An annual tradition, The Music & Miles Half-Marathon kicks off The Goose Chase’s Trifecta half-marathon race series in the Tri-Cities area. Held in the month of May at Elizabethton, Tennessee, Music & Miles is set-up for nice spring weather and scenic views. The race can be ran solo or with a relay team ranging from 2 to 4 people per team.
Like many Goose Chase races, Music & Miles is a themed half-marathon providing live music at the start/finish and each relay station. In addition, they hold a costume contest and give awards to best dressed Runners (solo artist), Duets (2-person relay) and Best Band (3+ relay teams).
The race starts and finishes near a beautiful covered bridge, plus takes you through part of the Tweetsie Trail. Throughout the Music & Miles half-marathon, runners will find a total of 6 hydration stations along this USATF Certified Course.
Personal Experience
I had a blast running the Music & Miles half-marathon in 2023! Though it wasn’t my first Goose Chase race, it was my first time running a race in Elizabethton, Tennessee. To get a cool start to the race, I walked to the back of the starting line so I could begin the half-marathon running through the covered bridge.
The race first took me through parts of historic main street and downtown Elizabethton before briefly running Hwy 19e. Fortunately, race organizers and local police officers ensured that running the highway was 100% safe.
After 19e, the course jumps on and off the Tweetsie Trail. The advantage here is that the crushed gravel trail made it easier on my joints. The change from road to trail also creates a variety of scenery. One moment you’re seeing local businesses, then you’re covered in greenery right before running near homes with kids playing in their yard cheering you along the way. There were even cheering groups lining the sides of the Tweetsie Trail in certain points. Overall, a very positive community that showed their support to all runners.
Another high point is the relatively easy elevation gain of 367 feet. Most of the race feels pretty flat and most of the elevation is found near the end of the race. In fact, the highest elevation points happen in miles 9 through 11 which covered parts of E and F Street. During this incline, I remove my beats earbuds, and make dad jokes with the other runners around me. I got a few sympathy laughs with my, “Guess they wanted to make sure we were awake for the climb.”
Finish Line & Final Thoughts
The finish line experience at Music & Miles was fantastic! To say it was energetic is an understatement. The course goes through the covered bridge, and as I was coming out of the bridge, I was blasted with live music, cheering crowds, and other runners celebrating their performance. It was like being blasted out of a cannon and landing smack in the middle of a party. The party atmosphere is fitting for the medal as the design lends itself to a classic rock concert.
Overall, I would highly recommend this race to any level of runner. It’s a fun course filled with music, low on inclines and high on fun!
If you want to read more about my personal experience, check out, “Wrong Shoes/Right Fit: Running the Music & Miles Half-Marathon.”