
From the Organizer
Get your team ready for fall cross country season at the Pickett State Park Summer Cross Country Camp, taking place July 31–August 2 in the scenic hills of Tennessee. Designed primarily for high school cross country athletes and teams, with opportunities for collegiate runners as well, this weekend camp provides the perfect opportunity to prepare both physically and mentally before the official season begins.
A preseason camp offers tremendous benefits for distance runners and teams alike. Athletes have the chance to build fitness through purposeful training in a beautiful, challenging environment while developing team chemistry away from the distractions of everyday life. Running together, learning together, and sharing experiences as a group can strengthen relationships and establish a positive team culture that carries into the competitive season. Camps also provide valuable opportunities for athletes to sharpen training habits, build confidence, and enter the fall season motivated and prepared.
Whether your team is looking to establish goals, strengthen team bonds, or simply gain an edge heading into race season, the Pickett State Park Summer Cross Country Camp offers a unique opportunity to train, grow, and get excited for the season ahead in one of Tennessee’s most scenic state parks.
Calling all High School Cross Country Runners and Coaches!
Are you ready to take your running to the next level and build an unstoppable foundation for the upcoming season?
Join us from July 31st to August 2nd at the beautiful Pickett State Park for an immersive, weekend-long Cross Country Camp led by Roane State CC Coach Bobby Holcombe. This camp specifically design to help high school athletes and coaches kickstart the Fall 2026 season with purpose, education, and team camaraderie.
Our goal for the weekend is simple: dive deep into the sport we love, lay the groundwork for success, and help you set powerful individual and team goals for the fall. Plus, you’ll be sharing the trails and bunkhouses with runners from all over, pushing each other to be better.
Camp Details:
Dates: Friday, July 31st – Sunday, August 2nd
Location: Pickett State Park Group Camp (Accommodations include 6 bunkhouses with roughly 100 beds, a commons area, and a kitchen)
Cost: Only $100 per student-athlete.
Coaches: FREE! (We encourage coaches to attend and lead our Saturday breakout sessions).
What to Expect: We are lining up an incredible roster of potential guest speakers, including running experts like Carter Couphlin, Kathy Wolski, and Amanda Martin, who will share their insights and motivate you for the season ahead.
Here is a look at our action-packed weekend schedule:
Friday, July 31st
3:00 PM: Check-in at the Group Camp
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Shakeout run, stretching, light core work, and foam rolling
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Guest Speaker & Camp Activities!
10:00 PM: Lights out
Saturday, August 1st
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Wake up & Breakfast
8:15 AM - 10:30 AM: Morning Run, stretch, foam roll, and core work
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Shower & Break
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Coach-Led Breakout Sessions. (Campers will be split into combined teams for a round-robin rotation. You'll stick with this squad for the rest of the day’s activities!) Coaches will be provided with one uniformed coaches shirt for the cross country camp to wear throghout the weekend.
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM: TBA / Free Time
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner
7:00 PM - 9:30 PM: Guest Speaker & Evening Team Activities
10:00 PM: Lights out
Sunday, August 2nd
7:00 AM - 7:45 AM: Wake up, grab a bite, and gear up
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Short morning run
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Shower and personal clean-up
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Camp clean-up & Checkout
Space is limited to roughly 100 athletes, and beds will fill up fast! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to train hard, learn from the best, and bond with your teammates before the starting gun fires on the 2026 season.
https://tennesseeendurance.com - Landing page for camp sign-up. All remaining proceeds will go into the TE account.
Let’s put in the work now so we can celebrate at the finish line later. See you at Pickett State Park!
Weather
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
85°
Typical Low
64°
Chance of Rain
36%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Jamestown.
Host City
Population
2,156
as of 2023
City Elevation
1,708 ft
Nearest Airport
TYS
McGhee Tyson Airport · 68 mi
Time Zone
Central Time
From Endurance Grid
A small town race. Lodging near the start could be limited, so book early.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at XC Summer Camp @ Pickett State Park, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
44
Days to train
Coming Up
Spirit of 76: 7.6 Miler
21 miles away
Running Into the 4th Dimension
32 miles away
Laps of Love: Run For Their Lives 2026
28 miles away
Big South Fork Trail Race
16 miles away
From Endurance Grid
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
XC Summer Camp @ Pickett State Park
Jul 31, 2026