Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon 2009

March 29, 2009 at 7:00 a.m., the gun started a race donating funds and raising awareness for Covenant Health.  The Knoxville Marathon hosted 5 different events: Marathon (26.2 miles), 4-Person Relay (note: the first two legs are 6.25 miles, the third 7.9 miles and the final leg is 5.9 miles), Half Marathon (13.1 miles), 5k (3.1 miles), and Kids’ Run (1.2 miles.).

On the 28th, the day before the race, Knoxville hosted an expo at the Convention Center Holiday Inn below the Golden Globe of World's Fair Park in Knoxville.  All participants were to attend the expo to pick up their race day packets which included their bib number, timing chip, t-shirt, and other goodies.  There were all sorts of vendors and information booths set up.  Reasons2Run (R2R) sent out the Street Team Leader and the Organization owner to hand out information flyers about Reasons2Run.  "I don't know what to do," says R2R Street Team Leader. "Me neither, but somehow we need to give these flyers out.  I don't know how to approach the people," replies R2R owner.  The two of them agreed to walk a long extended path back towards the car and agreed to hand a flyer to everyone they passed, eventually coming up with the idea of putting flyers in the windows of the cars.  This was Reasons2Run's first appearance in public, they hope to progress as they slowly get their feet wet.

The 29th marked the day of the race.  R2R had two athletes participating in the events: Ericha Baskerville and Sean Powell.  Sean and Ericha originally planned to run the half-marathon together, but the both of them faced obstacles before the race even began.  Ericha arrived late to the start line and could not figure out what to do with her bag. "I just left it at the hotel front desk.  I'm very thankful that they were able to hold it.  I promised them t-shirts in return" says Ericha.  She was able to start her race just minutes before the next race started.  As she ran along she was trying to catch up with Sean, but never found him in the race.  This was Ericha's first race since an injury in 2007, so she was excited to finish 13.1 miles with no injuries.

Sean Powell also faced an obstacle before the race, but was determined to complete the half marathon. "My wife messed me up," he says "She signed me up for the wrong race."  Sean had been registered to run the 5k.  He completed the 5k race, and afterwards, he ran the second half of the full marathon.  Sean completed his first half-marathon.  On that day he actually completed two races in one day, running 16.2 miles total.

Sean and Ericha are both looking forward to future races.  They are also recruting people for Reasons2Run.  R2R will have more information about how to become an athelte for Reasons2Run and the benefits of serving causes through them.

After the race, Knoxville hosted an afterparty which consisted of food and drinks for the athletes.  They also showed the runners coming accross the finish line on the jumbo-tron in the Tompsin Boling Arena where the Vols Basketball teams compete.  The video for the jumbo-tron was delayed a few minutes so that the participants could see themselves crossing the line.  The run was a success, and every year the race and supporters get better and better and more resourceful.  Many atheletes complete the Knoxville Marathon in order to train for other events because its hills.  It can be certain that next year, March of 2010, will exceed that of the Knoxville Marathon's past.

-Article By

Ericha Baskerville