Elite Energy is already looking toward the 2015 Run Y'Ass Off festival after another resounding success on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Despite the festival having to be scheduled during the school holidays and on AFL Grand Final day to avoid conflicting with other running events, the town once again got behind it.
Race director from Elite Energy, Mark Stewart, told the Tribune that a total of 550 people registered, which although slightly down on last year, was a great achievement considering the scheduling.
"Yeah we were very happy, I mean we had to move it to September this year, and we were competing with the AFL Grand Final, and two big rugby league prelim finals, plus many people were away because of school holidays. So to get that many registrations just shows that people love the event," Stewart said.
"In an event's formative years it's important to get that support especially from sponsors and volunteers so without the involvement Yass Valley Council, Yass Wellness Centre and Classic Constructions we simply wouldn't be able to do it.
"And again there was great volunteer support, you just have to look at our Facebook comments to see that the competitors especially were so appreciative for all the work the volunteers did."
Stewart said the 2015 event would be pushed back to the end of October after all the footy is over and Elite Energy will start promoting the event within the next few weeks.
Event organiser Andrew Douglas, who ran in the half-marathon as Batman, alongside Spiderman (Anthony O'Connell) and Mr Run Y'Ass Off (Andy Minahan) was thrilled with the response from the town.
"We sent the call out that we needed more volunteers, and sure enough the town responded like it always does, we can't thank those people enough because without their help the event would flop," he said.
"And just the spectators out on the dirt roads out the back, for the half-marathon and 14km events, there were people on the side of the road cheering us on like the Tour De France. That's how we know this event is here to stay."
Douglas would like to see more costumes next year and to have a novelty award.
If there was an award for oldest competitor it would have gone to local Val Hanrahan, who ran in the 5km at 80-years-of-age. At the other end of the spectrum, there were a number of infants who competed in the 5km run, albeit in prams, assisted by their parents.
"It is just a great family day and it will only get bigger and better," Douglas said.
The 5km event was the most popular with 150 entrants; closely followed by the half-marathon, which attracted 130 runners; with the 14km and 2.5km fun runs not far behind.
Visit the Trib website to see photo galleries from the day.