January 3, 2018
Covenant Kids Run officially underway Jan. 27 at Zoo Knoxville
Children from across East Tennessee will kick off the Covenant Kids Run with a 1-mile event at Zoo Knoxville on Saturday, Jan. 27, to start their personal marathon. This year’s fun run features a new course around the zoo’s animal exhibits.
The event, part of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, encourages children to complete a 26.2-mile marathon over two months beginning with the 1-mile event at Zoo Knoxville. Each child receives a logbook to track miles of walking, running or the exercise equivalent, such as 30 minutes of active playtime, leading up to the Covenant Kids Run in March. Any physical activity counts towards the marathon goal.
The children will complete their last mile together Saturday, March 24, when the Covenant Kids Run starts on the Clinch Avenue Viaduct at World’s Fair Park and ends in Neyland Stadium.
“Kicking off the Covenant Kids Run in such a fun environment as Zoo Knoxville energizes the kids and gets them excited to complete their personal marathon,” said Jason Altman, executive director of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon. “This year, we are featuring a new course with different animal exhibits that kids can enjoy during and after the event.”
The kickoff run at Zoo Knoxville will begin at noon. The cost is $20 and covers the 1-mile fun run at the zoo and the Covenant Kids Run on March 24. Families can register in advance at www.knoxvillemarathon.com or on-site at the zoo starting at 10 a.m. the day of the event.
The registration fee also includes free admission to the zoo for the race participant and one accompanying adult for the day of the run. Any additional guests with the child will receive half-price admission.
Children in eighth grade and younger are eligible to participate in the Kids Run. Each child that participates in the Covenant Kids Run on March 24 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. The top 10 schools with the highest percentage of student participation in the race win prize money and the title of Fittest School.
“The goal of the Covenant Kids Run is to encourage a healthy lifestyle for children in our community,” Altman said. “Whether these children hop, skip or run their personal marathon, I hope they achieve this goal while building strong self-confidence and lifelong healthy habits.”
In case of inclement weather on Jan. 27, please visit knoxvillemarathon.com for updates.
About the 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 and walking.
