Feb. 02, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 2, 2016
For more information:
Lauren Miller
Moxley Carmichael
865-599-4050
Jason Altman
Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon,
Executive Director
865-805-2476
East Tennessee children kicked off the Covenant Kids Run with a one-mile event at the Knoxville Zoo on Jan. 30 to set up the finish on the 50-yard line at Neyland Stadium on April 2.
Students from Kingston Elementary School in Roane County participated in the Covenant Kids Run one-mile kickoff race at the Knoxville Zoo on Jan. 30. Area schools are participating in the Fittest School Challenge, and children still can sign up for the Covenant Kids Run program and one-mile run on April 2. Pictured from left: kindergartner Owen Rose, second-grader Tristan Rose, librarian Laura Taylor and second-grader Bennett Brown.
Children who missed the Kids Run kickoff at the Knoxville Zoo still can sign up to participate in the Covenant Kids Run program and one-mile run on April 2.
Each child who registers for the Covenant Kids Run receives a logbook to track miles or the exercise equivalent, such as 30 minutes of active playtime.
All physical activity counts toward the child’s marathon goal. They’ll complete the last mile at the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon race weekend in April, when the Covenant Kids Run starts in World’s Fair Park and ends in Neyland Stadium.
The children run their last mile together, finishing on the 50-yard line and seeing themselves on the Jumbotron.
“The Covenant Kids Run promotes healthy habits for children that we hope continue for the rest of their lives,” said Jason Altman, race director for Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon.
“Families were encouraged to attend the fun run at the Knoxville Zoo to get kids excited about completing their first mile as they start logging their own miles and physical activity with the goal of completing a staggered 26.2-mile marathon.”
Students from Eaton Elementary School in Loudon County participated in the kickoff race. Pictured from left: (back row) fourth-grade teacher Ali Stelick and second-grade teacher Chelsea Laughlin; and (front row) second-grader Ryan Hill, third-grader Evan Watkins, kindergartner Caleb Hill, third-grader Jr. Melton, second-grader Danica McMillan and second-grader Madeline Miller.
This year, the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon’s 5K race also will take place on the evening of Saturday, April 2.
In the past, the 5K has taken place on Sunday morning of race weekend, along with the half-marathon and marathon races, which will be held April 3 this year.
Timing the Kids Run and the 5K back-to-back on Saturday evening will make this year’s event more family-friendly.
After cheering on younger participants, older siblings and parents can participate in the 5K race, and the whole family can meet at the finish line in Neyland Stadium.
It’s an opportunity for family and friends of all ages to enjoy race weekend together.
“Childhood obesity is a concern across the country, and the Covenant Kids Run is one way to get kids moving by making it both fun and goal-oriented,” Altman said.
Team Anthony cheered on Anthony Sacco in the Covenant Kids Run. Pictured from left: (back row) Kailea Davis, Seirra Sacco, Kevin Sacco, Sandra Sacco and Sandra Davis; and (front row) Anthony Sacco. The Sacco family is from West Knoxville.
“They’ll have fun as they hop, skip, walk and run to log their miles in the personal marathon challenge, and running onto the field at Neyland Stadium for the final mile is the memory of a lifetime.”
Each child that participates in the Covenant Kids Run on April 2 also will earn one point for his or her school in the Fittest School Challenge, a competition among area elementary schools.
Schools register for the Covenant Kids Run and provide a total student enrollment count, and he top 10 schools with the highest percentage of student participation in the race win prize money and the title of Fittest School.
Children in eighth grade and younger are eligible to participate in the Kids Run.
For more information or to register for the Kids Run and other Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon races, visit www.knoxvillemarathon.com or call 865-684-4294.
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 wellbeing through running, jogging, competitive road racing, race-walking, fun runs, cross-country and track and field.
Maria Cornelius
