LAKE MAC RUN 35 YEARS RUNNING STRONG
The Lake Macquarie Running Festival around the shores of Warners Bay is one of the oldest running events in the athletics calendar and this year celebrates its 35th Anniversary.
Held on the last Sunday of August every year, the event has seen the likes of Steve Moneghetti, triathletes like Kirsten Molloy and local speedster Vlad Shatova take to the course over the years, cementing it as one of the peak athletic events in the Hunter Region.
Event Organiser, Chad Griffith, said this year they will be marking the occasion by recognising some of the runners who have been taking part in the event over the years.
“This year we are acknowledging our Lake Mac Legends, who are runners that have completed the course ten or more times over the years. We have runners like John McCain who have been with us from the very beginning, and at 79 years old, John is still running. It’s awesome.”
“We have been part of people’s running calendar since 1983 in Lake Macquarie, and we’ve seen other events come and go, but the Lake Mac Run has stood the test of time. People love running along the beautiful shores of the lake and we’ve got one of the fastest courses going around, so the times are always quick,” he said.
Mr Griffith said the longevity of the event is also due to continued local sponsorship and support.
“This year we welcome a new naming rights sponsor with Ramsey Health Services coming onboard to support the event. We couldn’t continue to run events of this size, without the support of sponsors and volunteers and we have been very lucky over the years.
“We continue to raise money for the NICU at the John Hunter Childrens’ Hospital with this event, and we love that people of all abilities and ages come along to take part in what is now an iconic event for our region.”
The Ramsey Health Service Lake Macquarie Running Festival will be held on Sunday 25 August on the foreshore of Warners Bay Esplanade, and includes events such as the Pure Performance 21.1km Half Marathon, Coal Services 10.5km Fun Run and Yogurtland 4km Kids Scamper.
Participants can register during as an Early Bird before July 29 and save $10 and score a bonus running shirt. Find out more at www.lakemacrunning.com