Port Macquarie Running Festival organiser Kevin Chilvers believes the sky is the limit for the event

On the run with Deeks along the Hastings River

PORT Macquarie Running Festival organiser Kevin Chilvers has set the challenge.

After more than 1300 runners pounded the pavement around the Hastings River on Sunday, Chilvers believes that number will be comfortably surpassed in 2018.

He puts it down to the continued growth of a running “culture” in Port Macquarie.

“We had 700 last year so to almost double that in one year is a fantastic achievement,” Chilvers said.

“I see it continuing to grow and we expect to be up towards 2000 next year.”

Chilvers believes the weekly Park Run events in the Hastings have played a significant role.

“We have people getting out and running five kilometres every week without even thinking about it,” he said.

“A good run culture creates good energy and then that spreads across everyone.

“When that happens you get a positive vibe and we had a positive vibe on Sunday.”

Port Macquarie’s Plodders won the largest team award with more than 100 runners competing across the different races.

But they were joined by runners from overseas.

“One guy travelled from Israel, another came from the UK just to complete the treble and we had another runner who came from Dubai,” Chilvers said.

But the day without doubt belonged to North Coast distance runner Celia Sullohern.

“To win the marathon, then back up and finish second in the 10-kilometre and then win the five kilometre event was a feat people will be talking about for quite some time.”