With paddles and canoes strapped to the tops of their cars, people from all over the country and all corners of Illinois headed to the Oak Spring Road Canoe Launch in Libertyville, Ill. for the 51st Annual Des Plaines River Canoe Marathon.

Mikey Minor, marathon start line coordinator, estimates 1,400 people participated in the event in close to 700 canoes.

The first canoes started out at 8 a.m. on the 18.5 mile race down the river to Dam #2 in Des Plaines, Ill.

Results should be posted online within a few days of the race.

Heat 3 takes off from the start:

All photos by Heather Leszczewicz.

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