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Record number of runners prep for Carmel Marathon

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) – Runners will race through the streets of Carmel on Saturday for the fifth annual Carmel Marathon. The event will feature a marathon, half marathon, 8K, and a 5K. This is the first year the Carmel Marathon is holding a 5K race.

More than 4,000 people have registered to participate in Saturday’s event, a record for the race. Participants will pick up their race packets on Friday from the Fitness Expo at the Monon Community Center, 1235 Central Park Drive East. The Fitness Expo is from 11 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. and will feature more than 40 vendors showcasing the newest items in running gear as well as the latest developments in fitness, sports and nutrition. The expo is free to runners and non-runners.

In addition to the 5K race, the Carmel Marathon will offer several new things. Six additional bands have been added to the race’s entertainment and runners will see some big heads along the course.

“Everybody’s seen the big heads behind basketball goals in college basketball games. We have chosen 26 big heads for 26 miles based on the letters of the alphabet. So, we’re going to have people out there holding the big heads and bringing basketball type of cheer to the course,” said Todd Oliver, race director and president of the Carmel Marathon.

The Carmel Marathon is held on the third Saturday of April. The Boston Marathon is held on the third Monday in April. Both events keep security in mind.

“We have our normal plan for security,” Oliver said. “We have 96 officers on the course. That hasn’t changed from the last two years. We work through the medical department as well, with the city. We have an emergency ops center in place. None of that has changed for the years past or even before the situation in Boston.”

The Carmel Marathon kicks off at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. The opening ceremony takes place at 7:15 a.m. The start / finish line for all of the races is at the Palladium at the Center for Performing Arts, located at the intersection of Third Avenue and City Center Drive.

For more information on the Carmel Marathon, click here.