PORT Macquarie Running Festival race director Kevin Chilvers says "Port Macquarie has such a big running culture now."
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It has never been more evident than the 2000 competitors who are set to pound the pavement at this weekend's event.
Chilvers says it can be attributed to Park Run - the five-kilometre run that a large portion of the community complete every Saturday morning.
"A few years ago, to run five kays would have been a big thing," he said.
"We've got such a big running culture now and there's something about the journey of people who take on challenges and that's something we've seen through this event."
Some competitors use the running festival as a preparation for other events later in the year.
"The marathons most people aim for happen mid-year, so to get out there and run a slow 36-kay puts them in a good position for that," Chilvers said.
"But it's not necessarily about the elites, it's about people having a go.
"Some people who complete the Treble Breakwall Buster might be on a marathon journey so once they do that, they can see they can do it."
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