The weather was only in the mid-40s but the 2,500 or so runners who descended on Jefferson Saturday morning for the start of the Market to Market Relay/Iowa called it a perfect day to run.
Teams with catchy names and running attire, like the Road Kilts of Norwalk and the Great Gatsbys of Marshalltown were among the 325 teams registered for the third annual 75-mile relay race from Jefferson to Des Moines along the Raccoon River Valley Trail and suburban trails from Waukee into the Court Avenue district.
Area residents who joined the fun at the starting line on the south side of the courthouse got a good view of a drone taking video of each wave of runners.
The big pink gorilla that started each wave with a blast on his trombone, aka Jason Bakewell, is pictured landing the drone for aerial videographer Michael Wilson. John Brunow and his sidekick Java are watching.
The video will be posted soon on the race website at iowa.markettomarketrelay.com