Temperatures were cold and the wind-chill factor made conditions tougher still, but thousands of runners nevertheless turned out for the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon at the end of October.
The runners who went out for the marathon that day were glad to be involved, and expressed their pleasure in taking part in the event. Some said they had surpassed personal records, while others hinted at being they were Olympic hopefuls. Still others were looking forward to less lofty goals, such as getting warm cocoa to drink or taking a nap, while some said they had been training for the run for months or, in some cases, years.
The 26.2-mile wound from the downtown area to the Northside, and back downtown again. Those who finished early remained at the finish line to cheer on other runners.
This was the seventh Monumental Marathon, which is a fundraising event. Since its inception, the race has raised more than $500,000, which is donated to further public education. The amount raised this year is not yet known.
The first race, in 2008, drew about 3,000 participants. This year, there were more than 15,000 runners taking part.
Race organizers are already planning 2016's event. Event organizers could work with a banner printing company to mark the start and finish lines of marathons taking place over the next couple of years.
