Runners Tackle Indoor Half Marathon

Forty brave souls made 400 left turns and completed 102 laps last weekend.

For some, last weekend was more than just spending some vacation time with loved ones.

According to the Boston Globe, runners like Jason Israel from Syosset, N.Y. headed to Worchester, Mass. to take on a half marathon — indoors.

That’s 102 laps and 400 left turns.

“I thought it would be an interesting change,” Israel told  the Boston Globe.

The race was sponsored by the Southern New England Athletic Association. That same group hopes to hold a full indoor marathon inside the Hartford Convention Center in January.

“It’s so unique,” said Running USA’s Ryan Lamppa. “You are probably looking at only 300 to 500 people that compete in an indoor marathon a year, compared to a half a million plus who finish a marathon.”

Approximately 40 runners took part in last weekend’s event. Indoor races are beginning to take root in other states such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio.

For More: The Boston Globe