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This is the medal the finishers of the Cummins Falls Marathon received on February 22, 2014 in Cookeville, Tennessee.

This medal is made out of wood and was engraved with a laser. It’s unique!!

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[Medal photo submitted by Jeff Liu.  Follow him on Instagram @marathonjeff]

If you travel to the Cummins Falls Marathon, you’ll be well advised to set aside a couple of extra days to see local sights and sample local restaurants. A famished runner can find a truck load of cool eating joints in Cookeville, Tennessee. But you need to know where to look. I am here to help.

One hundred and thirty-two, that’s the number Google gives me for the aggregation of restaurants in Cookeville. That’s maybe more than you’d expect for a “small town” of 31,010 souls. But the town’s activity is much larger than its population suggests: it’s a university town, with the influx that brings; it sits at the crossroads of TN-111 and I-40; and it serves as a hub city for the whole Upper Cumberland region. People come to shop, eat out, see ballgames and watch movies. I once read the dubious claim that Cookeville triples on the weekend. I don’t believe that number, but it does grow.

So, yes, 132 restaurants. That number includes the usual expected chain restaurants such as O’Charley’s, Outback, Ruby Tuesday, and so on. Most of those restaurants are strung along Interstate Drive, parallel to and one block north of I-40, visible and handy to the Interstate traveler. Ah, but I rarely go there. Jo Ann and I chose the home grown restaurants in the old part of town, in the Westside and Eastside.

Without making any claims of good taste in food or anything else, I will tell you the places where this runner actually goes to eat. For what it’s worth, here they are:

Read the full story by Dallas Smith HERE

Coupon for two basketball tickets to Tennessee Tech play Jacksonville State

Runners can’t jump worth a dime. Something about the day in and day out running that conditions the running muscles and decommissions the jumping muscles. Inability to jump is a condition basketball players call white man’s disease. Runners have it. They end up bound to the ground, able to run over it but not jump off it. No matter. Until they trip on a curb, they probably don’t miss the lost skill.
But just in case there’s a runner of the Cummins Falls Marathon still holding a soft spot for jumping, arrangements have been made. Yes indeed, tired runners can recoup and at least watch some high jumping. Turns out the Tennessee Tech men’s basketball team is loaded with high leapers that play above the rim, players who don’t jump so much as fly. In one recent game the team threw down eleven dunks. That’s some high-flying action.
Each runner of Cummins Falls Marathon – and this applies to the 5K, 10K and half marathon, too – receives in his/her goodie bag a coupon for two tickets to watch the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles take on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks the evening of the race. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. that Saturday, February 22. Just turn in the coupon at the ticket window of Hooper-Eblen Center. They’ll hand you two tickets. Easy, no hassle. After all, this is about recouping. Rest up while you watch a furious game. No charge, unless you want to buy some popcorn and coke.
During halftime, the man and woman winner of each of the four Cummins Falls races will be called to center court for recognition and congratulations by Tennessee Tech Athletic Director Mark Wilson.
In case you didn’t get enough of the Golden Girls dance team, the Cheerleaders and Awesome Eagle during the race, here’s another shot! The whole indefatigable bunch will re-appear at the game, promoting team spirit as they always do. When do they ever sleep?
After the game, if you need more rest, I’d recommend Father Tom’s Pub, on Cedar Avenue. Just show Father Tom your race number and ask for a free beer. Tell him I said I’d pay for it later. It’s worth a try.

This is the medal for the Inaugural Cummins Falls Marathon that was held on February 23, 2013 in Cookeville, Tennessee.

Great medal for a pretty but tough course!

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[Medal submitted by RIF #75 Jennifer Scarlett]