Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon

Now in its third decade, the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon has grown from a regional road race into one of Tennessee’s most beloved spring marathons. First run in the mid-2000s, the race has become a Knoxville tradition each April, drawing competitive athletes chasing qualifying times as well as a large contingent of local runners and first-time marathoners. The event is organized with strong community support and charity partnerships, making it both a competitive race and a festival of neighborhood pride. The course showcases Knoxville’s most scenic and historic areas, winding through downtown and the revitalized Old City, along the Tennessee River and Volunteer Landing, past the University of Tennessee campus and iconic landmarks like Neyland Stadium, and through tree-lined residential neighborhoods and riverfront parks. Runners experience a mix of urban energy and green riverside stretches, with flat-to-rolling terrain that rewards steady pacing and presents many opportunities for spectators to cheer. Aid stations are frequent and well-staffed, and volunteers and local bands create a lively atmosphere at key points. The race is USATF-certified and is recognized as a Boston Marathon qualifier, making it attractive to runners seeking fast, legitimate times. Whether aiming for a PR, a Boston qualifier, or a first marathon finish, participants often cite the course scenery, energetic crowd support, and efficiently run event operations as defining features of the Knoxville Marathon experience.