Feb. 19, 2026
Kara Goucher, an American long-distance runner, author and two-time Olympian, will be the featured speaker for the Health & Fitness Expo, part of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon weekend on April 11-12, 2026.
Goucher was the 10,000-meter silver medalist at the 2007 World Championship in Athletics and represented Team USA at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008 and in London in 2012. She made her marathon debut in 2008 and finished third at the Boston Marathon the following year.
Since retiring from professional competitive running, Goucher has worked as an author, race analyst and podcaster. She and runner Des Linden discuss a wide range of running topics on their podcast, “Nobody Asked Us.” Goucher also co-wrote a book released in 2023 entitled, “The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping and Deception on Nike’s Elite Running Team.”
“We are thrilled to have an elite runner like Goucher offer her invaluable insight to our athletes and attendees,” said Jason Altman, race director of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon. “We’re excited for her to speak at the expo and share her incredible experience, tips and inspiration.”
Goucher will deliver her motivational speech at the World’s Fair Exhibition Hall on Saturday, April 11, at 1 p.m. The Health & Fitness Expo, located at 935 World’s Fair Park Drive, is a pre-race celebration featuring exhibitors focused on fitness, sports, wellness and nutrition. The expo is free, open to the public and will be held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The marathon weekend is not just for runners, whether elite, recreational or just beginning. Race officials with the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon reiterated that race weekend has something for everyone, and there is still time to get involved.
“Maybe you’re spending your weekends on the couch, but you’re ready to challenge yourself to tackle something new,” Altman said. “There is still time to train for the 5K, and if you’re not feeling ready for that, walking is always an option.”
The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon weekend includes several events such as a marathon, half marathon, four-person relay, 5K and the Covenant Health Kids Run. All race participants must attend the Health & Fitness Expo on Saturday, April 11, to pick up race packets. Registration is open now, with early sign-ups offering discounted rates.
For more information and to register for the 2026 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon races, visit knoxvillemarathon.com.
About Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon
The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is a premier event organized by the Knoxville Track Club, a non-profit 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.
About Covenant Health
Covenant Health is an East Tennessee-based healthcare enterprise committed to providing the right care at the right time and place. As a not-for-profit health system, we are dedicated to being the region’s premier healthcare network through service, community and innovation. We provide patient-centered care that inspires clinical and service excellence and strives to be the first and best choice for our patients, employees, physicians, employers, volunteers and communities. Covenant Health is the area’s largest private employer with more than 12,000 compassionate caregivers, expert clinicians, and dedicated employees and volunteers. Learn more at CovenantHealth.com.
