Pettit Center hosts indoor Icebreaker Marathon



MILWAUKEE -- About 800 runners from across the country converged on the Pettit National Ice Center this weekend for an indoor marathon.

Runners made their way around the Pettit Center this weekend. Temperatures have been cold, but runners got the chance to stay inside for the Icebreaker Marathon. Mac McCulley finished first in the half and full marathon. "It's exciting, that last lap especially, coming through and watching all the people cheer, and everyone who was running was cheering 'go, go, go, finish strong!' It was awesome to hit my goal time," McCulley said.

McCulley has been running for several years. He ran the Boston Marathon in 2008 and 2011, and coaches cross country and track at a high school in Illinois. "My kids are a big inspiration to me," McCulley said.

Organizers of the Icebreaker Marathon said they thought it would be a fun idea to have an indoor marathon. "I thought, boy, that would be a neat idea to do it on this track, because it's so big, and there are so many runners who come here in the winter," Race Director Chris Ponteri said.

McCulley says he truly enjoyed the experience, and he's already pumped about his next endurance run in Ohio, where he'll cover as many miles as possible, within a 24 hour time limit.

All of those who finished the marathon or half marathon received a gold medal.