NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is this weekend.
While walkers and runners lace up their shoes for all different reasons, a Noblesville woman found a way to honor fallen officers and military members.
Linda Chambers, 73, loves running races all over the country. About 10 years ago, she decided that she wanted to run in honor of a fallen officer or military personnel.
She knows she's run more than 400 races at this point, but not the exact number — but she never forgets the fallen she has run for.
"I do some research before I honor someone," Chambers said. "And sometimes, they'll touch it. They'll give you a name, they'll call out a badge number. Sometimes, they'll cry because they've served with them. So it's just a way to remember them."
During this year's Mini-Marathon, Chambers will run to honor fallen Indiana State Police Trooper Aaron Smith.
"He was killed in the line of duty in June of last year," Chambers said. "And I've talked with his family, and they wanted me to wear this shirt they had made in Aaron's honor, and so I'll be running for him, and we say his name along the way."
Chambers admits she's not fast – but that's not the point.
"The hardest thing is when people forget the one you loved because they're still there with you but everybody else has moved on. And so this is a way that one more time, they get to be remembered, and so that's what I do," Chambers said.
If you're along the route on Saturday, look for the American flag she carries proudly the entire time.
Chambers also said she will be running side by side with Smith's widow, Megan.