Mountain Man Memorial March

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Pi Beta Phi Elementary School, Gatlinburg TN

Friday, April 10th, 2026

Honor Through Action

The 19th Annual Mountain Man Memorial March planning is underway and we look forward to seeing everyone! Book your travel for this year's event taking place April 10-11, 2026. Join us as we host our Gold Star Families and celebrate the lives of our fallen Veterans!

Community Support

Appreciation: We thank the Mountain Man Memorial March faithful who have been the bedrock in the continued growth of our event and Veteran & Gold Star community which continues to Honor our Fallen and support our Gold Star Families!
New Participants: To the new participants in 2025, we thank you for joining the MMMM family and we look forward to seeing you in future events.
Gratitude: We are so thankful for our participants, volunteers, partners and sponsors!

Partnership

Legacies Alive: For 2026, the Mountain Man Memorial March will again partner with Legacies Alive (https://legaciesalive.com/), a 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization directly supporting Gold Star Families.
Free Meals: The FREE hot meal you get post-race, thank Legacies Alive for providing!
Collaboration: We look forward to our partnership with Legacies Alive.

Event Details

The 2026 Mountain Man Memorial March will continue to offer both the March events and the Run events. We look forward to having everyone return to Gatlinburg in 2026 to join with our Military and Veteran community!

Location

Venue: We are currently working with the City of Gatlinburg and the Sevier County Schools to keep the 2026 Mountain Man Memorial March start and finish at the Pi Beta Phi Elementary School (125 Cherokee Orchard Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738).
Activities: Pre/post race activities will be adjacent to the school.

Course Information

Course Maps: You can find last year's link - 2025 Mountain Man Memorial March Course Maps can be found here: 18th Annual Mountain Man Memorial March Routes.
Bridge Construction: The bridge construction in Emert's Cove area (vic mile 20) is complete - so no detour over the rocks!

Race Options

In addition to in-person racing and the usual categories in the team march, individual march and run events, we will also continue to offer a virtual racing option in 2026. We believe many MMMM veterans want to return, but the virtual option will be there if you cannot make it to Gatlinburg and still wish to be a part of this tremendous event and mission.

Run and March Events

Run Events: Include a full 26.2mi marathon, a 13.1mi half marathon, a 10K run and a 5K run, with categories based on gender and age.
March Events: Have two distances - the full 26.2mi marathon and the 13.1mi half marathon, with subcategories based on individual, team, civilian or military qualifications.

Pre-race Information

Pre-race packet pick-up will be published as we get closer to the date of the race. All registrations will be online only! We are working with other organizations & vendors to also be available during both Friday and Saturday.

Gold Star Family Ceremony

The Gold Star Family Ceremony will take place on Friday, April 10, 2026 in the Mills Auditorium located within the Gatlinburg Convention Center. We will be reaching out to the Gold Star Families registered with more information.

Opening Ceremony

The race events on Saturday, April 11, 2026 will begin at 7:30 AM with the opening ceremony and followed by the race beginning at 8:00 AM. Winners of the run and march events will be recognized and prizes awarded throughout the day as the events culminate.

Race Route

The route begins in Gatlinburg and makes its way through Gatlinburg and into the Smoky Mountains. The route consists of paved road, gravel road, and other uneven terrain. The route is made up of flat stretches, rolling hills, and steep climbs. Water points, snacks, medical aid and support staff will be positioned and available along the route.