Last year, 2,290 athletes finished the Ashland Marathon. This year, the number of runners crossing the finish line was \( 10 \% \) lower. How many athletes finished the race this year?

This year, if the number of athletes was 10% lower than last year’s 2,290, we first need to calculate 10% of 2,290. This equals 229. Now, subtracting this from last year’s total gives us: \( 2,290 - 229 = 2,061 \). So, this year, 2,061 athletes crossed the finish line in the Ashland Marathon! In running events like marathons, the number of participants can fluctuate due to various factors such as weather conditions, race popularity, and even the economy. Factors like these can affect how many people sign up, possibly even challenging organizers to adapt their strategies in attracting runners or improving race experiences to boost future participation.