About the Pistol
The course runs along a paved greenway beside Pistol Creek, starting and finishing at a pool center in Alcoa. The terrain is gentle with some rolling sections, and the loop layout means you pass through the main area repeatedly, which keeps things social and lets crew and volunteers stay close. The course is lit through the night, so runners going long have full visibility.
Packet pickup happens the evening before at a nearby airport hotel, where there is also a race store and a chance to preview the course and meet other runners. Aid stations are stocked around the clock with the usual ultra staples and, as the night goes on, hot food like soup, grilled cheese, and burritos.
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Finish-Time Stats
Going by the 2026 results, this is a small, friendly field, with a competitive front end and a big recreational middle.
31.14 Miles · 2026 results
150finishers
3:41:33winner
6:50:19median
23:29:41cutoff
Top 3: Brian Zickefoose (3:41:33) · Audrey Lawrence (3:43:24) · Brianna Medcalf (3:57:57)
10.18 Miles · 2026 results
108finishers
59:45winner
1:53:01median
3:01:40cutoff
Top 3: Anthony Tom (59:45) · David Johnson (1:02:27) · Jeremiah Jones (1:03:39)
20.36 Miles · 2026 results
51finishers
2:07:55winner
3:36:05median
6:45:48cutoff
Top 3: Casey Pribish (2:07:55) · Sam Plemons (2:22:02) · Patrick Flavin (2:23:08)
62.28 Miles · 2026 results
41finishers
8:51:46winner
15:23:22median
31:15:58cutoff
Top 3: Amy Watson (8:51:46) · Audrey Carter (10:13:19) · Seth Krusich (10:31:09)
50.9 Miles · 2026 results
36finishers
7:08:49winner
13:03:12median
22:23:14cutoff
Top 3: David Compton (7:08:49) · Matt Johnson (9:11:32) · Jordan Brown (9:39:12)
101.8 Miles · 2026 results
36finishers
16:46:27winner
27:10:05median
31:49:31cutoff
Top 3: Sean Stanley (16:46:27) · Piper Gray (17:15:37) · FRANCESCA MUCCINI (19:20:28)
The Pistol has been held every year since at least 2018. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.
How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.
Distances & Start Times
10.18 Miles3/14/2027 08:00$70
20.36 Miles3/14/2027 08:00$80
31.14 Miles3/13/2027 07:55$110
50.9 Miles3/13/2027 20:00$130
62.28 Miles3/13/2027 08:00$170
101.8 Miles3/13/2027 08:00$275
81.07 Miles3/13/2027 07:55$215
Pacer3/13/2027 07:55Free
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Where to Stay
Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around Alcoa — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.
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