SEARCHING THE JUNKYARD
Knee will run in NYC Marathon
Sandia football coach Kevin Barker says he’s lookng for a “junkyard dog mentality” as his young Matadors, 4-6 last fall, prepare for the 2018 season.
Nick Knee has a great sense of humor when it comes to a playful nickname he possesses.
It’s all his, but he also shares it as the name for the Junior League All-Star team he coaches, as part of the Sun Country PGA Section.
The boys are called, “Team Fun Size,” after their coach, who is also the head professional at Sandia Golf Club.
“I’m not the biggest person; I’m 5-foot-6 with my golf spikes on,” Knee said. “They called me, ‘Fun Size,’ as in not the big-sized candy bar, but the fun size.”
Knee is actually stepping up big-time with regard to raising money for junior golf through the PGA Reach program.
For the second straight year, the Sun Country PGA Section will have a representative running in the New York City Marathon as part of a dynamic fundraiser.
Last year, it was Sandia general manager Matt Long. This year, it’s “Fun Size” Knee.
He is trying to raise more money through his CrowdRise page.
Overall, Knee is extremely excited to fulfill a dream of running in the NYC Marathon and raising money for something so close to his heart.
The PGA Reach program also has an adaptive golf program and a program for veterans of the armed forces, in addition to the work with juniors.
Knee thoroughly enjoys working with the kids. He says he tries to make the game fun so the juniors continue to play, including his son, 7-year-old Nixon.
Knee also works with David Muttitt’s son, Charlie, who has been showing great potential. Muttitt is a teaching pro at Los Altos. He will compete in the PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis on Aug. 9.
Last year, Knee said he received one of the most respectful acts when Muttitt honored Knee during an awards event for the Sun Country PGA.
Muttitt was named Player of the Year and Knee was Assistant Pro of the Year.
Muttitt said he was at the event to honor Knee for all the work he did with his son.
Knee keeps that in mind as he trains for the NYC Marathon, which takes place Nov. 4.
Knee fits in training with his work at the golf club throughout the week. Some days he actually runs along Tramway Road next to the golf course, building strength via elevation.
Knee got involved with running when Nixon was a baby. Knee gradually built his passion for running with 5Ks, halfmarathons and then marathons.
He ran in the Chicago Marathon. Last year he found out he won a lottery to get into the Chicago Marathon but was denied for the NYC Marathon on the same day.
He also competed in a charity marathon for Autism Speaks. His wife, Daniele, works with children with autism and in special education.
Knee expects to be ready for his dream run in the NYC Marathon. He also competed in the Disney World Marathon two years ago.
He participated in the Dopey Challenge, which is a 5K, 10K, half-marathon and full marathon performed in four consecutive days. Yes, Knee will be ready. He said what he enjoys most about running is breaking barriers.
He said it’s a bonus that he is setting an example for his children, including his 1-year-old daughter, Dawsyn.
Knee learned about reaching goals from his father, Steve, who died of a heart attack when Knee was a senior at La Cueva High School.
One of the many lessons that Knee learned from his father was perseverance. Knee did not make the middle school basketball team, he said, and his father was there for the perfect consolation
“He said it doesn’t matter if you are good or bad, but if you chase your dream the right way then it will happen,” Knee said. “That stuck in my head.”
On Nov. 4, during his first visit to New York, Knee will see his dream happen.