Charleston Parks and Recreation Department hosted a 40-mile relay challenge on Saturday at Carl Sandburg Middle School.

Diane Ratliff, tourism and special events supervisor for Charleston, said forty-eight participants competed in this year’s running relay race.

Ratliff said two participants ran in the “Superman,” running the entire 40 miles alone.

One duo competed and thirteen participants ran in teams of four, Ratliff said.

Ratliff said the best time came in at 3:59.

Ratliff said all participants completed the race with relatively few problems.

“A few dogs on the course caused problems,” she said.

First, second and third places received trophies, Ratliff said.

Kim Wargo and Nathan Powell, both of Charleston, said they competed in the event for the first time as a team.

Powell said the most challenging part of the race were the hills.

“Every leg of the race had a hill,” he said.

Wargo and Powell said they trained for the race for two months in advance.

Abbey Depoister, a junior English major who also competed as part of a team, said she agreed that the hills were challenging.

“It felt like I was climbing some of the hills,” she said.

Megan Westemeier, a senior communication studies major who competed as a part of Depoister’s team, said finishing the race provided them with satisfaction that made competing worthwhile.

“Finishing was our goal, and being able to do that makes you feel good about yourself,” she said.

The funds raised from the challenge will go towards operation costs, including t-shirts, trophies and a meal for participants provided by Smokey’s House BBQ, as well as to provide Charleston residents free programs throughout the year, as well as money towards a scholarship program through Eastern’s Department of Recreation Administration.

Sara Hall can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].