2009: Thousands run in Akron Marathon
Members of the St. Vincent-St. Mary's marching band (clockwise from left) Audrey Fliegel, Kyle Hochevar, Stephen Hall and Matt Schwenning, team up on the bass drum as the band played for the runners in the 2009 Roadrunner Akron Marathon. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)
Dennis Clark, of Tennessee, races past a steam vent release on Broadway during the 2009 Road Runner Akron Marathon. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)
Stow resident Cindy Kasper (left) and Tracy Meder on the podium after taking 3rd and 4th place respectively in the 2009 Road Runner Akron Marathon. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)
Race fans Gloria and David Deeds, of Akron, ring cowbells and shout out support to runners along Wilbeth Road in the 2009 Roadrunner Akron Marathon. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)
Eldon, 3, (left) and Caelan, 1, Mars hold a sign along Broadway for their dad who is participating in the 2009 Road Runner Akron Marathon. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)
Runners are reflected in the time clock at the 22 mile marker on Garman Road for the 2009 Roadrunner Akron Marathon. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)
A runner makes his way up the hill on Garman Road in the 2009 Roadrunner Akron Marathon. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)
Rebecca Foldi holds a Happy Birthday message to her father John Clark as she crosses the finish line at the 2009 Road Runner Akron Marathon. Clark turned 73 on this day. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)
Hirut Manderfro crosses the finish line to take first place in the woman's division of the 2009 Road Runner Akron Marathon. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)
Bruce Winer, of Akron, (left) pauses during his run to take a turn on the drums as Jason Edwards, the drummer for The Delta Tribe hands over the sticks along Garman Road during the 2009 Roadrunner Akron Marathon. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)
Richard Chelimo. of Toledo, crosses the finish line at Canal Park to a first place finish in the 2009 Road Runner Akron Marathon. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)
Ann Beamer (left) and her husband Malcolm East, of Pittsburgh, pray before the start of the 2009 Road Runner Akron Marathon. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)
Adam Rose (center) and other Handcycle Division participants get on their way at the start of the 2009 Road Runner Akron Marathon. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)
Richard Chelimo, of Toledo, grabs a cup of water in Highland Square as he races towards victory in the 2009 Roadrunner Akron Marathon. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)
Michelle Bunn, of Medina, stretches at Canal Park after finishing the 2009 Road Runner Akron Marathon. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)
Tom Haag, of Cuyahoga Falls, dressed as "Wild Thing Rick Vaughn" from the movie "Major League" walks up the hill on Garman Road near Stan Hywet Hall during the 2009 Roadrunner Akron Marathon. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)
Curtis Mortenson, of Canton, enters the gates of Stan Hywet Hall during the 2009 Roadrunner Akron Marathon. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)
Volunteer Joy Caires, a priest at Church of Our Savior, pretends to be a runner as she jokes with the other volunteers at the water station on West Market Street in Highland Square during the 2009 Roadrunner Akron Marathon. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)
Michelle Jamil (right) hands out water to a runner at the water station on Wilbeth Road during the 2009 Roadrunner Akron Marathon. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)
Kathy "Frog" Chiou, of State College, Pa. and her boyfriend Richard "Toad" Eitel, of Lexington, Ky. cross the finish line of the 2009 Roadrunner Akron Marathon. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)
Stella Malecky, 4, of Morgantown, West Virginia (top) greets her father Mark Malecky, a Walsh Jesuit graduate, as he slumps over a rail in Canal Park at the finish of the 2009 Road Runner Akron Marathon. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)
Stephen Farrington, of University Heights, Ohio (center) races along West Market towards mile marker 25 for the last mile of the 2009 Roadrunner Akron Marathon. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)
Michael Rothwell, of Canfield, looks to the Heavens as he crosses the finish line at Canal Park during the 2009 Road Runner Akron Marathon. Rothwell finished 84th overall. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)
Dennis Clark, of Tennessee, warms up near the starting line of the 2009 Road Runner Akron Marathon. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)
Executive race director Jim Barnett (left) catches Bob Pokorney, of Medina, as he drops to his knees after crossing the finish line at the 2009 Road Runner Akron Marathon. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)
