The train is moving full speed ahead!

Ah, March Madness has begun. Literally. Yes, everyone is watching their TV's and perhaps keeping an eye on a non-competitive bracket or two and cheering on their favorite teams. Yes, March brings us NCAA March Madness but it also brings CHKM March Madness.

For the last 7 years, March has been a full of madness. In the first year, Altman and I were just volunteers but we took our work seriously and worked hard for the event. For the last 6 years, Altman has been the Race Director (RD) for the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon and he puts in a ton of hours planning, organizing, and executing the events.

Race day is April 1 but don't be fooled. Being the RD is a year round job. When everyone leaves on race day afternoon, there are still hours, weeks, and months of work to be done to finalize the event. Preparation for the following year starts before the current year's race day. That could be a whole other blog topic sometime.

March is madness. I've always regarded this month by saying that "the train" is moving and it isn't stopping. Currently, we are in full speed and there is no chance of jumping off the train or slowing it down. This race is gonna happen whether everyone is ready or not.

When the basketball tourney begins, you can find the Altman's in front of laptops late into the night....calculating numbers, working on Expo layouts, writing scripts for events, replying to emails from 5 accounts (between KTC and CHKM), making plans for spring KTC races, updating KTC and CHKM Facebook and Twitter accounts, researching other events...the list goes on and on.

In two weeks from now, we'll have wrapped up the Health & Fitness Expo and we'll be doing a final check of the stadium before we head to Thompson Boling to make sure everything is set and ready there. Two weeks from tomorrow, the gun will be shot and thousands of folks will take to the streets of K-town for an amazing experience.

Ready or not, the train is moving full speed ahead. This time of year is so fun yet so stressful. KTC operations are in full swing and I am really busy. This year in particular, KTC launched RunKNOX and KnoxWalks in March so we've had extra planning and preparation to get those events up and running. The CHKM Train is going at full speed and race weekend is going to be a blast.

Two weeks. Typing that gives me a chill. This train is moving full speed ahead and I am pumped to roll into the station on April 1 and see Knoxville come alive with runners, spectators, and volunteers cross the start line and then cross the 50 yard line.

March Madness is the best.