Last Saturday, 16 runners hit the trails in Roan Mountain State Park for the fourth annual Diamond Dash Race, a 5K run that takes participants through steep and rough terrain.
After pushing through the 3.5 miles of trail, Brian Lawhern was the first runner to cross the finish line with the time of 32:48 — a personal best for the runner. Lawhern was followed up by Joel Stoeltzing, who recorded a time of 37:42.
Lawhern, who also won the race last year, said the course is extremely tough and takes a lot of concentration to complete.
“Some parts are so steep you have to walk,” he said. “You really have to watch where you’re going. You could easily get hurt on some of the rocks.”
The course starts and ends at the Roan Mountain State Park campground, after taking runners on to three different trails.
Next year, the race will be held on a different and less difficult course.
This year’s fastest female runner was Laura Brown with a time of 40:17. She was followed by Katherine Brown with a time of 46:50.
Members of the Tennessee State Parks Run Club, an organization based out of Nashville that seeks to get people out and running in state parks. were on hand to help out with the run.
“When running, what’s better than being out in a state park,” Emily Stevenson of the TSPRC said after Saturday’s race.
Lawhern, who is the coach of the Roan Mountain Running Club, was not an alone on the course as runners from the newly formed club joined him during the race. The club, which formed three months ago meets every Thursday at the campground check in. For more information on the Roan Mountain Running Club, contact Lawhern at heylern@hotmail.com