40th Detroit Free Press Marathon

By Shirley Feng

The 40^th Detroit Free Press Marathon was run this weekend between Detroit and Windsor, lasting for two days.

The weekend of races kicked off with the American Home Fitness 5K and Meijer Kids Fun Run on Saturday, and the bigger competitions began on Sunday.

Although there were strong winds and high humidity on Sunday morning, athletes who took part in the full marathon, international half-marathon and marathon relay are still full of energy and passion.

“I prepared for the competition nine weeks ago,” said Craig Bondy, who is both a race participant and a race ambassador. “I ran through the routes every day to improve myself step by step, so I feel good about this race.”

Bondy has been running for 20 years and this is his fourth marathon. This was his second time running in the Detroit Free Press Marathon.

Sunday competition began at 7 a.m. in downtown Detroit on Fort Street near 1^st street. Smaller groups of participants, divided by their projected pace, were sent off every two minutes. The participants passed through Ambassador Bridge to Windsor downtown riverside, then ran across the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel back to Detroit. After that, they ran through historic neighbourhoods and Belle Isle, and along the riverfront to finish the race.

“It’s a very meaningful activity. We not only exercise our body, but also put our register money to charities, said Bondy. “The Detroit Free Press Marathon supports local charitable organizations centered on health and wellness. That’s the reason I take part in this game.”

The Detroit Free Press Marathon partners with more than 40 official charities each year. In 2016, runners raised more than 2 million dollars for charitable causes.

More than 3,000 volunteers joined this race and supplied help for participants.

Russia’s Valentyna Poltavska won the women’s race. She finished the race in two hours and 49.51 minutes. The men’s race winner is Florida’s Jonathan Mott who crossed the finish line in two hours and 22.53 minutes.

All finishers in all races receive a medal and the overall and master first, second and third place winners in male and female also receive prize money.