At a time when many retailers are fretting over another contraction in consumer spending, outdoor retailer Rock/Creek is reporting record interest in its annual trail running event – the Rock/Creek StumpJump 50K and 11 Mile Trail Race. The Chattanooga, TN-based outdoor retailer said Thursday it is capping participation in the Oct. 2 event at 800 after early registrations surpassed the 500 mark.



Rock/Creek said it will cap registration participants for the 11 Mile race at 300 and the 50K race at 500.


Started almost ten years ago the Stumpjump has emerged as a world-class trailing running event that has drawn dozens of sponsors from the otudoor industry. At this year’s Rock/Creek StumpJump, for instance, all 50K participants will receive SmartWool socks, a Patagonia Runshade race shirt and a pair of Skullcandy headphones in their race packets. Participants in the 11 Mile race will receive Skullcandy headphones as finisher awards while supplies last.

Other companies sponsoring the event include Salomon, SmartWool, Patagonia, Marmot, Vasque, The North Face, Hammer Nutrition, La Sportiva, Deuter, Columbia, Outdoor Research, Greenlife Grocery, Trail Runner Magazine, Southern Spring Water, Smith Optics, Toyota of Cleveland, Blue Smoke Coffee, North Shore Yoga, and Archer Physical Therapy. The race is part of the Rock/Creek Trail Series and River Rocks Chattanooga.

Proceeds from the race go to Wild Trails, a new 501 (c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to promote the use, expansion and protection of trails in greater Chattanooga. Wild Trails just announced annual memberships.