The clouds may have been heavy, the winds blustery and cold, but participants in The Medical Center 10K Classic on Saturday were not daunted by weather or competition as some 2,500 runners hit the streets of Bowling Green for this year’s 30th anniversary race, which included a children’s run.

Click here for more photos from The Medical Center 10K Classic.

“This race is run by people who love to run and run by people who love good health,” said Dr. Carl Kell, a communications professor at Western Kentucky University and a longtime race volunteer.

Good health was what the race was all about for the Hughes family of Bowling Green. The classic was the first race for Alyssa Hughes, 6, a student at Natcher Elementary School and a member of the school’s running club. Encouraged to enter the race by her father, 10K racer Jonathan Hughes, Alyssa finished fifth.

But timing was not the focus for the Hugheses on Saturday. After a severe car wreck 10 years ago, Jonathan Hughes, who finished in the middle of the pack, was told he’d never run again.

“The doctors were wrong,” Alyssa said. “Dad did great today.”

Five-year-old kindergartner Gracie Davis of Bowling Green turned out Saturday to warm up for an upcoming race at Disney World in two weeks. “It’s fun, but my legs are tired,” she said.

Along with the serious runners, some had fun with this year’s Halloween date and dressed in costume. A couple from Owensboro dressed in prison stripes, while others ran as Uncle Sam or Superman. One runner signed in as Frank N. Stein.

Male Grand Master’s winner Barry Ross of Brandenburg has been running the classic for 10 years, winning the category for the past five years.

“It’s always a challenging course, pretty hilly, and I like a hilly course,” he said. “I always enjoy it. The people are friendly. It’s just a great atmosphere.”

Participants in the 10K assembled at the University Boulevard start line south of Houchens-Smith Stadium under threat of rain, placed by seeders according to expected running pace. The 1.5 Mile Fun Walk and the 5K Run started on University Boulevard, next to Western Kentucky University dormitories Meredith and Zacharias halls.

The race was a family event for the Gaveses of Plano, members of a sponsored group from Plano Baptist Church. Joyce and James Gaves were joined in the Fun Walk by their daughter, Carlee, and friend Robert Norman, 82, also of Plano.

“We decided to participate because it’s something great to do as a family and it’s good for you,” Joyce Gaves said. “We’ve had a lot of fun and enjoyed the day with Robert.”

Norman, who ran the 10K, has been running for 40 years.

“I may not be the fastest guy out here, but I’m probably the oldest,” he said.

“Robert is a serious runner,” James Gaves said. “He’s always running the roads around Plano, even when it’s 95 degrees and we are sitting in the air conditioning sweating. He’s a community inspiration.”

Race veteran and wheelchair race winner Chad Johnson, 34, of Charlestown, Ind., was back this year and the first person Saturday to cross the finish line.

“I’m here to have fun,” he said. “I like this race. It’s close, the money is good and I can hang out with my racing friends.”

One of Johnson’s friends, third-place wheelchair finisher Matthew Porterfield of Knoxville, Tenn., agreed.

“For wheelchair racers, it’s a good event. It’s nice for us from a social perspective,” he said. “It’s something we can really feel good about.”

Senior Grand Master Women’s winner Darlene Hoagland, a retired physical education teacher from Owensboro, has run the classic for 25 years. She also runs the Boston Marathon, but enjoys the Bowling Green race just as much, she said.

“This is a great race.” she said. “I just come out every year and do what I love to do – run.”