More than 165 runners helped raise money for the Moab Charter School and the Grand County High School cross country teams during the second annual Moab Autumn Run on Sept. 22. The total raised for 2012 was not yet available, but organizers said last year’s event brought in nearly $5,000.

“We were able to use the proceeds from last year’s Moab Autumn Run to attend cross country meets in Salt Lake City this year,” said GCHS cross country coach Randy Martin. “Giving a chance for our runners to compete against some of the best teams and best runners in the state in Salt Lake was a tremendous benefit to our team. The cross-country team really enjoyed helping with the set-up and organization of this race. But their favorite part was running and chaperoning all the kids in the Kids’ K race; they all thought that was a lot of fun.”

The event, which included 10k, 5k and a kids’ run, followed courses that began and ended at Swanny City Park near the swimming pool. Students in the pottery classes at Moab Charter School created a stamped ceramic medal for every race finisher in all three events, and every runner received a t-shirt, said MCS Director Joe Heywood.

“We hoped it would be a nice fall event, run in the cooler weather, that fits neatly into the Moab racing scene – people can use it as a tune up for The Other Half, or just as another road race in the local calendar of events...,” Heywood said. “Last year was very successful, and we were thrilled with so many runners our first year. My favorite part was the Kids’ K, though. Fifty kids running a half-mile was exciting to see.”

More information about the annual event is available online at www.moabautumnrun.org.

The race directors thanked all the local sponsors who donated to the event.