The annual Peoria Marathon snaked through many of Peoria’s neighborhoods Sunday, passing by the Hilltop before moving into the downtown area. Young children and seasoned adults made up the more than 1,000 runners that participated in the event.
Runners had the choice of participating in the full 26.2-mile race, which began and ended at the Peoria Civic Center, or the half marathon, which took place on the last half of the course. Children could also run a short 2.6-mile marathon.
Student Activities Director Tom Coy participated in the half marathon. Since the marathon route passed through the Bradley campus, students came out to support the runners. According to Coy, Student Senate was at mile marker 10, handing out water to a few of the runners.
“The experience was exciting,” senior accounting major Ashley Scalf said. “It was an accomplishment just to be able to run the whole thing, and it was fun being able to set and meet goals. The weather, although cold for spectators, was perfect for the long runs.”
Several Bradley professors also participated in the marathon. Mathematics professor Ollie Nanyes and Mathematics Department chair Matthew Timm, along with several others, participated.
Both Nanyes and Timm said they have been running for years.
“I think as far as doing marathons, for me, it’s mostly about the sport of it,” Nanyes said. “If all you want are health benefits, you don’t have to go that distance. You don’t have to push yourself quite as much. For some people, to get motivated to get off the couch, they say, ‘I’d like to finish a marathon,’ and they use that as a catalyst.”
For Nanyes, he said it is all about the goal of whether he can finish it under the time limit or improve on a previous time.
While both professors said it was more about competing against themselves. Timm said for him, it’s mostly about staying healthy.
“I think there’s a competitive aspect to it,” Timm said. “At my point it’s just competition with myself and trying to do my best. Other people are more competitive with each other.”
Nanyes said he thought the race was very well organized and the volunteers did a good job.
“I’m trying to do one for every year as long as I can,” Nanyes said.
