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

Lula Lake Trail Blazer