scrunners: What made you decide to run a marathon? Is this your first one?
Knight: This is my first marathon. I’m not sure exactly what made me want to do it; probably a number of things. I ran my first 15K and half marathon earlier this year and did better than I expected, finishing first in the half marathon (Folly Beach Save the Light). I was really enjoying the longer runs, too. Shortly after that, one of my good friends called me and asked if I would be interested in running a marathon with her. She has never done one either, so I figured it would be something fun to do together.
scrunners: Please explain your reason for running this marathon and your cause?
Knight: I am running this marathon for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training (TNT), an organization that raises funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma. Along with funding research, this organization supports families struggling with these blood cancers in many ways, including helping with gas money to and from hospitals for treatment.
scrunners: What has marathon training taught you?
Knight: Marathon training is as much for your mind as it is for your body. It has also taught me to listen to my body better. I have learned to modify my workouts based on how I am feeling on a particular day, and be OK with it.
scrunners: What kind of support have you received for this event and how do those interested give support?
Knight: I have been very fortunate with the support I have received from friends and family. My goal is to raise $4,100, which I am very close to reaching. I’ve received donations ranging from $10 – $1,000. I have a great Web site set up through TNT where anyone can donate to.
scrunners: How would you rate your training?
Knight: Until recently, I was struggling with an injury. The past couple of weeks have been really great though. I’ve been hitting all of my training runs. I would say for a first-time marathoner my training has been pretty intense. I’ve completed (four) 20-plus milers. I do interval workouts and tempo runs, also, during the week. The added heat and humidity of summer training makes it all the more challenging.
scrunners: Please explain your running and life since high school at .
Knight: After graduating from Hillcrest, I attended Clemson University, where I ran XC and studied Engineering. I didn’t have a very good XC season at Clemson. My times were over a minute slower than they were in high school and I seemed to lack the same desire. After the first XC season, I developed an injury and we had a major coaching change that, unfortunately, caused me to forfeit the rest of my collegiate running career. I took about a year off from competitive running, and then started running some local road races. I had definitely missed racing and have been running as many as I can every year since. Running is still a HUGE part of my life.
The rest….after graduating from Clemson in 2004, I moved to Charleston to study Bioengineering through the MUSC-Clemson joint program. I received my Master’s in 2006 and got married a month later. I still live and work (and run) in the Charleston area.