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 KopecĀ (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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City People Downtown Tour of Homes: Ryan’s Row and Sterchi Lofts

Posted on October 24, 2011 Written by 1 Comment
Ryan’s Row, W. Vine Avenue, Knoxville

Ryan’s Row sits atop the bluff on the north end of the center city. Construction started in anticipation of the potential windfall of the World’s Fair in 1982. The developer was unable to finish the project and the site languished until 1987 when Kristopher Kendrick purchased the property and finished the units.

Ryan’s Row, Downtown Knoxville

 

Ryan’s Row, Downtown Knoxville

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View from the back of Ryan’s Row, W. Vine, Knoxville

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Two car garages on the backside of Ryan’s Row, Knoxville

They are unique for downtown in several respects. Because of the drop-off behind the units, they are much bigger than is obvious from the front. The front does, however, offer direct entry into each unit, something that isn’t common in the center city. They also have a rarity for downtown: two car garages hidden on the backside of the building. The bluff also offers a long-view toward Sharp’s Ridge and a shorter-range view of the rail yards.
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Kitchen in Ryan’s Row, W. Vine Avenue, Knoxville

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View from the kitchen, Ryan’s Row, Knoxville

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Living Room, Ryan’s Row, W. Vine, Knoxville

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The finish on the inside doesn’t seem that different from a building of their age (about twenty-five years) in any other part of town. After so many years, the units are likely significantly different from each other in updating and quality of finishes. The unit made available to the City People Tour was updated throughout. What they give up in personality to the older buildings downtown, they counter with a crisper, newer appearance. Another bonus is the large size. This unit had to be at least 2000 square foot, which is very large for downtown

Dining Room/Living Space, Sterchi Lofts, 100 Block, Knoxville

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View to the north from Sterchi Lofts, 100 Block, Knoxville

ļ»æAnother stop on the tour was the Sterchi Lofts. I don’t believe I’d ever toured them, though I had seen one unit thanks to a friendly guy who was moving in while I dined at the old location of Nama several years ago. They are much more industrial in appearance, with exposed pipes and wiring and sliding metal doors. The view from the unit I toured was mostly of the rail yard and a sliver of the 100 block.

Utilitarian bathroom, Sterchi Lofts, 100 Block, Knoxville

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Bedroom, Sterchi Lofts, 100 Block of Gay Street, Knoxville

The units are available for lease and are not sold, if I understand correctly. Prices are not that far above rent in other parts of the city, with a studio apartment going for $750 per month on up to a four bedroom unit available for $1600 to $2000. I’m told it is heavily occupied by students, but surely not completely. For someone looking to rent downtown and comfortable with industrial type finishes, it is probably the best option.

Hallway with sliding metal doors, Sterchi Building, Knoxville

Filed Under: City People, Downtown Home Tour 2011, Downtown Knoxville, Downtown Knoxville Blogs, Knoxville Blogs, Knoxville Tennesee, Ryan's Row, Sterchi Lofts

Transportation: A Leaf, Europe and Smarttrips All in One Post!

Posted on August 12, 2011 Written by 4 Comments
All-electric Nissan Leaf, Knoxville

Nissan Leaf parked on Walnut Street

Downtown Knoxville has its first Nissan Leaf. I’m pretty sure Mr. John Craig, local developer and Knox Heritage board member is parking the first of these all-electric cars on our city streets. Guilty before of a little Prius envy (resolved), I’m feeling a little stir for a Leaf. Given my current level of funding, I’ll just have to enjoy seeing John’s on the  street.

Motorcycles in London

Also, I’m posting a few pictures of various kinds of transportation in Paris and London. Motorcycles and bicycles were, of course, much more prominent in each of these cities than in our own. In Paris the motorcycles had to be watched carefully because they felt very comfortable weaving in and out of traffic and then jumping onto the sidewalk to pop into a cycle parking place. I saw quite a few bicyclists riding in heavy London traffic and talking on a cell phone, which seems like not such a good idea. We loved riding the Tube in London and the Metro in Paris and found them both very easy to use, though sometimes very crowded.

Gloucester Subway station in London (our stop)

Walking was much easier for these Americans in Paris than in London. In London with the difference in sides of the road for travel we had to be very careful whenever crossing the road because traffic sometimes turned from places we didn’t expect. In Paris crossing the road was much easier for three reasons: Most of the streets were one-way (one direction to worry about), the ones which were two way used the same side of the road we use in America and the cross walks were off-set from the corners enough that turning traffic was not a concern.

