Knoxville to Host Annual Race for the Summitt 5K

Runners gather this October 31, 2026, to honor a coaching legend and support Alzheimer's research in Knoxville.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Alzheimer’s

Bold vector editorial illustration showing running shoes on autumn leaves, representing a community charity race for health research. — Runners are set to gather in Knoxville on October 31, 2026, for the annual Race for the Summitt 5K to support Alzheimer's research. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The annual Race for the Summitt 5K will take place in Knoxville on October 31, 2026. Organizers host the race to raise awareness and funding for the Pat Summitt Foundation and Alzheimer's disease research.

Why it matters

The event honors the legacy of Pat Summitt, the former University of Tennessee women's basketball coach who announced her early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2011. It serves as a vital community effort to support ongoing scientific studies at the Pat Summitt Clinic.

Researchers at the Pat Summitt Clinic utilize driving simulators to analyze how the brain processes visual stimuli across the adult lifespan. These pilot studies aim to track specific cognitive changes associated with aging.

The players

Pat Summitt

She was a legendary head coach who led the University of Tennessee women's basketball team to eight national championships during her 38-season career.

Pat Summitt Foundation

This organization supports Alzheimer's disease research and awareness, honoring the legacy of the coach who died at age 64.

Pat Summitt Clinic

The clinic conducts specialized longitudinal studies on aging and brain health to better understand conditions like Alzheimer's.

The details

Volunteers and students organized the 5K, which first began in 2014 to continue the work of the late coach. The clinic remains dedicated to examining driving capacity and aging through its longitudinal research programs.

Pat Summitt announced her Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2011.
The first Race for the Summitt 5K took place in 2014.
Pat Summitt died in June 2016.
The 2026 Race for the Summitt 5K occurs on October 31, 2026.

The Big Picture

The race funding bolsters the Pat Summitt Clinic's longitudinal aging studies, which track cognitive decline in the adult population. This event provides the community support and financial resources necessary to sustain the clinic's ongoing research initiatives.

Residents in the Knoxville area can support local clinical research by participating in the annual 5K event at Tyson Park. The funds raised directly contribute to studies examining brain health and cognitive changes as patients age.

The takeaway

Community-led events like this 5K are essential for funding pilot research programs that might otherwise lack resources. Supporting these efforts helps bridge the gap between academic clinical studies and public awareness of Alzheimer's disease.