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
American Flag on Clinch Avenue, 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
Arm Cyclists, 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 Runner, 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
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), Edward Tabut, Mile Tweny-five, Knoxville Marathon 2013
Third Place Runner, Bryan Morseman, Mile Twenty-four, Knoxville Marathon, April 2013
Fourth Place Runner, Stewart Ellington, Mile Twenty-Three, Knoxville Marathon 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
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.
and 
. The stories are autobiographical takes on life’s foibles in general and her own, in particular, along with a funny story or two along the way about her husband and life partner, Dan. If you like funny stories, not so much as in a southern tradition, as maybe in the tradition of Lucille Ball, you might enjoy checking out the recording or the books. She lives in Oak Ridge, but is active in the Knoxville Writer’s Guild.
Some of you may have heard Pamela Schoenewaldt read from her new book, 
at Central Street Books on First Friday. It is a beautifully written debut novel published by
by UT English professor and widely published short story writer, Michael Knight. I’ve re-read sections of this short book in the last few days and the spare writing is as near perfect as you are likely to find. With great economy Knight tells the story of a young man who became a witness to history while struggling into adulthood as the typist for General Douglas MacArthur. Set in Japan in the time after the dropping of the nuclear bombs and showing a more personal side to history, the novel humanizes the almost mythical general and reveals a view of history also very relevant today.
by Amy Greene is the story of a family in the Tennessee Mountains, examining both their gifts and their curse, which sometimes seem intertwined. This is not a light-hearted book, but is wonderfully well written with language you’ll want to savor and read out loud. Recently available in paperback, this is a book that will linger in your mind.
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