Show Marathon host I to over 12 Jessica Garrett Contributing Writer riter More than runners along with thousands of volunteers and viewers hit the streets to participate in the annual Salt Lake City Marathon yet again early Saturday April 19 The traditional mile marathon spread throughout the east side of the valley making it a little tough to get around for drivers but nevertheless a huge success Genna finished in first place with an incredible time of 10 with the women's champion Maria Portilla following short behind with a time of Both a part of the professional elite category from Bronx NY finished first overall while Port Portilla lla from Albuquerque NM took first in fn the women's category for the second year in a row athletes in the First place marathon division took home total amount of the money divided up by the top 1 five winners in each category equaled runners' runners from the The money entry fees went to organizing the event paying the winners I and the main cause for the therace therace therace race the Huntsman Cancer Institute Last year the cause cause raised to dedicate to research in finding a cure for cancer The course started on the Olympic Legacy Bridge and took over I 11 1 minutes for all the runners to cross the start line The course went as far as South and back north to The Gateway The bike tour was first with 1500 participants followed by the half marathon and ending with the full marathon I wish I would have had the time to dedicate to running nning the whole marathon marathon instead instead I Idid Idid Idid did the half Nevertheless it was definitely a challenge but the accomplishment I felt after finishing was irreplaceable Diana Thompson said after running the half marathon The energy was was' so great You couldn't help but cheer the athletes on It made me want to get out there and run nun with them They made it look so easy Cham volunteer Coordinator for the Utah AIDS Marathon Continued on on n AS sic Marathon Continued from Al Foundation said Volunteers lined the course giving the athletes water and Gatorade to help refuel Our drink station was at mile 24 soby so soby soby by the time the athletes reached us they were on the downward slope According to the Salt Lake City Marathon official Web site more than people were expected to gather to support the athletes 1243 individuals crossed the finish line with the accomplishment of finishing a full marathon under their belt It was so crazy to be standi standing at the finish line People People would cross and immediately start crying They were so full of emotion They just finished a marathon Katherine Frkovich a spectator of the event said |