KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On April 6, runners will line up at a starting line in downtown Knoxville for an active and exciting weekend event — the annual Covenant Health Marathon.
The event begins on Saturday with two shorter events. The first is the Covenant Kids Run, starting on the Clinch Avenue Bridge at 5:30 p.m. on April 6. In this event, kids can complete the final mile of the Covenant Kids Run program. In that program, kids run a total of 26.2 miles in the weeks leading up to April 6.
After the kids finish the program and collect their finisher medals, goody bags and finisher certificates — runners will line up for a 5K race on Saturday starting at 7 p.m. It will also start on the Clinch Avenue bridge and take runners west towards the East Tennessee Children's Hospital. They will turn right on 22nd Street, turn left again and then turn right onto 23rd Street.
The route will then take runners back towards the Clinch Avenue bridge, ending in World's Fair Park.
The following day, on April 7, runners will line up for the big event — the marathon. It begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Clinch Avenue bridge. A half-marathon starts at the same time, taking runners through most of downtown Knoxville and down Kingston Pike before wrapping around and ending in World's Fair Park. The half-marathon is around 13.1 miles long.
Near where the half-marathon runners end their race, marathon runners will continue on the other side of the bridge for a total of around 26.2 miles. They will run through the Old City past Caswell Park and south toward James White Parkway and Island Home Park before returning to World's Fair Park.
Finishers of the marathon will get a commemorative hoodie. All races, except for the Covenant Kids Run, use a chip timing system attached to runner bibs. More than 6,000 runners are expected to participate in the events.
"The full marathon is at the highest number its ever been, the half-marathon the highest it's been since 2017. Our 5K numbers are great, going strong. So, we are really excited for a huge weekend," said Jason Altman, the race director.
This year, the marathon is also celebrating 20 years of bringing together the community for a run.