Varmint Half Marathon & 5K
Tazewell, VA
- Half Marathon, 5K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
The Varmint Half Marathon & 5K runs through and around the rolling hills of beautiful Burkes Garden, VA. SFTC King & Queen race, and Long Distance Series race. State of Franklin Track Club (SFTC) members receive preregistration discount. Special finisher’s medal for 1/2 Marathon and the famous sheep trophies for … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Jun 13):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 78 | 80 | 80 | 66 | 83 |
| L (°F) | 62 | 64 | 57 | 51 | 64 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
God’s Thumbprint!
This was my 5th time running this race. Even with light rain which dampened the views, Burkes Garden never lets you down. The rain actually made the last few miles … MORE
This was my 5th time running this race. Even with light rain which dampened the views, Burkes Garden never lets you down. The rain actually made the last few miles a bit easier, as there is little shade on that part of the course. It’s a hilly course, especially in the first 4 miles, but the scenery is always spectacular, and for those of you fast enough to medal, the prizes are homemade sheep! The race was in its 26th year this year. It’s always on my calendar!
God's Thumbprint - awesome beauty!
This is a small race located in a mountain valley in southwest VA. If you want an extremely beautiful course at about 3000' elevation, this is your ticket! (Full disclosure: … MORE
This is a small race located in a mountain valley in southwest VA. If you want an extremely beautiful course at about 3000′ elevation, this is your ticket! (Full disclosure: I now run this race every year, as we own some property in Burkes Garden.) The first mile is downhill, then there are two relatively big hills in the next 3 miles or so. After that, it is mostly rolling until the end when there is a hill coming out of a gully to the finish. It’s not an easy race, but the weather is usually good, the medals and trophies are distinctive (trophies are sheep!), and the scenery is just incredible. And it’s cheap – $40! The upside/downside (depending upon your viewpoint) is that since it’s out in the country, hotels and amenities nearby are not plentiful.