(DULUTH,MN)---Thousands of inline skaters, roller skiers and runners from around the world raced through the tunnels of Duluth's north shore Saturday.
The 17th annual Northshore Inline Marathon race debuted in 1996 and since then, more than 40,000 participants have crossed the finish line.
They look like rollerblades, but they go faster, they have larger wheels, and there were more than 2,600 pairs of inline skates crossed the finish line Saturday.
"The weather here in Duluth makes it and I'm just very honored to be apart of this," Skeeter Moore, the race director said.
With the increased attendance this year, the championship is the largest of its kind in the nation.
"It brings a lot of people into Duluth. There's at least one skater from every state in the United States. About 15,000 people come through our doors at this event," Moore said.
Twenty one year old Briana Kramer of Salt Lake City, Utah claimed the woman's competition this year with a time of 1:13:1.8.
"I won, I got first place, third year in a row," Briana Kramer, the female division race winner said.
And the winner for the men's division, 21-year-old old Wesley Gandy of Richmond, Virginia., finished in 1:03:19.3.
"First, won the race," Wesley Gandy, the male division race winner said."
Gandy says he starts training for the race next year after this event is over.
"It feels awesome. My coach has been training me for this for like all year. So to finally be able to do it is pretty awesome," Gandy said.
"I was just like, thank you lord," Kramer said.
Kramer is recovering from a back injury.
"Half way though it was starting to hurt, but it was nothing I've never been through before, so I was just like, you know what, I am going to finish this race, keep going and it turned out for the best," Kramer said.
"The best part about today is watching the excitement of people and having a good experience at our event. And seeing the activity and the music and you can't beat the weather here in Duluth in September," Moore said.
Other races included the Northshore Rollerski marathon and the wheels off half marathon.
Justin Reis, NNC. jreis@northlandsnewscenter.com
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