Wagging in the Woods

Terra’s OG boss, Rocky

If you been around Terra for long you will have know that we really love animals. Dogs are welcome in the shop, we partner with our local SPCA for events and donation drives, and our original “boss” was the legendary Rocky — a loving, friendly, (though opinionated) former shelter dog himself.

Those are just a few of the reasons that we are incredibly excited to help time a brand new trail race called Wagging in the Woods. This dog friendly 5k helps fund emergency medical care to pets in need and is being put on by local veterinary office, Taylor Animal Hospital. We chatted with Sarah Kelsey Baker, the race director and Hospital Operations Manager at Taylor Animal Hospital, to learn more about this delightful new trail race.

For those who don't know, can you tell us a bit about Taylor Animal Hospital? 
Taylor Animal Hospital has been a part of the Cleveland community since 1968. Our first goal is to provide excellent care to pets and education on ways to keep them healthy. Our second is to establish a genuine relationship with the families of those pets within our community. 

What inspired you all to put on the Wagging in the Woods 5k? How will it support the work that you all do for the animals of Bradley County?
To us, a healthy community also has healthy pets and opportunities that allow those pets and their family members to be involved with one another.  As more and more people are moving into our "small, big town," we want to continue making acquaintances with our neighbors (especially those with fur). Wagging in the Woods is just one of the ways we are trying to accomplish this goal. 

On of Taylor Animal Hospital’s vets, Dr. Kelsey Yates, with some newborn puppies!

Wagging in the Woods is unique in that proceeds will go to the Bradley County SPCA and our Artemis Fund, which helps to provide emergent medical and surgical care to pets in need.  

What should runners expect on race day? Where is the race, when does it start, and is there anything else unique about it?  
Wagging in the Woods will be hosted at Johnston Woods on November 16th, in the morning. We will have local food trucks and businesses present to make the chilly morning more comfortable for the runners. As far as uniqueness, our race is dog friendly. Winners are entered into raffles which include prizes such as a custom pet portrait from Hetzel Art Studio, passes to Orange Theory, and much, much more.

Anything else you would like to share? We ask that all dogs are leashed (4-5ft, non-retractable leashes only) and are up to date on their vaccines (must show proof on the day of the race). Taylor Animal Hospital, Bradley County SPCA, and Johnston Woods are not held liable for any dog fights or injuries should they occur. 

____________________________________________________________

Don’t miss this chance to support animals here in Bradley County and have some fun with your own dog (or meet some there if you don’t have your own to run with)! Follow this link to sign up today!

Lula Lake Trail Blazer

This year, Terra Running Company is thrilled to be timing Lula Lake’s Trail Blazer races! With a 50k, half marathon, 10k, and beer mile, there is something for everyone. These fantastic races are a lovely way to experience the Lula Lake Land Trust as well as support the mission of preserving biodiversity on Lookout Mountain. We chatted with race director Cody Roney about the races, how she got Lula Lake Land Trust, and why the land trust is important.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got involved with the Lula Lake Land Trust? 

I grew up in Alabama and moved to Chattanooga in 2010 to enjoy the endless rock climbing the region has to offer while pursuing a masters degree at UTC. After grad school I worked for another local land/recreation focused conservation organization for a few years. When I first started my career I didn't know much about conservation, but it didn't take long to realize this was a field I wanted to continue to grow in. I began working for Lula Lake Land Trust in 2019 and am truly grateful to help steward our beautiful lands atop Lookout Mountain.

For those who don't know, can you tell us a bit about Lula Lake? How did it end up as part of a land trust and why is that important? 

Lula Lake Land Trust (LLLT) started in 1994 with the permanent protection of our 800 acre Core Preserve. Most people know about Lula Lake because of our famous Lula Falls, but we are so much more than just the waterfall. Since 1994, we've helped protect over 12,000 acres on Lookout Mountain and we've built over 60 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. As development pressures from Chattanooga continue to push into our more rural landscapes our job is more important than ever. We aim to protect the most biodiverse and climate resilient landscapes on and around Lookout Mountain, while providing recreational and educational opportunities so our community can enjoy these special places.

This is not the first year that you all have put on this race -- how many years have you been hosting it and why do you think it is special?

LLLT created the Trail Blazer Race 4 years ago to help raise funds for our ongoing trail building and maintenance costs. We currently own and maintain 40 miles of trails. Building and maintaining trails is incredibly expensive and time consuming. This race is not only a way to showcase our gorgeous trails and properties but it helps us raise crucial funds to keep advancing our mission of conservation, education, and low-impact recreation. Our vision behind this race is to be a FUNdraiser for everyone to enjoy. Our cutoff times are generous, our style is laid back and as competitive as you want it to be. We don't want anyone to feel intimidated to sign up!  

What should runners expect on race day? What race distances are there, when do they start, what should runners be prepared for, etc.? 

LLLT is known for throwing a great party, and we intend to do just that as racers finish. We will have live music, beer, and food in the meadow from 11:30-1:30pm. Spectators are encouraged to come out and cheer on their runners and enjoy the music! We're excited to offer a 50k race option this year, as well as our traditional 10k, half-marathon, and beer mile! We will also be allowing camping for runners on Friday night. 

Anything else you would like to share? 

As I mentioned before, this is a fundraiser for Lula Lake Land Trust and all proceeds go to support our conservation and recreation efforts!  You can register for the event here: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=113640