With a community effort behind it, the Roanoke Canal Trail Half Marathon started and ended without a hitch today.

“Everything was very smooth and right on time,” Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation Director John Simeon said, adding there were no injuries.

Beginning at the Lake Park and going to the aqueduct in Weldon and back, the race this year saw a host of volunteers come out to support the effort and aid 400 runners who signed up for the event.

(Official race results will be posted here and at this site. You may find the complete series of photos on our Facebook page)

At River Road, Boy Scout Troop 238 offered water and Gatorade to the runners. The scouts were also responsible for picking up the cups left scattered by thirsty runners.

The scouts were working on their community service badges. “It helps them learn to be involved in the community and become volunteers,” said Allen Purser, whose son was among the scouts assisting runners.

Behind the race, sponsored by Tar River Running, was the city and county tourism.

Race winner Sean Hamilton, who completed the course in 1:25, comes out ahead of the pack on River Road this morning.

Christina Wells, director of tourism development and marketing for the Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said helpers abounded throughout the race course.

Wells praised area hotels for being accommodating to the runners.

Bureau employees were up early serving coffee before the race and soup made by Logan’s following the event.

Scouts prepare water and Gatorade before the race.

Chris Wicker and a team from First Christian Church were at the Canal Museum while Dan Brown and others were at the Interstate 95 overpass.

Julia Ann Fitts and helpers from First Presbyterian Church set up at the aqueduct. “All of these great people helped make this wonderful event possible,” Wells said, as well as helped make it a quality event drawing people from 16 states and three countries.