'Charter Club' Runners Notch 35th Year Of Twin Cities Marathon

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The 35th Twin Cities Marathon will take place on Sunday.

Runners got a chance to pick up their packets Friday at the St. Paul RiverCentre. They also had a chance to visit the Health and Fitness Expo.

There are 27 runners who have participated in all 34 Twin Cities Marathons.

"This particular race, three times. But this is my ninth marathon," said marathoner Stephanie Schwartz.

From the veterans to the rookies.

"This is my first marathon and I'm running because I want to do something that I didn't think I could do before," said first-time marathoner Therese Bloomquist.

Running for a bucket list, a medal or a cause, there are a million reasons why people make their way to the starting line. On Sunday, Scott Knight will run for the 35th time.

"The fans are more important than anything to me. Just to help that extra runner to get across the line," said Knight.

Knight is one of 27 people who have taken part in every Twin Cities Marathon, come rain, sun or even snow. At 55 years old, he's the second youngest member of the renowned "Charter Club."

"I went through high school, stayed pretty fit. Got out of high school and started getting unfit. And I said it's time for me to start running -- kind of on a bar bet," said Knight.

It was a bar bet that Knight couldn't turn down. It got him training for those 26.2 mile runs. As a horse owner, he's just as comfortable in cowboy boots as he is in running shoes. But make no mistake, he looks forward to seeing his fellow charter members every year.

"It's amazing. It pushes us when you are at mile 21 or 20, about ready to say that's enough. I've got my other charter club members and we got to keep this reputation up," said Knight.