Tennessee Run for the Fallen moves to Kingston Springs for 2026 event

The Tennessee Run for the Fallen will take a new route this year, bringing its 130-mile remembrance run to Kingston Springs’ Burns Park on Sept. 26 and 27.

The annual event, organized through the Tennessee chapter of Honor and Remember, honors Tennessee service members who died while serving their country by carrying their names and reading them aloud during the run.

Jack Arnold, director of the Tennessee State Chapter of Honor and Remember, said the event is entering its fifth year in Tennessee. In previous years, runners traveled from outside Fort Campbell through Burns, Franklin and Smyrna before finishing in Nashville.

This year, the entire run will take place on a loop at Burns Park.

Arnold said the change was made primarily for safety and to make it easier for Gold Star families to participate. In previous years, runners traveled along roadways with law enforcement escorts, but Arnold said traffic created dangerous situations and made it difficult to coordinate with families meeting the runners at specific locations.

“We have almost been killed by cars,” Arnold said. “The last two years that we've done it, we have had cars, even with law enforcement protection and lights behind us, come between our trail vehicle, which is clearly marked for runners, and our front vehicle, even though they're close together, and basically have us dodging out of the way.”

Moving to Burns Park will allow families to attend without navigating a roadside meeting point, and family members will be able to walk or run alongside the participants.

The Tennessee run recognizes service members who died while serving or as a result of their service, regardless of the circumstances of their deaths. Arnold said the Tennessee list currently includes 429 names, with 142 markers representing those honored during the run.

Runners stop approximately every mile to read the names they have carried during that portion of the route. The group carries the U.S. flag, Tennessee flag, Honor and Remember flag and Honor and Sacrifice flag for fallen first responders when enough runners are available.

The event also includes presentations of personalized Honor and Remember flags to Gold Star families. Arnold hopes to present three to six new flags this year to families who have not previously received one.

Runners are welcome to participate for a portion of the route rather than completing the entire distance. Arnold said participants do not need to be experienced distance runners.

“You could take a one mile turn or a two mile turn, and then pass it off to somebody else,” Arnold said.

The run is expected to cover about 130 miles over the two days, with most of the distance taking place Saturday. Arnold said the organizers hope the new location will allow more people to see and participate in the event without the traffic disruptions associated with the previous route.

“If you feel moved and you want to join us for a mile, just join in,” Arnold said. “Fall in, go around the track with us.”

Those interested in participating can contact Arnold at jacktoddarnold@gmail.com.