It was a great morning for a run, jog or stroll as the 8^th annual Wellington Women’s Half and Half-a-Half Marathon took place under pleasant conditions on Saturday morning.

All told, 88 runners took up the challenge of running the half marathon while an incredible 435 women participated in the Half-a-Half event.

While tallies are still being completed, it appears Saturday’s even will raise a minimum of $10,000 for an outdoor project at CML Snider school.

“We are still awaiting a couple of bills but it looks like there is a minimum of $10,000 to go towards the outdoor project from this year, combined with last year that’s $22,000′ Race and event director Lisa Lindsay told the Gazette.

The outdoor project is a Come Alive outdoor learning centre that will be placed on the lower field near the old ball diamond at the northwest corner of the school grounds.

The annual event serves as an opportunity to be surrounded by women of all shapes, ages and abilities all with the same common goal of achieving a healthy active life and the side benefit has been significant upgrades to the CML Snider grounds.

What started nine years ago as a fundraiser for the installation of a new surface for the Lakeshore Track at the school has led to supporting the building of a new sun shelter and the installation of new basketball courts.

Lindsay added the event is only made possible thanks to an enormous amount of community commitment. 

“From Selena Prinzen of CML Snider School Council looking after the water station crews to the Fire Department and Wellington Rotary monitoring the course and participants health and well being to Sandbanks Winery putting on a wonderful race kit pick up venue and our friends and family helping with the race kit pick up, race bag stuffing and all the other activities, all these groups help in making the day a huge success,” Lindsay added.

In terms of top finishers, Hunter Kelly was on the winner of the Half Marathon event, finishing with a time of 1:35:42.

Sherry Moore was the lead runner in the 13 km portion, navigating the circuit in 51:07.

For more information, please visit http://www.wellingtonwomenshalf.com.