Mayor Madeline Rogero joined Covenant Health and race officials at Neyland Stadium today to brief media on the race's highlights and logistics.

The whole city is excited about a fabulous two days of racing, Mayor Rogero said. The warm and sunny weather will be perfect for the six unique race events.

The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is East Tennessee’s largest competitive road race. But it’s much more than that. It's become a signature event, beloved by runners across Tennessee and throughout the Southeast. More than a third of the Marathon’s runners come here from outside of East Tennessee, so the Knoxville Marathon indisputably is a major economic driver.

Knoxville is increasingly a tourist destination specifically due to our embrace of healthy living and outdoor adventure. Being able to present premier events like the Knoxville Marathon simply adds to that momentum, the Mayor said. In fact, the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is a terrific opportunity to showcase to our first-time visitors what a hospitable and inviting place Knoxville is and to introduce them to some of our unique outdoor amenities!

Fitness, healthy lifestyles and a love of the outdoors are truly at the core of our City’s identity, Mayor Rogero said. Just a few examples:

- The Knoxville community is rated No. 1 in the nation for completing key health and wellness goals as part of the “Let’s Move!” initiative to combat childhood obesity. In fact, we’re now a “Let’s Move!” All-Star, which means Knoxville is pursuing advanced strategies pertaining to such amenities as bicycling infrastructure and community gardens.

- The Urban Wilderness in South Knoxville is a regional magnet for nature lovers, bird watchers, hikers and especially mountain bikers. World-class trails are currently being constructed in the Baker Creek Preserve.

- In the past year, Knoxville has opened the first segment of the Knox-Blount Greenway, hugging the Tennessee River. Eventually, when additional sections are constructed, a bicyclist or a runner training for a marathon will be able to start in downtown Knoxville and follow greenways all the way to the Smokies foothills.

- By this summer, kayakers will have a new favorite spot - Suttree Landing Park - where they can put in at a bend in the Tennessee River, just across the river from downtown.

In short, Mayor Rogero said, Knoxville is the kind of city that truly appreciates fitness and healthy lifestyles, that prioritizes linking greenways and creating exciting new options for outdoor recreation and adventure.

Good luck to all of this weekend's Marathon runners!