Marquette preps for marathon

Marquette will soon be filled with more than 800 runners from nearly 30 different states.

The 4th annual Marquette Marathon is taking place this weekend.

The Marquette Marathon is an official qualifying run for the 2014 Boston Marathon.  It is one of the last events to be given a chance to earn a spot in the legendary Boston race.

The full marathon begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the pavilion at Presque Isle Park, with a relay, and a half marathon that will begin shortly after the start of the full race.

“The Marquette Marathon started in 2010 and it was basically a group of us ‘runners’ from the Marquette area who wanted to bring a race to Marquette because we live in the most beautiful place, and we wanted people to come here to us,” Race Director Jeri Mommaerts said. “We’re all runners putting on a running race so we know the things that we’ve liked that were unique at different events and we decided to bring it to our own.  This is our fourth year and we continue to grow.  This is going to be a record number.”

Events taking place Friday include a half mile “Pebble Run” for kids eleven-years-old and under, a 5K for kids ten and older, and also a 5K run sponsored by Blackrocks Brewery for all age groups.  Those races will start and finish at the Marquette Commons.

Thursday marks the last day of registration before the ‘day of’ fee.

Register online and find out more information on the event by logging on t www.marquettemarathon.com.