It was fun, and healthy, for a lot of girls in Cayce Saturday morning.

On a sun-filled morning, close to 900 runners, 500 of them participating girls, accompanied by running buddies and coaches, took part in the Girls on the Run Columbia spring 5K at the Historic Columbia Speedway.

Participants ran and walked the 3.1-mile course that snaked through neighborhoods around the speedway, and ended at the race track.

The run is the climax of Girls on the Run’s spring season. It includes a 10-week life skills program for girls in grades third-through-eight. Girls on the Run coaches with 36 teams from 33 schools participated.

Also on hand were more than 200 volunteers who offered water stops and cheers for the runners.

Girls on the Run also has a fall season. Training for it begins in September. To learn more, register or volunteer, visit https://www.gotrcolumbia.org/