Hundreds Race to Finish Line at Covenant Kids Run Kickoff

Annual Kids Marathon Challenge is Underway Through April 5

The Covenant Kids Run officially started with a kickoff marked by a 1-mile run at Zoo Knoxville. More than 300 East Tennessee students and their families attended the Feb. 1 event. Between now and April 5, students will be “racing” to improve their fitness and raise money for their schools.

The Kids Run is part of the 2025 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon. The children’s event encourages kids to complete the exercise equivalent of a marathon in about two months. The schools with the highest percentage of participation will win prize money in the Fittest School Challenge.

“The Covenant Kids Run encourages children to have fun while being active,” said Jason Altman, Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon race director. “We love our East Tennessee community and seeing everyone come together to support youth fitness and area schools. If you missed the kickoff event, you can still register your child and participate in the Covenant Kids Run – and the Fittest School Challenge!”

Registration is open at knoxvillemarathon.com. Children in 8th grade and younger can participate in the Covenant Kids Run. A free mileage log is available online to track 26.2 miles of walking, running or an exercise equivalent. (An exercise equivalent might be 30 minutes of playtime or a dance class, soccer game, etc.) Children will finish the final mile of their marathon together on April 5 at World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville.

The Fittest School Challenge

Each child who participates in the Covenant Kids Run earns one point for his or her school as part of The Fittest School Challenge, a competition among area schools. Schools register for the Covenant Kids Run and provide a total student enrollment count. School categories include small schools (fewer than 300 students) and large schools (301+ students). The top five schools with the highest percentage of student participation in each category win prize money and a plaque.

As a 2025 Community Partner, Girls on the Run Greater Knoxville also is incentivizing participation in the Covenant Kids Run. Visit gotrknoxville.org for information about nearby clubs.

Learn more and register for the Covenant Kids Run and other 2025 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon events, set for April 5-6 in downtown Knoxville. You can also find training tips and information about volunteering at this Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon page.

About Covenant Health

Covenant Health is a Tennessee-based healthcare enterprise committed to providing the right care at the right time and place. As a not-for-profit health system, we are dedicated to being the region’s premier healthcare network through service, community, and innovation. We provide patient-centered care that inspires clinical and service excellence and strive to be the first and best choice for our patients, employees, physicians, employers, volunteers, and communities. Covenant Health is the area’s largest employer and has more than 11,000 compassionate caregivers, expert clinicians, and dedicated employees and volunteers. Learn more at CovenantHealth.com.

About Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon

The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is a premier event organized by the Knoxville Track Club, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the encouragement of physical well-being through running, jogging, competitive road racing, race-walking, fun runs, cross-country and track and field.