Author: Jason Altman

Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon set for Oct. 2-3, 2021

Online race registration opens Feb. 15

The 17th annual Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon race weekend will take place Oct. 2-3, 2021. Online registration for all races is open now at www.knoxvillemarathon.com.

The Kids Run and 5K are scheduled for the evening of Saturday, Oct. 2, at 4:30 and 6 p.m., respectively. The marathon, half marathon and relay events are set for Sunday, Oct. 3, starting at 7:30 a.m.

The fall 2021 event will feature in-person races starting at the iconic Sunsphere on the Clinch Avenue Viaduct and ending in World’s Fair Park, with various routes featuring downtown Knoxville, its beautiful surrounding neighborhoods and the University of Tennessee campus. Virtual options also will be available for those who wish to participate remotely.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and potential restrictions on public gatherings, all 2021 races and supporting events were shifted from March to October. Race officials currently are confirming the race routes and planning additional festivities for finishers, families and fans to enjoy. More information will be announced as details become available.

“We are looking forward to a safe, in-person race weekend in October,” Race Director Jason Altman said. “Like many other organizations and event planners, the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon faced many unexpected challenges during the past year. We are thrilled that we will be able to gather together this fall – to walk, jog, run, volunteer and cheer. Between now and then, keep training and racing toward your goals, and we’ll see you at the finish line!”

Everyone who deferred registration from 2020 to the 2021 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon will be able to participate in the October events as planned. New participants are encouraged to register online at www.knoxvillemarathon.com.

Current registration fees include $65 for the full marathon; $50 for half-marathon and two-person relay; $40 for four-person relay; $25 for 5K; and $10 for Covenant Kids Run. Price increases for entry fees will go into effect later this spring.

“We are thankful for the community’s patience and understanding as we have rerouted this year’s events to ensure a safe, in-person race weekend,” Covenant Health President and CEO Jim VanderSteeg said. “As the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine continues, we encourage everyone to continue to practice social distancing, wear a mask and wash your hands to slow the spread of illness. We wish everyone a safe and healthy year leading up to race weekend and look forward to seeing you in October.”

Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon 2021 races ‘re-routed’ to fall

Out of an abundance of caution and in order to deliver a premier event for participants, the 17th annual Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon will be postponed until fall 2021.

Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in Tennessee and potential restrictions on public gatherings as a result, all races and supporting events are cancelled for the tentative race weekend of March 27-28. The Knoxville Track Club and Covenant Health continue to work with the City of Knoxville and state officials, as well as sponsors and other partners, to confirm 2021 scheduling and plan a safe, in-person race weekend. Specific dates will be announced as soon as possible.

“We are dedicated to providing opportunities for East Tennesseans and visitors to our community to set and achieve personal fitness goals,” said Jason Altman, race director of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon. “As part of that commitment, we must prioritize the health and safety of participants and volunteers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We also want to ensure a reliably scheduled and managed event, as is within our abilities, to continue to execute the region’s premier road race event at the top quality that our participants and supporters expect from the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon.”

“In the meantime, we encourage you to keep moving – whether walking, jogging or running, now is the time to set goals for the fall race and work toward them. We can’t wait to gather together again in the fall and make the 17th annual Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon our best race weekend yet!”

Everyone who deferred registration from 2020 to the 2021 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon will be able to participate in the fall event as planned. Once specific dates are confirmed, race participants will be contacted by the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon via email with all related registration options. New participants also can register at www.knoxvillemarathon.com.

“Covenant Health remains committed to our mission of improving the quality of life through better health. We believe it’s in the best interest of our community to postpone the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon until the fall of 2021,” Covenant Health President and CEO Jim VanderSteeg said. “We extend best wishes for a safe and healthy year to everyone training for race weekend, and we look forward to seeing you at the finish line. As the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine gets underway, we encourage everyone to continue to practice social distancing, wear a mask and wash your hands to slow the spread of illness so that we can race and celebrate in person this fall.”

As additional details of the event are confirmed, updates will be posted to the race website at www.knoxvillemarathon.com.

2020 Fittest School Challenge Results are In!

Although the 2020 Covenant Kids Run was a virtual event, we still had the Regal Fittest School Challenge! The Fittest School Challenge was a competition between area schools that awarded winners based upon percentage of participation. Each child that participated in the Virtual Covenant Kids Run between November 7-15 earned one point for their school. We tallied up each school’s respective points and divided that number by the total enrollment of that school to determine their participation percentage. We award prize money to the top schools in a ten county radius. More than one school in each county was eligible to win prize money.

