For some, running the Belleville Marathon was inspired by family, friends or a cause

Meg Tensing of St. Louis hugged her mother through tears after crossing the finish line at the eighth annual Belleville Marathon Saturday.

“You crushed it,” her mother told her. “You absolutely crushed it.”

Tensing replied: “I never thought I’d do this.”

The 24-year-old finished the event’s 13-mile half marathon with a time of 2:20:31.804. That was good for 100th place among 185 runners in the women’s division.

The Belleville Marathon stepped off at 7 a.m. and followed a winding 26- or 13-mile course crowded with cheering supporters and excited runners. The race was organized and conducted by the Belleville Running Club and Toolen’s Running Start in the Green Mount Crossing shopping center. The non-profit event raised $10,000 for the Belleville Parks and Recreation Department last year.

More than 650 runners represented 24 U.S. states and two other countries, but the men’s winner and and all three of the women’s winners came from metro-east towns.

A qualifying even for next spring’s Boston Marathon drew a field of competitive runners, including overall winner Ian Vanderven, 33, who won had run a race in Ireland just two weeks ago. He completed the race with a time of 2:44:27.698.

“I’m pretty tired,” Vanderven said, smiling and showing no signs of being even remotely out-of-breath.

Megan Siebel, 27, was the first-place winner overall in the women’s division with a time of 3:31:28.189. She is a graduate of Belleville East, where she competed at the school’s track and field.

“It’s really cool to win it here,” said Megan Siebel, 27, “Everyone was so great. The staff were all so helpful.”

Not all the runners, however, were motivated to participate by the possibility of a trip to Boston or the competition with other runners. Most, like Tensing, were there to prove something to themselves or to inspire others.

Haley and Hannah Inyart are sisters who placed second and third respectively among the women’s field. While Haley Inyart had competed in many races before, Saturday’s full marathon was only the second race for her sister.

“I couldn’t have done it without her motivating me the whole time,” said Hannah Inyart, 32, who completed the course in 3:41:55.648, technically .004 seconds behind Haley, 26.

Participants from as far away as England and Mexico City were in attendance as well. Some runners represented their home countries, cities or states, and some displayed support for their causes or running groups.

Joe Gomez of Compton, Illinois completed the 13-mile half marathon carrying the American flag as a representative for Team Red, White and Blue, a veteran’s support group highlighting the importance of physical exercise.

“I did this for everyone who didn’t come home,” said Gomez, 58.

Glen Schepers, 62, of Celestine, Indiana raises his fist as he crossed the finish line. Schepers didn’t run a marathon until he was in his 50s and credits his son as his motivation to start running.

“The first thing that goes through my head when I do these is, ‘why?’” Schepers said. “But then the blood gets pumping and it’s such a rush.”

Runners for both the 26.2-mile marathon and the half marathon shared the first approximately 13 miles of the course, which began at West Main and First Streets and followed West Main to Signal Hill Boulevard.

While the half marathon runners headed back downtown to finish their race, those running the full 26 miles turned onto Belleville’s Richland Creek Trail and St. Clair County Transit District’s Metro BikeLink Trail out past Southwestern Illinois College and the East Belleville YMCA before heading back downtown to finish on Main Street.

More than 300 volunteers lined the route to make sure runners stayed on course and to hand out water.

Ben Godard, 44, of Fairview Heights was among the crowd of runners. He pushed his brother-in-law, Chris Moosman, in a wheelchair through the half-marathon in support of the Colleen Nesbit Foundation, a foundation that helps people with special needs.

“Special people make people special,” Godard said. “Doing this means a lot and we need to take care of each other.”

This story was originally published September 30, 2024 at 6:00 AM.