Zoo Run

Man-cub took 3rd place overall in the second wave of yesterday's "Cariten Kids Run" at the Knoxville Zoo, completing his mile run in 9:21 (more than a minute better than his 2007 time). He ran a very good race, especially considering that (a) it was in the mid-30s, (b) it's a very hilly and narrow course, and (c) there is a mandatory "walk zone" by the zebra habitat.

Covenant Health, sponsors of the springtime Knoxville Marathon, have developed a great program to encourage kids to "run a marathon": starting with yesterday's one-mile run at the Zoo, kids receive log books to record their physical activities (running, biking, jumping rope, etc.) for the next eight weeks. 30 minutes of "free play" counts as a mile, and their goal is to reach "25 miles" before the morning of the marathon on March 30th.

On marathon morning, the kids will have a special 1.2 mile course (from the official start by the Sunsphere to the finish line on the 50-yard-line inside Univ. of Tennessee's Neyland Stadium) to complete their two-month "marathon". Those that complete enough activities for the full marathon distance in that time will receive a special certificate. (Last year Jarrett proved to be an "ultramarathoner", completing more than 60 miles worth of activities between the Zoo Run and the marathon....).