Race for the Summitt 5K

The 13th Annual Race for the Summitt 5K is organized by current pharmacy students at UT College of Pharmacy. Our student organization - American Pharmacist Association - Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) hosts this race to support The Pat Summitt Foundation. Pat Summitt was head coach for the Lady Vols from 1974-2012; Summitt accrued over 1,000 career wins and never had a losing season at the University of Tennessee. Summitt was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2011, and sadly lost her fight against the disease in 2016. Since then, the Pat Summitt Foundation was founded for research and further awareness of Alzheimer’s disease; all of our proceeds from the race is are given to the Pat Summitt Foundation. Show your support for Coach Summitt and her legacy by running or walking in the race and asking friends and family members to become Memory Donors. Please join us as "We Back Pat!"

The mission of The Pat Summitt Foundation is to fight Alzheimer’s disease with a comprehensive approach, awarding grants to organizations that provide:

• Research to treat, prevent, cure, and ultimately eradicate this disease
• Education and awareness of Alzheimer's its onset and treatment
• Support services to patients, their families, and caregivers

To learn more about The Pat Summitt Foundation, visit http://www.patsummitt.org/.

The race is hosted by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy's APhA-ASP (American Pharmacist Association - Academy of Student Pharmacists) chapter. Our chapter's mission is to provide professional development and leadership opportunities for student pharmacists, raise awareness about and advocate for the role of the pharmacist in the healthcare system, and provide health services and education to the citizens of Tennessee.

The Race for the Summitt first started in 2011 as a 4-Miler race and was held on the College of Pharmacy's campus in Memphis at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Due to Pat's strong association with Knoxville the race changed locations to be hosted by students on this campus. Each year a new small group of students are selected to work together to organize the event.

Without the help of local businesses, this amazing event would not be possible! If your business would like to sponsor The Race for the Summitt, please view/submit the Sponsorship Form below.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ci1QrjA6NI304GLcbkSPmPc6eN4PYxlzj4e2mpArfXs/edit?usp=sharing 

A Memory Donor is an individual who donates $30 or more to our race. In return, you will receive a race t-shirt. Please see event options and sign up as "memory donor." In the second step, you can select t-shirt size. Your shirt will be mailed to the address you list. Thank you for your contribution!

All parking areas in red are available to park for race day.

Of note: certain lots are NOT available for parking:

• UT Research Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Building
• Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic

See map below for the race course! This is a brand new course for the 2025 race!

Thank you to Todd Temple Photography for providing his photography services for our race! Below are the links to the race day gallery:

2025 Race Day Photos: https://toddtemple.pixieset.com/raceforthesummitt5k2025/

2024 Race Day Photos: https://toddtemple.pixieset.com/raceforthesummitt5k2024/

On October 4th 2025, the Tennessee Department of Transportation will be closing sections of northbound traffic on Alcoa Highway due to blasting and road construction occurring. Please plan your commute to the race accordingly to avoid further inconvenience. 

We have attached a map of the road closures, as well as a proposed detour route, for those affected by the road work. Please avoid the Red and Orange sections of Alcoa Highway shown. 

The race itself will not be affected by the construction/blasting.

Southbound traffic on Alcoa Hwy will not be closed, but please plan for increased congestion.

Please plan accordingly to arrive early as registration will close at 8:45, 15 minutes before the start of the race.