This annual 26.2-mile march kicks off in downtown Gatlinburg at 9 a.m., serving as a powerful tribute to the brave men and women in uniform. Participants can compete in Military Heavy, Military Light, or Civilian categories, tackling a course that spans highways, rural roads, rugged terrain, and steep mountain slopes. The event honors 1LT Frank Walkup, a University of Tennessee-Knoxville alumnus who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq in 2007.