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Heat didn't stop runners in Buffalo Marathon

Posted at 10:56 AM, May 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-31 09:28:45-04

About 7,000 runners participated in the 2016 Buffalo Half and Full Marathons.

Many people coming from as far away as Texas and Tennessee to be part of it. Richard Hunter is a blind marathon runner who came from California for the full marathon.

"I traveled across the country to run in the inaugural visually impaired division of the Buffalo Marathon," Hunter said.

The Marathon provided him with two guide runners to help lead him down the 26 mile course. One of the guides was Buffalo Bills Strength and Conditioning Assistant, Dan Liburd.

"You know honestly he was kind of cheering me along the way too.To have the opportunity to share and provide that experience to someone else  it's tremendous," Liburd said.

This year the race jump started by 30 minutes. The race started at 6:30am on Sunday, instead of 7am, in order to beat the record breaking heat. Some runners say the heat made the race a bit harder.

"It was so hot and the support out there was amazing. People had their sprinklers and cool towels for us and beverages. I must of had 25 drinks," one runner said.

These runners didn't let the weather stop them from pressing on to cross the finish line.

"You keep thinking of the medal at the end. You keep thinking that you're going to get a bumper sticker that says you're a marathoner."

However,  Director of Buffalo Marathon, Greg Weber told 7EWN that at least one runner was sent to the hospital for heat related injury. The person is expected to be okay.