PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Thousands of runners laced up for the Saucony Love Half Marathon on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway Sunday morning.
Marina Delfiso was one of more than 15,000 runners, but she ran for a very special reason, and it was a last-minute decision.
“It was really good. I was running for a friend. She couldn’t run, unfortunately. She has amyloidosis, so she was not feeling good, so I ran for her,” Delfiso said.
Friends and families were on hand supporting both the 7K runners and the half-marathon runners, hitting that 13-mile marker, crossing the finish line at the iconic Art Museum steps.
Scott and Beth, who were there shooting their friend Meredith Opigard, who was breaking world records in the intergalactic way.
“We’re here in support of a public school teacher here to set a Guinness World Record today as a female cosplayer from Star Wars with a lightsaber. We’re excited to support her,” Scott said.
She made it over the finish line.
“Guinness Book Records had an entry for the male half marathon fasted starwars character, but not a female. So I thought this is the time to do it. It’s International Women’s Month,” Opigard said.
Her record attempt is pending official confirmation, which requires submitted documentation, including selfies at every mile marker to prove she remained in costume. She expects to hear back later this spring.
After the marathon, runners enjoyed a festival complete with a beer garden and food trucks.
