The 2009-2010 Tennessee State Parks Running Tour will kick off on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Rock Island State Park outside McMinnville. The Rock Island 5K is the first of twenty foot races scheduled at different state parks from October through March.

In its 31st season, the Tennessee State Parks Running Tour will highlight a number of parks and regions ranging from Roan Mountain, high in the Appalachian Mountains to Meeman-Shelby, located along the Mississippi River. Every race begins at 11 a.m., allowing time for runners to arrive at the designated starting location and to ensure they enjoy peak daily temperatures during the fall and winter season.

"The Running Tour fills a void in the race calendar during the winter months and is designed to provide challenging and affordable events at some of our state's most beautiful locations," said current State Parks Running Tour Volunteer Director Tomas de Paulis. "With a basic $5 pre-registration fee, the tour remains an outstanding, low-cost fall and winter alternative to other running events."

According to de Paulis, the tour encourages runners and volunteers to accumulate Grand Prix points by participating in multiple races. Grand Prix points attained at tour races count toward potential awards in six different divisions for both female and male participants and are presented at the Tennessee State Parks Running Tour awards banquet following the Fall Creek “Thaw” 15K on March 6.

Initiated in 1978 with just four events, this unique fall and winter series of foot races is considered the oldest state parks running series in the nation. While a handful of state park staff organized the races in the early years – various running clubs across the state now coordinate the events at state parks in their area, making the public/private partnership between the nonprofit running clubs and Tennessee State Parks a hallmark of the tour.

As in years past, there is a core group that will run in each of the 20 races, but each weekend event also draws from the running community in that area and runners from across the country.

“Tennessee State Parks is pleased to host these popular races during the fall and winter,” said Assistant Commissioner for Tennessee State Parks Mike Carlton. “We depend on the strong support from local running clubs to maintain the quality race experience runners have come to expect from the tour.”

In addition to determining the race route, running clubs across the state administer timing elements, provide water stops, keep up with the points and buy the awards. Running clubs involved with the tour include the Frostbite Running Club of Hermitage; the State of Franklin Track Club of the Tri-Cities; the Mach Tenn Running Club of Tullahoma; the Jackson Roadrunners; the Middle Tennessee Milers; the Oak Ridge Track Club; and the Memphis Runners Track Club.

“Over the years, the tour has grown in participation,” added Carlton. “Thousands of runners enter events at the different park locations throughout the series, and participants are a boon to state parks visitation during the winter months. We are pleased to serve as their headquarters during the Running Tour, while proudly showcasing our wonderful state parks and staff.”

For additional information about the Tennessee State Parks Running Tour, including a 2009-2010 race schedule, course descriptions and registration, please visit www.tnstateparks.com/RunningTour.