Tear Drop Half Marathon 10K & 5K

Downhill: Half Marathon, 10K & 5K

Event Information

THANK YOU TO ALL 2024 FINISHERS!

Lace up your sneakers, lean forward and get ready for the 10th Annual Tear Drop Half Marathon! If you’re looking for a fast and scenic half marathon then join us on Sunday, April 27, 2025!

All distances will start on top of Fort Mountain at an elevation near 3000 feet and finish in Chatsworth, Georgia, for an over 2000-foot drop for the Half Marathon. All courses (13.1, 10K, 5K) are USAT&F certified for those participants that are looking to set a personal record or for a qualifying time at a race elsewhere. Chatsworth is 80 miles from Atlanta, 40 miles from Chattanooga and 10 miles from Dalton.

The race courses are on all paved roads and features 7 miles of 5-10% grade downhill for the 13.1, 5 miles downhill for the 10K and 2 miles for the 5K (which will improve your time :40- 1:20 per mile!) and then a flat to rolling finish. Again this year the Half Marathon will run an out and back on top of the mountain, which runners will encounter several climbs (it's not all downhill). The scenic route through the Cohutta Wilderness Area and finishes at beautiful City Park in Chatsworth welcomes racers of all abilities.

In addition to the half marathon 10K & 5K, there will be plenty of extras for the runners! Beautiful CUSTOM medals for all event finishers and every participant will receive a LONG sleeve T-Shirt in addition to live music, post-race hot food, cold drinks; beer for 21 and over participants! There will also be great raffle prizes for all participants!

Why the name Tear Drop?
We wanted to include both the historical and geographical interests of the area. The historical start of the Trail of Tears, the Trail of Tears historic route intersects our course, and geographically Fort Mountain, where the race starts in the Cohutta Wilderness, which has a 2400’ prominence above Chatsworth! Thus combining both features into the name Tear Drop.

Some running stats:

74% of 2023 participants set a PR! (Personal Record)

The event supports the Murray Arts Council. A majority of race day volunteers will be there in support of this organization!

Murray Arts Council was established in the summer of 2012. We are located in Downtown Chatsworth and provide art exhibits, theatrical performances, concerts and classes to expand art awareness in Murray County. Recently, Murray County was chosen along with seven other communities in NW Georgia and SE Tennessee to participate in a Thriving Communities grant program sponsored by the Lyndhurst Foundation to fund a program that combines art and culture to enhance the vitality of our community.

For all event details and more information, visit www.iwelife.com

ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSES AT THURSDAY 7:00 PM April 25, 2024 (in-person 4/27, 4/28 at City Park)

Half Marathon Entry Fees (Start time 7:30am)
Capacity: 300 runners

$60 Early Early Bird 1st 50
$75 Early Bird Until 4/1/24
$90 Until 4/25/24
$100 packet pick-up (4/28/24)/day-of race
$60 for ages 12-16 (younger than 12 please email )

10K Entry Fees (Start Time 7:50am)
Capacity: 150 runners

$40 Early Early Bird 1st 50
$45 Early Bird Until 4/1/24
$50 Until 4/25/24
$60 packet pick-up (4/28/24)/day-of race
$30 for 15 and under participants

5K Entry Fees (Start Time 8:05am)
Capacity: 100 runners

$30 Early Early Bird 1st 50
$35 Early Bird Until 4/1/24
$40 Until 4/25/24
$50 packet pick-up (4/28/24)/day-of race
$25 for 12 and under participants

1-Mile Fun Run/Walk (Start Time 8:00am)
Capacity: 50 runners

$20 Early Bird until 4/1/24
$25 until 4/25/25
$30 packet pick-up/day-of race

Runners will receive both a gun time and chip (half marathon only) or net time. Overall awards are based on gun times. Age group awards are based on chip or net time.

All participants will receive a shirt, medal and a finisher picture. Must be registered by 4/8/24 to guarantee a t-shirt, otherwise while supplies last.

Safety
Bicycles, skateboards, baby strollers/joggers, roller skates, and animals are not allowed in the race. Headphones are strongly discouraged.

USATF Certification # GA20042WC (Half Marathon)
Start Rules (half marathon)

All participants start at 7:30 AM
Once again we will shuttle runners from the finish to the start. We're capping at 300 runners and will have 10 school buses making a circuit; 1 leaving every 10 minutes (6:00, 6:10, 6:20, 6:30, 6:40, 6:50, 7:00, 7:10). Each bus will take up to 40 runners and is a 15 minute ride to the half start line.
Brisk walkers are welcomed but must start at the back of the pack. There's a 3:00 hour time limit for the half marathon (13:45/mile pace or 4.3 mph)

Aid Stations 5 Aid stations (Mile 2, Mile 4, Mile 6, Mile 8, Mile 10) containing water and sports drinks and bathrooms will be available on the course.

Start Rules (10K) GA20043WC

All participants start at 7:50 AM
Once again we will shuttle runners from the finish to the start. We're capping at 150 runners and will have 6 school buses; 1 leaving every 10 minutes (6:45, 6:55, 7:05, 7:15). Each bus will take up to 40 runners and is a 10 minute ride to the 10K start line.
Walkers are welcomed but must start at the back of the pack.

Aid Stations 3 Aid stations (Start, Mile 3, Mile 5) containing water and sports drinks and bathrooms will be available on the course.

Start Rules (5K) GA20044WC

All participants start at 8:05 AM
Once again we will shuttle runners from the finish to the start. We're capping at 100 runners and will have 4 school buses; 1 leaving every 10 minutes (7:30, 7:40, 7:50). Each bus will take 40 runners and is a 5 minute ride to the 5K start line.
Walkers are welcomed but must start at the back of the pack.

Aid Stations 2 Aid stations (Start, Mile 2) containing water and sports drinks and bathrooms will be available on the course.

Time Limit The time limit for the Half Marathon is 3 hours. Due to GDOT restrictions and the closing of a state highway (SR52) we are limited to 3 hours. Any half participant not to the 10 mile point within 2 hour 15 mins will be removed from the course and into the "follow" vehicle. If on course after 3 hours (and past Old Federal Rd), city streets are re-opened and course support shut down, any remaining runners/walkers will need to move to the sidewalks. All finishers will receive a medal. 2 hour time limit 10K and 1.5 hour for 5K. Downhill makes you faster but your quads pay the price! Train properly

There are no refunds or transfers allowed. There is event insurance available for purchase when you register that will provide refund.

Packet Pick-up/Registration
Saturday 4/27/24 2-4pm
Sunday 4/28/24 5:45-7:10am(half), 6:30-7:35(10K), 7-8am (5K&1-Mile)
City Park 401 N. 2nd Ave Chatsworth GA

Race Timing
The race will utilize MyLaps timing chips that are be affixed to each racer’s number bib. Each runner will also receive a bib number to be worn during the race. Make sure you wear the # you are assigned!