The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, which includes a half marathon, relays, a 5K race and a kids’ fun run, will take place Oct. 2-3, 2021. For more information or to volunteer, visit www.knoxvillemarathon.com.
David Biggerstaff
David Biggerstaff is a member of the Covenant Health Marathon Team of ambassadors for health and fitness, training for the marathon after coming back from a heart problem he wouldn’t let take him down. He was a team member in 2007 and 2010.
David started running in 8th grade when he and his mom signed up for the Knox Expo 10K. He joined his high school cross country/track team and finished runner-up on the state level. As he grew older, he fell out of the habit of exercise and then was diagnosed with a heart condition. After his time with the team, things turned around and today he is back on track in a big way.
He says: “I have always tried to pay this great gift of friendships, mentoring and coaching on to others and encourage everyone to set goals and achieve them. The Covenant Health Marathon Team continues to be a life changer and I am humbled and honored to be part of the family.”
How has your experience with the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon changed you?
The phone rang one Saturday morning and Coach Missy and Tonya were on the line to offer me a spot on the 2007 Marathon team. (I guess I was the token heart patient) Was my dream to complete a full marathon going to come true?? YES, it did. The mentoring and coaching that year changed the way I looked at things in life and gave me a new release of life. I met some great people and was able to complete my first FULL MARATHON!
Kelly Biggerstaff has been training alongside her husband for the full marathon of 26.2 miles.
The year after Kelly, myself and our new friend Kim Deakins from the 2007 team went to Disney and completed the Goofy Challenge. (Saturday a half marathon and Sunday a full marathon). How GOOFY!!
Since that day I was honored to be on the team with Kelly in 2010. I have always tried to pay this great gift of friendships, mentoring and coaching on to others and encourage everyone to set goals and achieve them. The Covenant Health Marathon Team continues to be a life changer and I am humbled and honored to be part of the family.
What’s been going on in your life since you were last on the team? Have you had to jump any major hurdles? Have you continued to train?
No major hurdles except for ongoing heart condition and my own stubbornness. I took a few years off regular running again in 2011-2016 until my youngest son joined the Bearden Cross Country team, where I found new friends and began training again. That was a great four years watching kids grow and develop as people and athletes. During that time, I went back to Disney and completed the Goofy Challenge again in 2019. I have finally realized “I am not as good as I used to be, but I am as good once as I ever was.” I have done multiple half marathons and was excited to go to Montana and Wyoming this summer to complete my first Quad 4 in Grand Tetons and Yellowstone with Kelly and our son Lucas. (Tetons June 4-5: 5k Friday night and half marathon Saturday morning. Yellowstone June 11-12: 5K Friday night and half marathon Saturday morning.)
Why did you want to return to the team?
I still want to complete a full marathon. But most importantly, I feel that I have a personal mission to pay it forward and motivate others like Coach Missy and Tonya have done for me all these years. If I can make difference in one person’s life if is all worth it!
What’s the goal for your event in the CHKM – and what are your long-term goals beyond the finish line? What would you tell others about the CHKM and training experience?
Full Marathon
Keep moving one step at a time and try to stay active
The CHKM and training experience is great and very beneficial for all ages and athletic abilities.
Tonya Stoutt-Brown is a public relations and media specialist with Covenant Health.