Almost 2000 runners competed in Newcastle's Festival of Running on Sunday in the welcome autumn sunshine.
The event - also called NewRun - includes a marathon and half marathon, along with 10-kilometre, 5-kilometre and 2-kilometre runs.
The course runs along the harbour foreshore and out to Nobbys. The 10-kilometre Hill 2 Harbour run also takes in the iconic and epic Memorial Drive hill.
Event director Paul Humphreys said the event was a mix of high-quality runners and novices.
"It was the best run for many years. We had about 1900 athletes," Mr Humphreys said.
He said Al McCloskey ran a time that enabled him to qualify for the Boston Marathon in the over-70 category.
"He ran that marathon at 60 as well," Mr Humphreys said
He added that organised running events were often about people "setting a goal".
"That gets them training. A lot of people need that motivation - that deadline of a race - to do the training."
While many Hunter people participated, about 60 per cent were from outside the region.
"There was someone from every state, including Tasmania. It's recreational sport tourism," Mr Humphreys said.
"People come to Newcastle, have a holiday, do a run, spend a few days here and go to the vineyards."
