PORT Macquarie Running Festival organiser Kevin Chilvers couldn't help but feel proud with what he saw when he walked around town on Monday morning.
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Twenty-four hours earlier, the concrete path joining Port Macquarie's Town Green, breakwall and Westport Park was a hive of activity as just under 2000 competitors pounded the pavement.
They were all taking part in the ninth instalment of the Port Macquarie Running Festival.
"It was really cool to go around and see people still walking the breakwall and in the shopping centres wearing Port Running Festival t-shirts and Treble Breakwall Buster finisher shirts," Chilvers said.
"A lot of those people were all out of towners so we've done a good job at creating a significant event that has that sort of attraction."
Chilvers said the 2020 event was held in more comfortable running conditions than those in previous years.
"We did well with turning the temperature down with the weather," he said.
"We've gone through the ash cloud from the fire, we had stifling humidity and then had a period of deluge with rain.
"Looking into the weekend, huge storms were forecast which put fear into the runners but other than a light shower on Sunday morning in the half-marathon and a bit of coolness in the air we did well."
Next year's event will mark a decade since it started and Chilvers said they were already starting to prepare to celebrate the milestone.
"We may do more of a celebration for all those who have done the 10 events," he said.
"John Lawrie has quite proudly run all nine half-marathon events and that's something he signs up to do and puts his best foot forward every year."
Chilvers said over the weekend they raised funds for the Tour de Cure, the Indigenous Marathon Foundation and the Lake Cathie Fire Brigade as well as the Port Macquarie Dragon Boat Club.
"Each one of those groups are receiving funds in turn for their support," he said.
Next year's event has been locked in for the weekend of March 6 and 7.
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