Halloween Hunt

DIRECTIONS

Located off of Highway 171 at Percy Priest Lake between La Vergne and Mt. Juliet. From (Nashville or Knoxville) take I-40 (East or West) to Mt. Juliet exit 226 and go approx. 7 miles South. Alternate take I-24 to Old Hickory Blvd. exit 62 and go East for approx. 7 miles. Enter Long Hunter State Park then turn left to Couchville Lake Picnic Shelter approx. 1 mile. Highway 171 South (same as South Mt. Juliet Rd.) Highway 171 East (same as Old Hickory Blvd./Hobson Pike)

Park Information: 615-885-2422

GPS 36.09449, -86.54368

COURSE

The 5 mile course starts and finishes at Couchville Lake Picnic Shelter in Long Hunter State Park, Hermitage. Click here to review course path. From the start at the upper parking lot, the course goes about 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 lake side picnic area and repeats the loop to finish by the shelter. The 2 loop course  is a paved course except when it crosses the lake on a wooden bridge. Considered a flat, fast course with many turns.

COURSE HISTORY

This is one of the new courses added when the Running Tour expanded from 12 to 14 races in 1995. Designed by Tomas de Paulis, it originally had a shorter turnaround with a complex looping of the parking lot at the start. One year a wheelchair racer participated. He lost control in one of the sharp turns and ended up in the lake, where he was promptly rescued and was able to finish. Tomas de Paulis was race director from 1995 -2018 and.  Amelie Sharp was the race director from 2019 – 2022. Dan Smithhisler became the race director in 2023.

COURSE RECORDS

Pre-2011                         Men                                                     Women
                                         1996  Lance Winders  25;58            1996  Melanie Wallace  30:59

Remeasured Course    Men                                                      Women
                                         2011  Daniel Mueller   26:25             2020  Kiera Woodman  29:50

Post Race

Made famous by Tomas de Paulis, it is more than just an award ceremony.

Carcoal grilled hot dogs with all the fixen’s.

A costume contest with cash prizes awarded

Cash Awards: $75 1st, $50 2nd, & $25 3rd