Families, friends cheer on runners at OUC Orlando Half Marathon

PRESENT, FOR THEIR SERVICE. WELL, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BRAVED THE HUMID AND MUGGY WEATHER THIS MORNING WHEN THEY TOOK OFF FOR THE ORLANDO HALF MARATHON AN IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN 47 YEARS THAT THE RACE WAS AIRED LIVE RIGHT HERE ON WESH 2 NEWS. OUR SENAIT GEBREGIORGIS SHOWS US HOW THE RUNNERS STAYED THE COURSE AS. GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO. THE START OF THE 13.1 MILE RUN KICKED OFF AT 715 SATURDAY MORNING. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TOOK PART IN THE ORLANDO HALF MARATHON. THE WEATHER MIGHT HAVE BEEN COMFORTABLE FOR SPECTATORS, BUT FOR RUNNERS, STAYING HYDRATED WAS A MUST. THE CHEERS AND WESH 2 SIGNS HELPED THEM STAY THE COURSE. GOT PETER. YOU GOT IT. LET’S GO. LET’S GO, PETER. LET’S GO. COME ON, PUSH IT. TWO MORE MILES. YOU GOT IT. NOT EVEN THE GRINCH COULD RUIN THE SPIRIT. I LOVE YOU GUYS. I WATCH YOU GUYS EVERY MORNING. THIS MOM AND DAD SURPRISED THEIR SON NICK AFTER MAKING A TWO HOUR ROAD TRIP. COME ON, NICK. GOOD LOOK ON HIS FACE WAS PRICELESS. I WAS HAPPY I WAS A RUNNER WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, SO IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART. I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE HE HATED RUNNING. HE’S ALWAYS BEEN A SPRINT RUNNER, SO FOR HIM TO DO DISTANCE WAS A BIG CHANGE. THE LITTLE ONES CAME WITH BIG ENERGY. WE’RE OUT HERE SUPPORTING OUR DAD, JOAQUIN. HE’S NUMBER 1313 JILLIAN. YOU’RE GOING TO SEE YOUR DADDY CROSS THIS, CROSS THIS FINISH LINE HERE IN A COUPLE MILES. YEAH. HIS SIGN READ RUN LIKE T-REX IS CHASING YOU. NO MATTER WHAT TIME. CROSSING THE FINISH LINE WAS A WIN. THE FIRST TO SAY IT WAS NO SIMPLE TASK. IT WAS WARM, MAYBE NOT WARM FOR YOU GUYS, BUT IT WAS WARM FOR ME AND I JUST WANTED TO GET A FEEL FOR ORLANDO AT THIS TIME OF YEAR BECAUSE THERE’S A PRETTY IMPORTANT RACE COMING UP. I THINK THAT THE RUNNING COMMUNITY IS SO FUN, IT’S SO SUPPORTIVE. IF YOU’VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, ON THE FENCE ABOUT GETTING OUT HERE AND TRYING SOME RACES, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE IT

Thousands of people braved the humid and muggy weather Saturday morning when they took off for the OUC Orlando Half Marathon.It was the first time in 47 years the race was aired live right here on WESH 2.The start of the 13.1-mile run kicked off at 7:15 a.m. Saturday. The weather might've been comfortable for spectators, but for runners, staying hydrated was a must.The cheers and WESH 2 signs helped them stay the course."Go, Peter! You got it. Let's go," a girl said while cheering on a friend.Not even the Grinch could ruin the spirit. "I love you guys. I watch you guys every morning," a WESH 2 News fan in a Grinch costume said.Related: WESH 2 speaks to winners of the Track Shack Lake Eola 5KA mom and dad surprised their son Nick after making a two-hour road trip. "The look on his face was priceless. I was happy. I was a runner when I was in high school, so it was very close to my heart," said Rich Bartoszek, Nick's dad. "I was surprised because he hated running. He's always been a sprint runner. So for him to do distance was a big change," said Diane Bartoszek, Nick's mom.Related: WATCH: WESH 2 anchors share laughs, sweet moments after completing the OUC Orlando Half MarathonThe little ones came with big energy. "We're out here supporting our dad. He's number 1313," a family said."Julian, you're going to see your dad run in a couple of miles?" one person asked."Yeah," a child responded. His sign read, "Run like (a) T-Rex is chasing you!""Go, daddy," the child said. Related: OUC Orlando Half Marathon: Finish line camNo matter what time, crossing the finish line was a win. The first two runners said it was no simple task. "It was warm. Maybe not warm for you guys, but it was warm for me and I just wanted to get a feel for Orlando at this time of year because there's a pretty important race coming up," winner Reid Buchanan said. "I think that the running community is so fun and so supportive, so if you've been on the fence of trying some races, I highly encourage it," winner Neely Gracey said. Top headlines: FHP: Woman struck, killed in Volusia County Driver rams into Volusia County deputy's car, sheriff's office says Watch WESH 2 coverage of the 47th OUC Orlando Half Marathon

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Thousands of people braved the humid and muggy weather Saturday morning when they took off for the OUC Orlando Half Marathon.

It was the first time in 47 years the race was aired live right here on WESH 2.

The start of the 13.1-mile run kicked off at 7:15 a.m. Saturday.

The weather might've been comfortable for spectators, but for runners, staying hydrated was a must.

The cheers and WESH 2 signs helped them stay the course.

"Go, Peter! You got it. Let's go," a girl said while cheering on a friend.

Not even the Grinch could ruin the spirit.

"I love you guys. I watch you guys every morning," a WESH 2 News fan in a Grinch costume said.

A mom and dad surprised their son Nick after making a two-hour road trip.

"The look on his face was priceless. I was happy. I was a runner when I was in high school, so it was very close to my heart," said Rich Bartoszek, Nick's dad.

"I was surprised because he hated running. He's always been a sprint runner. So for him to do distance was a big change," said Diane Bartoszek, Nick's mom.

The little ones came with big energy.

"We're out here supporting our dad. He's number 1313," a family said.

"Julian, you're going to see your dad run in a couple of miles?" one person asked.

"Yeah," a child responded.

His sign read, "Run like (a) T-Rex is chasing you!"

"Go, daddy," the child said.

No matter what time, crossing the finish line was a win.

The first two runners said it was no simple task.

"It was warm. Maybe not warm for you guys, but it was warm for me and I just wanted to get a feel for Orlando at this time of year because there's a pretty important race coming up," winner Reid Buchanan said.

"I think that the running community is so fun and so supportive, so if you've been on the fence of trying some races, I highly encourage it," winner Neely Gracey said.

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Families, friends cheer on runners at OUC Orlando Half Marathon

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