MUNCIE -- The video game consoles noticed they weren't at home on Saturday morning. The beds and couches did, too.
Even the television, the old standby on Saturday mornings, didn't receive the love it normally gets over the weekend, sitting sadly at home wondering what was happening.
And how could they not notice, especially when more than 1,200 children from across four counties were on the Ball State University campus participating in the 9th Annual Kids Marathon instead of sitting at home, doing nothing.
"This gets kids interested in exercising and being with other kids and being active," said Bill Yates, the gym teacher at Royerton Elementary School, a participant in the marathon. "We've been doing this since the beginning, and we incorporate it in our program in our schools. We're trying very had to combat the obesity problem and the inactivity the kids have nowadays. This is a great event."
Last year, slightly more than 900 elementary and middle school students from across East Central Indiana woke up early on a Saturday morning to cross the finish line on BSU's North Quad.
But this year, the message of physical activity continued to grow, encouraging more students to walk and run with their classmates and teachers.
During the spring semester, many of the students walk or run a total of 25 miles with school walking clubs in physical education classes. Once that is completed, interested students register to finish the final 1.2 miles of a marathon (a 26.2-mile race) at the BSU event.
The East Washington Academy and St. Lawrence School had 100 percent participation from their students, and several schools had at least 15, 20, even 30 students participate in the non-competitive event.
"This is fun, I think," said Joli Finley, 10, a fourth grader from Royerton Elementary. "I did a little bit of walking and running. It was crowded. It was more people than I expected to see. I'd probably do it again."
Steve Moore tried to capture the moment with his camera phone. He really did.
He had a a plan to get a shot of his son Carson, 13, crossing the finish line but his son was just too fast.
By the time the race started and Steve finished talking to a fellow parent waiting for their own child, Carson was already back around, the first to finish the "race."
"This is really a good idea. We've been a part of it now for five or six years and now his younger brother is walking it," Moore said. "This is something we've gotten used to doing each year."
The fun didn't end when students walked to the finish line. To them, the marathon was secondary compared to the inflatable gyms and games that allowed them to play and yell without anyone telling them to calm down.
And, believe it or not, some of them even thought being outside during the cloudy Saturday morning was better than playing video games, sleeping in and watching TV.
OK, well maybe not watching TV.
"I had a hard time getting up, but now that I'm here, I just want to run and run. And get my medal," said Grissom elementary first grader Hannah Williams.
