The Soky Circuit (Southern Kentucky for non-locals) begins and ends at Fountain Square Park right in the heart of downtown Bowling Green, KY. The course starts by going South on State Street, passing Western Kentucky University before turning onto Chestnut Street and then Highway 31W (Nashville Road) before proceeding straight until reaching the square in Franklin, Kentucky. Along this 21 mile stretch the course will take runners through Bowling Green and past Lost River Cave, Richpond Market, Chaney’s Dairy Barn, the community of Woodburn, KY, and the Octagon House in Northern Simpson County.
After arriving at the square the route turns left (East) onto Cedar Street in downtown Franklin, KY. After crossing the Drakes Creek it follows Highway 585 East, passing the Gold City Market before eventually reaching Scottsville, KY and turning North onto Old Gallatin Road (3500) leading to the town square. From Scottsville, the route curls through town before eventually turning North onto Highway 31E. Over the next 25 miles, the route proceeds North passing Paradise Point Market Place and crossing Barren River Lake. It continues North past the Haywood Country Store before eventually turning right on S Green Street and heading into downtown Glasgow, KY.
After reaching the town square in Glasgow, the route connects back to 31E Northbound and heads to the community of Uno, KY, passing Dennison’s Roadside Market shortly before turning left (NW) onto Highway 571 and proceeding to Munfordville, KY, crossing the Green River to arrive at the town square. Once arriving at the square at Munfordville, the course reaches it’s most northerly point, the the furthest point from the start of the run. From there, the route turns South and enters cave country. Following Highway 31W, runners will pass the Civil War battlefield on the South bank of the Green River across from Munfordville before proceeding to the town of Horse Cave, KY. Along this short stretch runners will pass Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo and Farmwald’s Dutch Bakery and Deli before turning and heading to Main Street Horse Cave where they can cool down with a tour of Hidden River Cave directly under Main Street.
Continuing South, the route next arrives at Cave City, KY, passing the Wigwam Village Inn and a host of roadside oddities and unique tourist attractions and restaurants. From Cave City, the route will just skirt past Crystal Onyx Cave as it continues South until reaching Park City and the entrance to Mammoth Cave National Park. Crossing under I-65 the route turns into a wide, shaded crushed gravel trail that winds past Diamond Caverns and through the woods on its way to the visitor center and cave tour entrances. On a hot day runners can enjoy the refreshing cool air of the caves before continuing back along the same trail until reaching Highway 70. As the route proceeds through the national park along Highway 70 it crosses through a forested area with no amenities and possibly weak or no cell service until turning left onto Park Boundary Road. If runners can endure this section and if they can time their run correctly they can reward themselves with a country breakfast buffet at the Porky Pig Diner in Pig, KY.
After filling up, runners will turn right (West) onto Highway 259 and will follow this road into downtown Brownsville, KY, where they can enjoy some ice cream at Berties, passing the clinic where my father practiced medicine for 30 years. The course continues North on Main Street, crosses the Green River again and then turns left (West) onto Highway 70. The next 25 miles are through sparsely populated areas between Brownsville and Morgantown, KY with very few amenities until crossing the Green River once again and arriving at the town square in Morgantown, KY.
From Morgantown, KY the route proceeds South along Highway 231, passing stores and restaurants along the way. Turning South onto Highway 79, the course snakes its way South, slowly arriving at Russellville, KY. Winding through the city streets in Russellville, runners will proceed to the town square and past historic sights such as a bank that Jesse James robbed (before supposedly hiding out in Lost River Cave in Bowling Green). As runners leave from the opposite side of town they will first pass Rhea Stadium, a historic high school football stadium, before turning onto Highway 68 and proceeding to Main Street in Auburn, KY.
Leaving from Auburn, runners will find themselves on the homestretch as they go past South Union and through Rockfield, KY. Soon they will arrive back into Bowling Green and follow Highway 68 (Russellville Rd) until reaching Western Kentucky University, where they will climb the hill up to Cherry Hall and descend in a dash down College Street ending their journey where it began at Fountain Square Park.
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