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Girl Accidentally Runs Marathon (Well, Half of One) Instead of 5K

Girl Accidentally Runs Marathon (Well, Half of One) Instead of 5K
(Screengrab via WHEC-TV)

By    |   Wednesday, 27 April 2016 12:57 PM EDT

A girl accidentally ran a half-marathon last Sunday after entering the wrong starting line in Rochester, New York, ultimately following a group running 13.1 miles instead of 3.1.

According to the Democrat and Chronicle, LeeAdianez Rodriguez, 12, a sixth grader from suburban Rochester, began running this year with a volunteer youth program.

Rodriguez was running late for the Rochester Regional Flower City Challenge and her mother, Brendalee Espada, dropped her off just before the race started so she could get to the starting line.

Little did she know that she lined up with the group running the half-marathon through Rochester instead of the Wegmans Family 5K she signed up for.

"She just saw people running and thought it was her race," said Ellen Brenner, co-owner of Fleet Feet Sports Rochester and race sponsors YellowJacket Racing.

"The last time I saw this was a few years ago at Rochester Marathon where people would accidentally miss the turn on East and Winton," Brenner added.

Her mother, though, who left to park their car and returned to the course, feared the worse when Rodriguez did not finish with the other 5K runners, wrote WNBC-TV.

Rodriguez told WNBC-TV that realized she was running the wrong race about halfway through the half-marathon. Despite the mistake, she completed the run, at 2:43:31.

"After two chaotic hours where Espada searched frantically for her daughter, who never came across the 5K line, the two reunited at the end of the half marathon," wrote BuzzFeed News. "After many tears of relief and an explanation for her absence, Espada said she was proud her daughter pushed through to the end of the half marathon."

Espada said that despite the frantic search, she was amazed that her daughter did not quit running the race. She said they will actually run a 5K in New York City together on May 21.

"She's an amazing kid and very strong," Espada said. "She just shows when you put your mind to something and won't give up; you reach whatever goal you have."

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TheWire
A girl accidentally ran a half-marathon last Sunday after entering the wrong starting line in Rochester, New York, ultimately following a group running 13.1 miles instead of 3.1.
girl, accidentally, runs, marathon
365
2016-57-27
Wednesday, 27 April 2016 12:57 PM
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