About 1,300 people toed the starting line this past weekend for the 8th annual Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival Half Marathon and 10K. According to Patrick Hanson, the race director, participation was up 12 percent this year.
Runners came from throughout Missouri, from 30 different states and even from as far away as Canada to participate in this year's run. The course weaved through much of Columbia - giving runners a tour of the city along the Grindstone Creek and MKT Trails.
KBIA’s Rebecca Smith was there and ran the half marathon with her father. She talked with runners and volunteers about the event, and about what keeps them coming back year after year.