Knoxville Marathon 2013

Posted on April 12, 2013 Written by 2 Comments
Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

It’s hard to know at the end of this week whether I should continue recounting last weekend or move the focus to the upcoming weekend. I’ll go with last weekend, but I must mention that this weekend is likely the biggest of the Dogwood Arts Festival, with the Arts and Crafts Festival on Market Square and throughout Krutch Park. The artisan works are phenomenal and the food tent, in which chefs prepare dishes with wine pairings, is one of my favorite single events of the year.

Mayor Rogero, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Mayor Rogero, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

American Flag on Clinch Avenue, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

American Flag on Clinch Avenue, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Arm Cyclists, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Arm Cyclists, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Still, I must give a nod to last weekend’s Knoxville Marathon which drew several thousand people. The race has grown to include a 5K, Half-Marathon, Marathon and Marathon Relay. Urban Son-in-Law backed off to the half-marathon this year and many Urban Friends ran various other races. I think one reason for the massive crowds last weekend was the marathon, as a number of people came in from out of town or simply stayed downtown to enjoy the other events going on.

Health and Fitness Expo, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Health and Fitness Expo, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Health and Fitness Expo, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Health and Fitness Expo, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Arm Cyclists2, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Arm Cyclists, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Arm Cyclists3, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Arm Cyclists, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

I love the fact that a fitness-based event has become so big in the city. It also works beautifully to have so many great activities downtown to greet any out-of-town visitors. There is no way someone visited the city last weekend, encountered the beautiful weather, pianos on the square, Chalk Walk, First Friday, Rhythm and Blooms and came away with anything other than a very positive impression of what is happening here. They also spent time and money in the Health and Fitness Expo on Saturday.

Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Runner, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Runner, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

Knoxville Marathon Start, April 2013

The starting line and staging area always attract me. Nerves jangle about at every turn, runners giddy with excitement warm up maybe a bit too much. Proud families wish their loved ones well. The mayor spoke at this year’s opening and the national anthem makes any sporting fan’s blood reach a quick boil of anticipation. Some are there to win, others to have fun and others simply to finish. Music pounds from a PA system as it will throughout the race as live bands play for the runners.

Entertainment on Market Square, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Entertainment on Market Square, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

John D. Cable and the Empty Bottle Band, Clinch and Locust, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

John D. Cable and the Empty Bottle Band, Clinch and Locust, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

I photographed eventual winner Wojciech Kopec (2:22:15) as he left the start line (red jersey above, number 2), but missed him at the twenty-five mile mark. I did catch Edward Tabut passing the UT Conference Center, heading into the final stretch. He was about three minutes behind first place. He also nearly left the course by not turning onto Locust, but a policeman yelled, pointed and Edward corrected his course.

Second Place Runner (No. 4), Mile Tweny-five, Knoxville Marathon 2013

Second Place Runner (No. 4), Edward Tabut, Mile Tweny-five, Knoxville Marathon 2013

Third Place Runner, Mile Twenty-four, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Third Place Runner, Bryan Morseman, Mile Twenty-four, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Fourth Place Runner, Mile Twenty-Three, Knoxville Marathon 2013

Fourth Place Runner, Stewart Ellington, Mile Twenty-Three, Knoxville Marathon 2013

Fifth Place Runner, Mile Twenty-four, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Fifth Place Runner, Abraham Kogo, Mile Twenty-four, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

About four minutes behind him was Bryan Moresman in third and I really felt for the next two guys as I photographed them leaving Market Square. They ran within steps of each other around the twenty-four mile mark and clearly, they would battle to the finish line. In the end, while Stewart Ellington (No. 6) lead by a few yards at that point, Abraham Kogo (No. 3) would pass him in the end to win fourth place. Two seconds separated them at the finish line. You can find complete results here.

Half-Marathon Medal, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Half-Marathon Medal, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013

Others would pass through downtown on into the afternoon. In fact, Urban Son-in-Law spotted a couple going through around 4:00, well after the official times have stopped. It reminds me of Cake’s awesome song, “The Distance.” All that matters at that point is finishing. And whether anyone else knows or acknowledges the fact, you know. It has to feel good. I never made it to the complete marathon and I admire those who do.

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Angels in the City

Posted on September 22, 2010 Written by Leave a Comment

Knoxville is filled with all kinds of people. Some are a little strange (who you are dictates who is strange :-) ), some are funny, some are sad, some are a little scary, many are interesting and most of us are some of all of the above depending on the day you spot us.

Some people downtown are angels. I think maybe who you are and what you need dictates who your angel may be. Sometimes your angel might give you a flower if you need to be picked up – or your angel may spread rose petals on the sidewalk where you pass. Sometimes a dollar, a drink of water, a treat for your dog or a simple smile on the street marks your special angel.

