WBIR Chief Meteorologist Todd Howell is working harder than normal these days. He's training for the upcoming Knoxville Marathon as part of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon team.
Todd is part of the team, representing Channel 10, a media sponsor of the event.
“I've never done more than 3 miles so part of me thought 'you know, 10K', Well, I'm not on a relay team so the next option is, you guessed it, half marathon," said Todd. "Missy even said at Channel 10, ‘and Todd is going to do the half’, and I just said 'okay, here we go'.”
Todd has been athletic all of his life but admits he's never been in the shape he always wanted to be in. Now in his 50s, the push to “finish on the 50”, along with his encouraging family, has given him a new commitment to physical fitness.
“My lovely wife Leigh, she's been much more consistent than I have and really that's helped motivate me. And the opportunity to train with Missy and everybody on the Covenant Health Marathon team has been a true blessing,” Todd said.
Since the start of 2018, Todd and his team have been working out with trainers at Fort Sanders Health & Fitness Center and have joined Coach Missy Kane and the Knoxville Track Club on Saturdays for their training runs.
Each team member serves as an ambassador for health and fitness, taking the tools and knowledge they’ve gained and encouraging others to join them in working to improve their overall health.
"It's a lifestyle change, being able to have instructors like Missy and the trainers like Matt and Stephanie are tremendous,” said Todd. "It's an opportunity to get back in shape the way you've always wanted to be and the key is try to be consistent. Don't be too hard on yourself. Don't set the bar too high just keep it even each day. Do what you can. I think my dad used to say, 'You know, run how you feel. But run'."
As a beloved family man, Todd is quick to credit his own family for encouraging him in this exciting chapter of life.
"My son Davis is actually running in a half iron man come May in Panama City. He's also been a motivation for me. My oldest son Nolan has been working out, my youngest son Stuart plays football so there's a lot of other people in my life that have helped to motivate me and the key is to get where you really want to be, sometimes you have to have help."
Todd also credits his wife Leigh with motivating him to stay with it.
“She's really my motivation to do all this,” said Todd. “Hopefully she'll be cheering me on and she may be one of the ones who helps me across the finish line. I'm hoping that's at an even pace. I hope to have a kick at the end, that's all I really care about. I want to be kickin' it at the end. That's my goal.”
The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is Sunday, March 25, 2018 in downtown Knoxville. Channel 10 will carry the marathon live beginning on 10News Weekend and then starting at 7 a.m.