Covenant Kids Run kickoff 2024 (WATE)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon weekend kicked off Sunday with runners getting ready for the many races that will go through downtown Knoxville.
“I’m not trying to break any records, I’m just trying to finish,” said Haley Rose, a first-time marathon runner.
People of all ages came to the world’s fair exhibition hall for the fitness and health expo to gather their supplies and learn about health and fitness in preparation of the marathon.
“You change when you challenge yourself, and this is definitely a challenge for me, and so I look forward to the pushing myself and seeing who am on the other side of this,” said Rose.
Many of the attendees, like Rose, said this will be the first time they are running in a marathon.
“Might as well just do a marathon, people who run marathons are in really good condition, so I started training in November,” said Whiney Nickels, a first time marathon runner, “So I’m just really excited to finish it I guess. And to show my two boys that if they set their mind to it they can do whatever they want to.”
On Saturday, kids had the opportunity to run as well, and had some advice for those gearing up for the marathon.
“Be slow at the beginning, and then once you get closer to the finish line speed up a little bit,” said Stella Cook who finished the last mile of the Covenant Kids Run.
However, whether they are a rookie or a vet, they all have their own reasons for signing up.
“Just love that feeling when you are out there, its kind of like you zone in and you focus and you’re competing with yourself,” said Rose.
“The fellowship the community is so much fun so, really excited just to run with my friends and enjoy some good weather,” said Payne Trapmell, who plans on wearing banana suits to the race with his friends.
“It’s a matter of doing the very best you can for yourself right. We’ve all got our own reason, we’ve all got our own passion, we’ve all got our own purpose behind lacing up the shoes every day, said Trent Marrow, who says he has run over 200 marathons in seven continents.
“I think tomorrow when it comes to the Knoxville marathon it’s a matter of just doing the very best you can, to put one foot in front of the other, because that is all you have to do to get one step closer of achieving that goal of crossing that finish line,” said Trent Marrow.