Women's Half Marathon provides inspiration - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

It is hard to count the number of steps required to cover thirteen and one tenth of a mile.

For most of the runners in a marathon or half marathon, every step is a milestone, and finishing is a watermark in their lives.

After suffering a back injury from the 2011 stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair, Jessica Gillian didn't think she would ever be to run in a half marathon.

When the stage rigging collapsed, Gillian and her boyfriend were pinned against equipment and a fence. The collapse crushed her back. The damage was so great doctors advised that if she was ever able to run again, it would never be for any great distances.

Gillian not only ran in Saturday's Women's Half Marathon, but she also finished, surprising herself and overcoming her greatest obstacle.

Physically, training for the second annual Indianapolis Ladies Only Half Marathon has taken everything she has, and, emotionally she is spent.

"I'm so proud of myself, Gillian said. "I'm so glad I finished this. I'm so glad I did this; it just went to prove to myself that I can overcome injury and I can do this no matter what."

WTHR's Jennifer Carmack finished the second annual half marathon a little bit a head of the pack. "A lot people have the perception that only really fast runners compete" said Carmack.

An estimated 25-hundred ladies signed up for the half marathon this year, which is a significant increase over last year.

With a large number of ladies participating, runners of all skill levels participate, "All shapes and sizes and ya know kind of what keeps me going when I do a race like this is I look around and I remind myself that every single person has a story."

Just like Jessica Gillian, Jennifer ran for a reason.

After the race Jennifer took her medal to her mother who is recovering from surgery in the hospital.