One of the angels I ran into recently did a simple thing that made our whole table laugh, smile and have a better night. It was a Wednesday night we sat around a table in Coffee and Chocolate, talking about getting a new Metropulse before walking home. For the people who read from outside Knoxville, Metropulse is a free, weekly newspaper that often features information and articles about downtown. I think everyone who lives downtown reads it. It officially hits the street on Thursday, but everyone downtown knows it is placed in the rack on Wednesday evening. Leftovers, by the way, are dutifully recycled. I’ve seen them in the recycle bin on State Street.

Miss Metropulse/AKA Part Time Angel

So, we’d just mentioned getting it on the way home, when into view came a beautiful lady making deliveries. I pointed and said, “There it is, now.” I didn’t consider that she could see me point. She entered the coffee shop where she was to fill the racks. Before doing so she walked to our table and handed us each a fresh copy! Where else could you get your Metropulse delivered directly but downtown? It was a simple thing, but it added the cherry to the top of a very nice evening. She came and went so quickly I only had time to snap a picture and I didn’t get her name. I’ll call her Miss Metropulse and count her as one of my angels.

Who might your angel be? And to whom should you be an angel? Don’t miss your chance!

Filed Under: Angels, Coffee and Chocolate, Interesting People, Metropulse

Brian and Briana

Posted on September 16, 2010 Written by 3 Comments



Brian on Union Street in Knoxville



I walked right past the guy with nothing more than a nod in his direction. I noticed his dog and my quick assessment was this was not a dog I wanted to pet. He looked a bit lean and, if not mangy, just not very attractive and, if it wasn’t a pit bull, it gave a close-enough impersonation for me. It was only when the woman pictured below motioned toward him, that I realized the man had a bird on his shoulder. His name was Brian and the bird was Briana. Brian was very generous to share his bird.
Brian places Briana on Urban Woman
Brian doesn’t live downtown, but likes to come to the city with one or more of his various animals. He is unusually talented in training them to do precisely as he asks. His dog fell at his feet as he commanded and didn’t budge until he was told to do so. His bird would do a variety of tricks, hopping from one finger to another, traveling up onto a shoulder as instructed and giving Brian a kiss when asked. He said the bird says, “Daddy’s home,” when Brian arrives home from his job as a pipe-fitter for TVA. He’s worked for them for twenty years and currently works at the Bull Run Steam Plant. This followed six years in the service.

A very gentle man, Brian said that he would never clip Briana’s wings because that is where she gets her beauty. Asked how he keeps her from flying away, he replied simply, “Love.”

Filed Under: Animals, Birds, Brian and Briana, Downtown Knoxville, Interesting People

Saturday in the Park (Square)

Posted on July 17, 2010 Written by Leave a Comment

If you haven’t been to Market Square on a Saturday, recently, you owe it to yourself to drag out of bed and get down there. If you are interested in buying produce or even catching the best part of the vibe, I’d encourage you to be there no later than 10:00. The Farmer’s Market forms the centerpiece of activity, and the largest part of the vegetables are now coming in.

If you want fresh lettuce, tomatoes, squash, flowers, black berries, blue berries, locally cultivated honey or fresh baked bread of any type of your choosing, this is your place. But there is so much more. Hand-crafted items from toys to clothes, used musical instruments and coffee from Java for those of you who just can’t make it all the way down the hill to the old city. I’m pretty sure this is Josh Sidman who has a recently opened vintage instrument shop in North Knoxville and who may be the only person ever to leave San Francisco for Knoxville because of the music scene.

Live music threatens to break out in every direction at any time. This particular Saturday the band that played at WDVX the previous night was front and center in the middle of Union Street. A better blogger would remember their name. Do you know? Drop me a line.

Also visible that morning was the new bicycle advertising effort in the city. It’s pretty eye-catching the first time you see it. Whatever your interest, any given Saturday from now through November the Square is a great place to relax and watch the parade of humanity, if not to pick up a fresh piece of produce and enjoy.

Filed Under: Farmer's Market, Interesting People, Market Square, Music

"Someone Showed Me a Picture and I Just Laughed"

Posted on June 29, 2010 Written by Leave a Comment

I’ve probably taken close to 1000 pictures in the month of June. Many of them were so terrible I deleted them. Some were good enough I included them in the posts. I didn’t have room for some others that I thought were really good – particularly of the Dirty Guv’nahs and Blues Traveler. Yet others are fun or interesting, but there wasn’t really a story they seemed to fit. I’m including them here for fun. Click to enlarge and see them better.

Filed Under: Buildings, Interesting People, Photographs, Trains
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