Marathoners race through windy Glass City

Jared Okoneski, left, and his wife Kelly Okoneski, right, from Perrysburg, run across the finish line in the half marathon with their daughter Brooklyn, 4, who joined them for the final 100 yards.

The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
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The 5K runners take off at the start of the Glass City Marathon. Louis Pablo Guardiola, left #5612, from Fremont, came in first place.

Despite winds that gusted more than 30 miles-per-hour, thousands of participants laced up their running shoes for the 35th Annual Glass City Marathon. For a second year, the annual race began at the university and runners took to the starting line at 7 a.m.

Most of the 13.1-mile half-marathon brought runners through Ottawa Hills and into Wildwood. The 26.2-mile course traversed Old Orchard, Ottawa Hills, the University/Parks Trail, Olander Park in Sylvania, and Wildwood Metropark before culminating at midfield in the Glass Bowl.

Photo Gallery: Click here for more pictures from the marathon.

Jared Okoneski, left, and his wife Kelly Okoneski, right, from Perrysburg, run across the finish line in the half marathon with their daughter Brooklyn, 4, who joined them for the final 100 yards.

Organizers said 4,501 runners were signed up for the event. Of those, 1,000 participated in the 5K run, 1,981 ran the half-marathon, and 793 ran the full 26.2 miles. Other runners participated in relay teams.

According to the marathon Web site, proceeds from registration fees help contribute to several area charities including the Great Lakes Autism, Leukemia Lymphoma Society, and youth running scholarships.