Knoxville Marathon 2013

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.

Spring Photos with Cannon T3 and Zoom Lens

Knoxville Skyline, March 2012

I’m very slowly experimenting with my camera. I’ve tried most of the pre-settings. I still lean on “automatic” a good bit, but I’m pretty fond of other settings, such as “flash off,” “landscape,” “portrait,” and “sports.” The camera does really well with minimal light and no flash, avoiding the “washed out” look of a harsh flash. Of course, I can see a nice flash in my future.

Market Square, Knoxville, March 2012
Tomato Head and Cafe Four, Knoxville, March 2012
Reading on Market Square, Knoxville

The latest attempt is using the zoom lens which came with the camera. It’s a 75 – 300mm and when I first took these pictures I was having a hard time seeing the lens as that useful to what I do. Most often my photographs are to supplement the story and so I had a hard time imagining the usefulness of a zoom lens.

Daylight Building, Knoxville, March 2012
Sunsphere, Knoxville, March 2012

I’ve seen people using zoom lens on Market Square many times. Sometimes it looks as if their lens is a foot long and now that I’ve sat at Market Square with my camera, I’m not sure what those people are doing. I sat at one end and could take perfectly good pictures of people across the square or at the other end. For that matter, I could take perfectly good pictures of someone’s cell phone at the other end of the square, but nothing nearby.

Holston Building, Knoxville, March 2012
View to the Northwest from Downtown Knoxville, L and N in foreground
Church Street United Methodist from the Locust Street Garage

I walked down Union Avenue and tried to take a picture of the Daylight Building, but had to back up several times to get it all in the frame. I wound up, as those of you who know the city could probably deduce, atop the Locust Street Parking Garage for these shots. It’s definitely the way to go in these cases, though I had to work to include much of the skyline because it does zoom so powerfully.

UT Conference Center, Knoxville
Kendrick Place, Knoxville, March 2012
Duncan Law School, Knoxville, March 2012

So, there you go, Urban Guy can zoom, but he’s not sure how to control his new superpower. Stay tuned.*

*Update: Since I wrote this post I’ve fallen in love with the zoom lens. Specifically, it is great for photographing concerts, though it isn’t easy. Many of the recent close-up shots you’ve seen on this blog have been with the assistance of a zoom lens. Still, when I see the many people walking Market Square with monster lenses, I’m not sure what they are doing and I wonder if they know what they are doing. Maybe they know secrets I have yet to discover.

Spring Scenes from the City (and a few notes for this weekend)

Dogwood beside the old Courthouse on Gay Street, Knoxville, March 2012

Spring is pretty much here. While all of the trees aren’t as green as they will be later, the dogwoods are beautiful and that pretty much says spring in this city. I’m going to leave you with a weekend’s worth of pictures to close out March and I’ll start your April with a few more. I’m still learning how to use my camera and taking baby steps as I go.

Xylophone player! in Krutch Park, Knoxville, March 2012

As for this weekend, there are a number of downtown events about which to get excited. Here are a few:

  • Friday 6:00 – 8:30 PM – Spring kick-off for Alive After Five at the KMA featuring Christabel and the Jons
  • Saturday 9:00 AM in the Chamber of Commerce Offices CBID meets to determine guidelines for future grants
  • Saturday 2:00 PM, Union Avenue Books: Author Christopher Hebert discusses his novel The Boiling Season
  • Saturday 8:00 PM, Pilot Light: Theorizt CD Release Party for “Samurai Love Songs” with Theorizt, Hudson K and Mr. Kobayashi. Plan on staying VERY late for this one. $5 gets you in, $10 gets you in AND a copy of the CD. I have it and it is very, very good.
  • Sunday 7:30 AM: Knoxville Marathon, Half-Marathon and 5K
I hope to see you at some of these events or just out and about enjoying the record high pollen counts and the beauty that is an east Tennessee spring. I hope you enjoy the pictures. I’ll have more in a later post.
View north on Gay Street, Knoxville, March 2012

A Favorite View: From a Table on Market Square, Knoxville, March 2012

Market Square from TVA Plaza, Knoxville, March 2012

Market Square from TVA Plaza, Knoxville, March 2012

Market Square from TVA Plaza, Knoxville, March 2012

First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Knoxville, March 2012

Attack Monkey, 100 Block, Knoxville

Off Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, March 2012

Sidewalk outside Reruns, Union Avenue, Knoxville, March 2012

Lorax window display, Reruns, Union Avenue

Spring, Spanish and Soccer via SLR

Soccer Styling in front of Soccer Taco, Market Square, Knoxville

I’m not sure winter ever happened in Knoxville this year, but it appears spring is here. There are many things to love about springtime anywhere, but in Knoxville we have our own set of cool to enjoy: Rhythm and Blooms, Dogwood Arts Festival, new sculptures appearing in the city and the vibrant blooms of Redbuds, dogwoods and tulips.

Soccer Styling in front of Soccer Taco, Market Square, Knoxville

One of the sounds I enjoy whenever I hear it is the sound of other languages being spoken on the streets of downtown Knoxville it makes us seem just a little more cosmopolitan. Most commonly that language is Spanish, but I’ve heard a variety of other languages, including German, French and Japanese.

Soccer Styling in front of Soccer Taco, Market Square, Knoxville

Even though the guys who work in Soccer Taco are often found in front of the restaurant with their soccer ball, it’s in the spring that I slow down enough to enjoy the easy rhythms of the ball bouncing off their feet, the Spanish words flying through the air along with the ball and the especially the laughter. They seem to feel pure joy as they kick the ball about. The day I took these shots one of them fell as he attempted a fancy kick. I was afraid his friends would hurt themselves as they all fell to the ground laughing uncontrollably.

Soccer Styling in front of Soccer Taco, Market Square, Knoxville

I’m trying a few different moves with the camera and hope to work on it more in the near future. These shots were taken using the “sports” setting which is meant to capture action. I can actually shoot high definition video with the camera, but this is more fun.

Soccer Styling in front of Soccer Taco, Market Square, Knoxville

Soccer Styling in front of Soccer Taco, Market Square, Knoxville

Soccer Styling in front of Soccer Taco, Market Square, Knoxville

Soccer Styling in front of Soccer Taco, Market Square, Knoxville

Soccer Styling in front of Soccer Taco, Market Square, Knoxville

Signs of Spring

Japanese Magnolias in Krutch Park, Knoxville, March 2011

Spring hasn’t officially arrived, but the signs of its approach are all around the city. I even spotted actual landscaping in The History of Country Music Park (AKA Treble Clef Park). We’ll have more cold weather, maybe even snow, but that annual battle is clearly swinging in the direction of the warmer contestant. Rita’s Italian Ice has re-opened. Crowds have grown on the streets, short sleeves and pants have gained favor and everybody seems to be just a step or two happier.

Dafodils planted in The History of Country Music Park, 100 block of Gay Street, Knoxville

Organized gatherings have increased, as well. Though I missed them, I learned from friends and family that a group in front of the City and County Building protested the current spate of attacks on unions last Saturday, while a wedding happened next door at First Baptist Church. A memorial held the same day on Market Square also protested police handling of the case.

Friends, human and cannine in Krutch Park

Mostly, people are enjoying the opportunity to take the dogs for a walk, meet friends, old or new and enjoy the emerging color. It might be the best time of year in the city. In the past when the days grew longer, I knew that meant longer days for me as I toiled in my west Knoxville yard. Now, it means time for an extra walk alone or with the people I love. Spring is a pretty sweet time. Enjoy.

Even William Sargeant (the statue) has to love this tree.