The streets of Pottsville were turned into a race course on Saturday for the second Yuengling Light Lager Jogger 5K.
Beginning at 9 a.m., runners from 24 states made their way west on Mahantongo Street after the race was started by Richard L. "Dick" Yuengling, president and owner of D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc.
"All proceeds from the event go to the military, so they are also very appreciative of what you're contributing to them," Yuengling said before blowing a horn and yelling, "Go!"
After heading up Mahantongo, the race continued with an uphill stretch from Seventh Street to 19th Street, north on 19th Street, west on West Norwegian Street, south on 22nd, east on Mahantongo, south on 20th, another hill, east on Howard Avenue, north on 12th Street, then east on Mahantongo to reach the finish line, according to www.lagerjogger.com.
Last year, 2,500 runners took part in the race. Carrie Conway of CK Running LLC, Philadelphia, who organized the event, said, this year, there were 3,000 who registered.
"We sold out in 10 days to 3,000 runners, and I would estimate we had an additional 1,500 spectators, friends, family and people from the community," Conway said. "It's awesome."
Conway said, last year, the event sold out in about five and a half weeks.
"It's great," she said. "We have some awesome vendors, everyone from Schuylkill County is really represented, and it looks great. Most people from Pottsville are here with us today."
According to results on the Mid-Atlantic Timing website, there were 2,599 people who ran in the race.
The overall winner of the race was Kyle Price, 26, of Milltown, N.J., who finished the 5K in 16 minutes, 36 seconds.
Price said that he also won the race last year.
"It was good," Price said. "We went out pretty fast. I love it. It's really fun, afterwords and during the race. I love to come back."
Before the race, disc jockey Chad "RC" Gerber from Pottsville radio station T-102 made some announcements about the race.
He said that the youngest person in the race was 7 years old, the oldest was 85 years old and there were runners from 24 states.
There was a post-race block party on Mahantongo Street in front of the brewery until 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
Conway said that more information will be available soon, but registration is now open for the Yuengling Oktoberfest 5K on Oct. 5.
The inaugural Yuengling Oktoberfest 5k Run/Walk event will accompany "Oktoberfest presented by Yuengling" festivities at ArtsQuest Center on SteelStacks Campus in Bethlehem.
For more information about the Lager Jogger, visit www.lagerjogger.com, and for information about the upcoming Oktoberfest race, visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oktoberfestrace.