More than 700 runners trekked along the O'Keefe Rail Trail on Sunday as part of the O'Keefe Challenge.
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Now in its third year, the challenge raises money for the Heathcote Dementia Alliance to assist with the creation of a state-of-the-art facility.
Race director Nigel Preston said it was a tremendous day.
"We are really luck in Bendigo and Heathcote to have this track and it's just so good to be able to share that with people," he said. “We finished at the oval in Heathcote for the first time which was a great setting for the finish.”
There were 114 starters in the marathon and 120 in the half marathon while other particpants entered in 5km, 10km or walking events.
Bendigo athlete and former triathlete Leon Griffen won the marathon in a time of two hours and 35 minutes - the marathon world record is two hours, two minutes.
"It was his first attempt and Leon did super well," Preston said. "Our course is pretty tough, there's varied terrain and gravel for most of it, and the second half is gradually up hill."