Double Decker Bus in Trafalgar Square, London

Meanwhile back at home we don’t have subways and our bus system never seems to be as heavily used as some of us might wish. I do continue to wonder if a rail system east-west given our existing tracks might not work if we really tried to make it happen. We really need to do something if we want our air to be breathable and to avoid air-quality alert days all summer (No thanks, Joe Hultquist.)

It turns out there is a great group of people trying to make a difference in just this area. Smarttrips will help you find a car pool and give you rewards for biking, walking or car-pooling to work. I’d encourage you to join if you aren’t already a member. Many downtown businesses participate. A while back they held a very fun event on Market Square (I had to work :-( ) in which they used large balloons they had been carrying around town all week to demonstrate the carbon pollution saved by their efforts. I’ll leave you with the video.

Filed Under: Bicycles, Downtown Knoxville Blogs, Knoxville Tennesee, London, Metro in Paris, Motorcycles, Nissan Leaf, Paris, Smarttrips, Transportation, Tube in London

Urban Mystery Picture #9, #9, #9 (Beatles joke, sorry)

Posted on June 4, 2011 Written by 1 Comment

Well, I continue to be mystified by the photographs that mystify the Urban Nation and those that are simple. I figured the one I posted two weeks ago would be difficult, and Chad figured it out immediately. Of course, I posted David’s photo instead of Chad’s initially (my bad, Chad). I was certain that I was too obvious last week and someone would immediately get it – and we never had a winner. “Anonymous” guess at the corner of Haight and Ashbury and it is possible this particular window decoration could be found there, but alas, this is not San Francisco (in case any of you wondered). So, here’s the picture from last week:

Urban Mystery Picture #8

I figured it would be easy for a couple of reasons: First, what residents in the city would be cool enough to have a Grateful Dead hanging for their curtain? Old City residents, obviously. And second, I had just published a series of posts about Jackson Avenue and I figured someone would put that together. But no. It hangs in a window on the southern side of the 100 block of E. Jackson

So, still looking for that sweet spot in which the picture isn’t identified in the first twelve seconds, but after some thought and discussion is pegged by about next Wednesday, here is this week’s edition. I’m going to give you two to play with of the same place. The first one is for advanced players, so if you want to only look at the first one and see what you can do, fine. The second is, I think a little more user friendly.

Remember, to win you need to be the first to correctly identify the photograph in the comments below AND you have to e-mail me at KnoxvilleUrbanGuy@gmail.com. I’ll be in touch and we’ll talk after that. In the meantime, everybody try to avoid the heat. Good Luck!

Urban Mystery Picture #9

 Are you sure you don’t want to stop here and try to solve it with the advanced clue? OK, here goes . . .

Urban Mystery Picture #9.1

Filed Under: Downtown Knoxville, Downtown Knoxville Blogs, Knoxville Tennesee, Urban Mystery Picture

Meanwhile on the World’s Fair Park: Walk to Cure Diabetes

Posted on May 5, 2011 Written by 2 Comments
Walk to Cure Diabetes, World’s Fair Park, Knoxville, 2011

This past Saturday was also the day for the annual Walk to Cure Diabetes. Several thousand people gathered at the World’s Fair Park where booths and entertainment for children dominated the happy scene. Many families and teams of walkers joined together to make the scene a festive one.

Activities for the children (who were gone on the walk when this picture was taken)

Urban Toddler says, “I’ll just hang here and watch the river flow.”

Past events have raised serious money for research and judging from the crowd, this year’s event must have been very successful, also. How successful? I have no idea. I didn’t see this mentioned in any media outlet and I couldn’t find anything online.

The instructors were really into it.

Kids exercise before walking 3.1 miles. Adults stare in disbelief.

The crowd was warmed up with loud exercise music and some really pumped up instructors. The kids seemed to get into it, while the adults gathered around but seemed to be sending signals to the stage, “I’m about to walk three miles, I’m not dancing.” Then they all left for the 5K through downtown. Some ran, most walked. When they returned the activities continued into the afternoon with live music and fun games.

And off they go . . . the start of the 5K Walk to Cure Diabetes

I suppose it is a testament to how much is happening in and around downtown that several thousand people can do something that gets little to no coverage.

Filed Under: Downtown Knoxville, Downtown Knoxville Blogs, Knoxville Tennesee, Walk to Cure Diabetes, World's Fair Park
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