, all races within the series will continue to benefit designated non-profit organizations committed to the preservation, maintenance, and protection of local lands. Long-standing industry sponsors like La Sportiva and Black Diamond, alongside trusted local companies including Fast Break Athletics, TuckerBuild, Gearhead Outfitters, and Chattanooga Brewing Company, will continue to be an integral part of these events.
2026-27 Schedule
- Oli Kai (3 Hour | 6 Hour | 9 Hour) – September 5, 2026 — Utilizes a scenic 2.1-mile loop within the beautiful 317-acre property of Chattanooga’s own Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center.
- River Gorge Trail Race (6.5 Miles | 10 Miles | 20 Miles) – November 21, 2026 — A Southeastern classic running the highly technical single-track Mullens Cove and Pot Point Loops in the Prentice-Cooper Wildlife Management Area.
- Holiday Hustle (5K | 10K) – December 13, 2026 — A festive event experiencing the brand-new trails on Aetna Mountain, set against a stunning mountain backdrop just before Christmas.
- Rabid Raccoon 25K – January 9, 2027 — A middle-distance challenge starting at Laurel Point on Raccoon Mountain. The 2027 edition will test runners in a fresh clockwise direction.
- Stump Jump (10 Mile | 50K) – March 6, 2027 — The Southeast’s premier trail challenge returning for its 26th year to the rugged sandstone-strewn landscapes of Signal Mountain and Walden Ridge.
- Stillhouse 100K – April 17, 2027 — A serious, ultra-technical out-and-back “double” of the cult classic Upchuck 50K course, featuring massive climbs and descents along the Cumberland Trail.
- The Cannonball Run (Last Person Standing) – June 12, 2027 — A friendly yet punishing suffer-fest hosted alongside Fleet Feet, where runners must complete a 4.3-mile loop every hour, on the hour, until only one remains.
Terra Running Company
Among Best Running Stores
Terra Running Company of Cleveland, Tenn., is one of the 65 selections in the 2026 Best Running Stores as voted on by runners and consumers.
Located northeast of Chattanooga, Terra Running is an independent retailer focused on service and community. It has a variety of top brands, knowledgeable employees and puts on a variety of events in the Cleveland area. Those include group runs, kids’ events, and the city’s annual Turkey Trot and half marathon.
The annual Best Running Stores program highlights retailers providing top service throughout the country. This year, more than 8,300 nominations represented 268 unique stores in 49 states. Nominated stores complete a comprehensive evaluation of business practices. From that, the top 100 stores are selected and then visited twice by secret shoppers who grade the interaction with staff and in-store experience.
The 65 retailers will be honored at The Running Event convention Dec. 1-3 in San Antonio.
