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Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Team
The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Team is a group of individuals from all walks of life. The team’s training is always followed on WBIR-TV with the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Minute, in the Knoxville News Sentinel, and on 93.1 FM.
The 2009 Team will be announced in the fall of 2008. We will be accepting applications for interested persons starting in August of 2008. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, get an idea of what the CHKM Team is all about by reading over the 2008 team members below.
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Kevin Antoine, 28
An avid runner, Kevin is living life to the fullest. He ran his first full marathon in 2007 and is ready to take his performance to the next level. He joins the team with enthusiasm and excitement, anxious to encourage others to set and meet their fitness goals. Kevin’s goal is to finish “healthy” and qualify for Boston. Follow Kevin and his training via his personal blog. |
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Russell Biven, WBIR, 35
Many people know Russell for his astute reporting and his sense of humor on WBIR Live at Five. Many people don’t know that also he has a background as an athlete (he was first hired as a sports reporter at the station). Like many of us, the responsibilities of work and parenting have filled his plate in recent years, keeping him from being as active as he’d like. That’s no longer the case. Russell is finding ways to work health and fitness into his routine for a strong finish at the marathon.
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Diana Condon, Knoxville News Sentinel, 51
As Director of Advertising, Diana Condon knows what it means to be “on the run.” She leads a busy life, but still manages to find time for running, a sport she has enjoyed for many years. Her devotion has paid off, making her a fast and strong runner. In the 2007 BUDDY’S Race Against Cancer, Diana had the fastest time in her age group. She joins the team with a goal of improving her time and her finish in her age group.
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Deidre Diener, 59
Deidre’s husband died in a plane crash, she lost a daughter in a car crash and her soldier son was wounded last year while on duty in Iraq. Deidre has made a decision to embrace life with the attitude of a true survivor, taking care of herself physically and emotionally with a positive attitude and a goal of crossing the finish line. A novice runner, Deidre hopes to walk or run the half marathon. Read about Deidre's training in her blog. Here's another entry. |
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Michael Holtz, 38
Heart disease and Type 2 diabetes run in Michael's family. His father died of heart disease at a young age. After a life-long struggle with his weight, Michael is ready to take control of his health. He is walking and running toward a lifestyle that will help him feel better and live life more fully than ever before. His goal is to cross the finish line in the half marathon. Read about Michael's Training in his blog. |
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Renee Kelly, 39
Running in the half marathon will be a real milestone for Renee. It’s a goal she’s set to celebrate her birthday and prove that there is life after 40. Renee works for Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieve Dreams), an organization committed to increasing the high school graduation rate of students in the heart of Knoxville, encouraging them to enter a post-secondary institution. Renee will no doubt cross the finish line with a little extra coaching from her husband, former UT Vol Todd Kelly. Renee’s goal is to finish the full marathon and teach her children and others that setting and achieving short-term goals is the secret to experiencing long-term success.
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Margie Kidd, 40
Margie serves as director of the highly successful health and wellness program at Clayton Homes. She has run two marathons and has qualified for the 2008 Boston Marathon. She will encourage other corporations to involve their employees in the marathon events. Margie’s goals are to inspire the “non-runner,” encourage families and children to participate, and triple the number of runners and walkers from her workplace. Read about Margie's Training in her runner's blog. |
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Kevin, 93.1 FM, 38
Kevin is a veteran of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Team. This is his third year on the team, earning him the nickname of “Coach Kevin.” During his first year on the team, he was hit with double pneumonia and ended up running with his daughter in the Cariten Kids’ Run. In 2007, he was back and better than ever, crossing the finish line in the full marathon. For 2008, Kevin has started looking beyond the marathon experience to share what he’s learned with others, forming his own relay team.
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Sara Masters, 28
Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 14 years ago, this school teacher has taken charge of her health in recent years, running more and eating healthier. She has run three half marathons. Sara hopes to inspire her students and set an example for others who are experiencing life with diabetes, letting them know that if she can do it, so can they. |
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John Roberts, 66
John’s life didn’t slow down when he retired from his job as a school teacher in Anderson County. At 66, he’s a member of the adjunct faculty at Pellissippi State Technical Community College who loves bicycling. He has not participated in the sport of running since completing a half marathon in 1985. He’s healthy, active, and looking forward to showing seniors that it’s never too late to get back in the race. Read John's first training blog entry here. Here's his second. |
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Sharon Spezia, 58
Sharon is a grandmother and a volunteer with Girls on the Run of Greater Knoxville, an organization designed to encourage girls ages 8–12 to get up, get moving, and get the most out of life. Sharon completed the 2007 half marathon with a dislocated toe (but only under the care and supervision of a physical therapist). She wants to step off from the start line at full speed in 2008 and finish strong. |
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Coach Missy Kane |
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