TWO DIVISIONS FOR 2020! We offered two categories for the schools based upon their enrollment. The two categories are Small (300 or fewer students) and Large (301+ Students). Now on to the winners…..

Large Size (301+ students)
1. Shannondale Elementary                               $1,000
2. Rocky Hill Elementary                                       $750
3. Ritta Elementary                                                $500
4. Carpenters Elementary                                      $350
5. Bluegrass Elementary                                        $200

Small Size (300 or fewer students)
1. Episcopal School of Knoxville                         $1,000
2. Knoxville Christian School                                 $750
3. Nature’s Way Montessori                                   $500
4. Garden Montessori                                            $350
5. St. Mary’s Catholic School                                 $200

Congratulations to these schools and to all that participated in the 2020 Virtual Covenant Kids Run. Finally, a big thank you to Regal for sponsoring the 2020 Fittest School Challenge!

Even though the 2020 CHKM was a Virtual Event, we will still had the Humana Fittest Company Challenge!

Large Size (501+Employees)
1. Covenant Health                         2668.15 pts
2. Pilot Company                             2450.2 pts
3. DENSO                                          1757.85 pts

Medium Size
(101-500)
1. Radio Systems Corporation      1063.4 pts
2. EdFinancial                                   183.0 pts
3. Zoo Knoxville                                174.4 pts

Small Size
(1-100)
1. Keystone Mortgage                     183.4 pts
2. London Amburn                          177.4 pts
3. Humana – Knoxville Office       134.05 pts

Huge thanks to Humana for sponsoring the 2020 Fittest Company Challenge!

2020 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon shifts course to virtual format

Prioritizing community health and safety, the 16th annual Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon events are moving to a virtual format to avoid the potential spread of COVID-19 and allow runners to safely participate while achieving their personal goals in 2020.

“The move to a virtual Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon event helps ensure the health and safety of our community, runners and volunteers,” said Jason Altman, race director of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon. “Additionally, it’s our responsibility to follow local government mandates and regulations that do not make in-person events of this size feasible at this time. While we can’t run together in downtown Knoxville, we can take steps to prioritize health and fitness wherever we are and join together in spirit to continue this iconic event reimagined for current times.”

The virtual races will allow registrants to participate within a flexible time frame throughout the week of Nov. 7-15.

“Moving to a virtual race format will be a first for the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon and the best way to move forward so the community can participate safely,” Covenant Health CEO Jim VanderSteeg said. “With every step, our runners, volunteers, sponsors and organizers have embraced necessary changes and offered creative solutions to enjoy this annual tradition. We appreciate the support and encourage everyone to stay healthy and keep moving. We’re looking forward to seeing how everyone finishes their race – regardless of when, where, how far or how fast – as long as you meet your personal goal.”

The virtual event will include the Covenant Kids Run, 5K, half marathon, marathon, and relay events, and participants will be able to upload their results via the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon website. In early November, the start line, mile markers and finish line for all courses will be painted. Registrants can use the markers to run the actual route during the 9-day virtual race period, or they can complete their run or walk at their preferred location, such as in a neighborhood, on a greenway trail or on a treadmill.

In addition to virtual training logs and custom digital race bibs, social media will be used to connect virtually, share photos, post personal records, and provide support and encouragement leading up to and during the 9-day event window. Connect with Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon on Facebook, @chknoxmarathon on Twitter and via @knoxvillemarathon on Instagram.

As additional details of the event are confirmed, updates will be posted to the race website at www.knoxvillemarathon.com.

New participants can register for the virtual event at knoxvillemarathon.com starting Sept. 15. Participants who already have registered for the 2020 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon may participate in 2020 virtual event, defer their registration to 2021 race (the date is not yet confirmed), receive a refund for the registration fee, or donate the registration fee to the Knoxville Track Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Race participants will receive more information via email regarding how to select an option in the coming days.

For more information, visit www.knoxvillemarathon.com or call 888-217-5635.

# # #

About Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon

The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is a premier event organized by the Knoxville Track Club, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the encouragement of physical well-being through running, jogging, competitive road racing, race-walking, fun runs, cross-country and track and field. Covenant Health is a community-owned health system providing comprehensive services in Tennessee. The health system includes 10 hospitals; outpatient services and clinics; behavioral, oncology and rehabilitation services; home care; physician practices and community programs.