Candy Wong of Ontario, Canada, prepares for the start of the women's elite marathon on Sunday at the Alexian Brothers Fitness for America Sports Festival in Hoffman Estates. Sunday's races were organized into recreational and elite categories with participants completing a 10k, half marathon or full marathon. Organizer Peter Starykowicz of Hoffman Estates says "position is most important" for marathon skaters who rely on drafts from the other skaters.
Brooke Herbert Hayes/bhayes@dailyherald.com
Some of the world's best in-line skaters, along with plenty of local weekend warriors, rolled through Hoffman Estates on Sunday during the Alexian Brothers Fitness for America Festival's in-line skating marathon.
The marathon, along with shorter races for skaters of all ability levels, took off from the former AT&T campus and traveled and 8.7-mile loop that wound through north Hoffman Estates and past the Paul Douglas Forest Preserve.
Sunday's races were part of a two-day celebration of fitness that also included a half-marathon, 10K and 5K races for runners, as well as running events for kids.
But the big draws were the in-line events, especially the marathon, which is the second-largest event of its kind in the United States. As a result, elite athletes from across the country - and even Canada - make the trip to the suburbs for the competition.
Tommy Peterson of Minneapolis, front, and other men's elite skaters cross into the second lap at the Alexian Brothers Fitness for America Sports Festival's in-line skating marathon in Hoffman Estates on Sunday. Sunday's races drew top in-line skaters from across the country.
Brooke Herbert Hayes/bhayes@dailyherald.com
The men's elite skaters prepare for the start of the Alexian Brothers Fitness for America Sports Festival's in-line skating marathon in Hoffman Estates on Sunday. Sunday's races were organized into recreational and elite categories with participants completing a 10k, half marathon or full marathon.
Brooke Herbert Hayes/bhayes@dailyherald.com
The women's elite skaters prepare for the start of the Alexian Brothers Fitness for America Sports Festival's in-line skating marathon in Hoffman Estates on Sunday. Organizer Peter Starykowicz of Hoffman Estates says "position is most important" for marathon skaters who rely on drafts from the other skaters.
Brooke Herbert Hayes/bhayes@dailyherald.com