By Janet Cruz

A sea of purple “Run Like You Mean It” shirts, filled the streets of Lake Havasu City around the island, for the annual Havasu Half Marathon April 15.

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The marathon kicked off with a 3k doggy dash on Friday afternoon, where owners got to enter their pets as well. Saturday, the marathon began at London Bridge Beach at 6 a.m., and later the 5K at 9 a.m.

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The course involved the island and a hike up the London Bridge, then through the parking lot of the London Bridge Resort, until returning back at London Bridge Beach as the ending point.

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Students from the Telesis volleyball team volunteered at designated water stations to help hydrate runners.

“There are 12 of us here so that we can help out but also raise funds for volleyball by volunteering,” said Zoe Hernandez, a Telesis student.

Zoe and fellow volunteers from Telesis serve water to runners at the Havasu Half Marathon. / RiverScene Magazine

RiverScene Magazine

Runners and walkers who completed the entire course, received a participation medal and were treated to a beer garden by Hanger 24 at London Bridge Beach.

80 participants also took part in a virtual half marathon.

Havasu Half Marathon 5K Top Three Results

Winner of the Half Marathon was Dan Kuch of Lake Havasu City. Followed by second place , Michelle Owens, also from Lake Havasu City and third place, by Flagstaff resident Zac Walberer.

The Havasu Healthy Striders (originally the Havasu Health Walk Challenge) is a group under the umbrella of the Community Health Foundation whose goal is to motivate people to get healthy, get exercise by walking and also raise funds by hosting walking events such as this years Havasu Half Marathon Walk and 5k run and  Jingle Bell Walk.

Sponsors included Anderson Auto Group, Hanger 24 the official beer sponsor, and others.

To view entire roster and all participant race times visit https://www.athlinks.com/event/1031/results/Event/1013012/Results