In spring 2010, Megan Weeks was deep into her training for Worcester’s inaugural half marathon when she felt something wrong with her foot. The diagnosis: She had suffered a stress fracture and had to bow out of the race.

“I signed up to challenge myself,” said the 29-year-old Princeton resident. “I wanted to accomplish running 13.1 miles but never got the chance. I was bummed.”

After taking a break from racing, the now mother of two is ready for redemption. She’ll be lining up with nearly 1,500 of her fellow runners June 15 for the Worcester Running Festival to finally run her first half marathon. The race, which is back after a one-year hiatus, will be bigger and better than ever this year ~ complete with a 5K and 1K youth run.

“It’s a great chance to get to run in downtown Worcester,” said Worcester Running Festival Race Director Charles Breagy. “The common is a fantastic place to stage a race.”

When Worcester was looking for someone to bring the half marathon race back to the city, it turned to Charles Breagy, a man known around town for his ability to put on a great event (he is the brains behind Worcester’s Celtic 5K, Monster Dash and Jingle 5K). Breagy, who ran with Central Mass Striders back in the 1980s, jumped at the chance.

“I know how appreciative the runners in Worcester are if you do your best to organize a good race,” he said. “The support I have seen so far is very encouraging for me and my team to organize races in Worcester. I have found it easy to organize events here because of the cooperation from the city and the volunteer groups that help out at these events.”

Something runners will also appreciate of Breagy: his commitment to finding a great course, which, according the race director, is mostly flat. “It took months to find the perfect course,” he said. “There is a hill early in the course, around 2½ miles on Salisbury Street. The rest of the course is pretty much flat. I am very pleased with how it turned out.”

The Worcester Running Festival is closely aligned with the city’s Mass in Motion initiative ~ a mission to get city residents more active and eating better ~ and a step toward Worcester’s goal of becoming the healthiest city in New England by 2020. Breagy is hoping that the festival will grow exponentially and that adding a 5K and a 1K youth run will encompass a wider range of individuals.

“Not everyone can go out and run 13.1 miles,” said Breagy. “The 5K runs are fun and good exercise for those trying to keep in shape. A half marathon takes a lot more effort.”

For runners like Weeks, it’s all about getting outdoors and having fun. “I’m looking forward to exploring the city on foot ~ an uninjured one,” she said. “And to finally crossing that finish line.”

For more information and to register, visit runworcester.com

By Kimberly Dunbar