Marathon Group Runs Set to Begin

by Jason Altman

Now that we are in the last couple months of 2022, it can only mean one thing. Training for the 2023 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is just around the corner!

This year’s training group runs will be sponsored by Eddie’s Health Shoppe and ZenEvo Dark Chocolate. With the support from these businesses owned by Eddie Reymond, we will provide the group runs free of charge while providing water, sports drinks, and post-run food. While a few of the training runs will start from one of Eddie’s business locations (including the downtown Health Shoppe!), we will also meet at other locations around town, including Runners Market, New Balance Knoxville, Fleet Feet Knoxville, The Long Run, and Tennessee Sports Medicine Group. We will kick-off the group runs for marathoners on Saturday, December 3, at 8 am at Eddie’s Health Shoppe in the Suburban Plaza Shopping Center. While the half marathon group run schedule doesn’t officially begin until January, we still would encourage any half marathoner who wants to log a few miles with the company of more than 100 other walkers and runners to join us!

As you may recall, we opened registration in May. Registration numbers have been solid! I believe that the excitement about the 19th CHKM will keep registration numbers growing, and we will end up with a great turnout come March 29. Don’t forget; our next price increase is December 1, so be sure and register by November 30 to save up to $10 on your event.

It’s not too early to mark your calendar for our Covenant Kids Run Kickoff at Zoo Knoxville. This coming year’s Kickoff will be Saturday, February 4. Children will log their first mile of their two-month 26.2 mile journey at the Zoo that day. They will then receive a mileage log where they can log the remaining miles until ultimately finishing their remaining mileage on April 1 at the Covenant Kids Run!

If you happen to be doing a fall marathon or half marathon, be on the lookout for us! We will take our marketing campaign to several expos in the region including Dayton, Columbus, Indianapolis, and Kiawah. Locally, we will be at several area company health fairs. Be sure and say hi if you see us at one of those expos!

Speaking of companies, our Fittest Company Challenge Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, November 15, at ORNL FCU. This luncheon is a great opportunity for wellness directors, human resource managers, or other company leaders to learn more about the Challenge and take away ideas to encourage employees to participate in the 2023 CHKM. For more information, please reach out to me via email at knoxvillemarathon@gmail.com

Looking to volunteer in a larger capacity for the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon? I am currently recruiting committee captains to serve as key volunteers for the 2023 event. Some of the positions even allow you to run one of the races! If interested, please contact me at the above email for more information.