With fans cheering, Jeff Mescal of Hebron, Ind., raced for the finish line at Riverview Park in Eagle River Saturday. He was the first male finisher in the full marathon.--STAFF PHOTO

Record-breaking race

By Gary Ridderbusch
News-Review Asst. Editor

Despite a cold front that moved in Friday night, the 13th annual Journeys Marathon in Eagle River last Saturday was a record breaker, according to Kim Emerson, events coordinator for Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center.

The 2009 event drew a record number of participants, with a total of 917 runners and walkers in the four Journeys Marathon events. Emerson said participants represented all corners of Wisconsin and 16 other states.

The previous record was 852 entries, set in 2008.

“We had more participants than we ever dreamed of,” said Emerson. “It was a real good race and good weather for the runners. They liked the cooler weather, plus it didn’t rain.”

The temperature was about 40 degrees when the full marathon started near Star Lake at 8 a.m. Saturday. Later in the day, the high temperature hit about 52 degrees at Riverview Park, where most of the Journeys Marathon festivities took place under mostly cloudy skies.

“Overall, it was just a great day,” said Emerson, noting a steady north wind actually helped runners on the marathon course that primarily traveled northwest to southeast.

More records

Emerson said the half-marathon, 5-kilometer race and power walk set new participant records, with 460 runners in the 13.1-mile run, 249 in the 5K and 91 in the power walk.

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