PHOTO GALLERY: Heart of America Marathon runners sweat on Labor Day

September 3, 2012 | 3:06 p.m. CDT

COLUMBIA — The footsteps of hundreds of marathon runners pattered on the streets of south Columbia on a steamy Labor Day morning. Since 1960, the Columbia Track Club has hosted the Heart of America Marathon, which draws hundreds of people from all over the U.S. and Canada.

Whitney Dreier kisses her husband, Matt Dreier, after finishing as the top female participant in the Heart of America Marathon on Monday. Dreier, from Columbia, ran the marathon in 3 hours and 29 minutes and finished 15th overall. She said her motivation for running was that her husband would be at the finish line. | Bridget Murphy

Justin Gillette talks with Thom Nichols, his uncle, after finishing first in the Heart of America Marathon on Monday with a time of 2 hours and 47 minutes. This is the second year in a row Gillette won the marathon. He lives in Goshen, Ind., but grew up in Ironton, Mo. | Bridget Murphy

Robert Bishton crosses the finish line of the Heart of America Marathon on Monday. Bishton is from Fort Myers Beach, Fla., and finished 101st. | Bridget Murphy

Chad Rogers, from Jefferson City, picks up a baby on his way across the finish line in the Heart of America Marathon on Monday. Rogers finished 82nd in the race. | Bridget Murphy

Hewitt, Athan, Cole and Ariana Kardis wait at the finish line with their mom, Julie Kardis, for their dad, Theodore Kardis, on Monday. Theodore Kardis finished 11th in the Heart of America Marathon, though he was unable to make a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon. | Bridget Murphy

Steven Mankofsky's water bottles and empty beer case sit near the finish line at the Heart of America Marathon. Mankofsky said he got a six pack of beer around mile marker 18 after he realized he wouldn't beat the current Guinness World Records for running a marathon in a full suit. | Bridget Murphy

Steven Mankofsky races toward the finish line in the Heart of America Marathon on Monday. Mankofsky tried to break the current Guinness World Records for running a marathon in a full suit, in 3 hours and 24 minutes, but was unsuccessful, with a time of 5 hours and 6 minutes. He ran the marathon to raise money for the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, matching any donation given to the Food Bank with his own money. | Bridget Murphy