Mothers, children, families, students and seasoned athletes alike crowded the J Street entrance of Sacramento State today for the 12th annual Run to Feed the Hungry marathon.

Organizers of the event hope to raise between $400,000 and $450,000 for the Sacramento Food Bank, said race official Mark Sumner.

“We’re expecting at least 18,000 people,” Sumner said. “The race has gotten bigger every year.”

Race participants wound their way through either a 5-kilometer or 10-kilometer course, both of which ended at the Scottish Rite Temple across the street from Sac State. Some were not timed, and some younger participants rolled through the course in strollers.

Many of today’s participants were Sac State students.

“I thought it was really fun and it goes to a good cause, so why not?” said senior Jenna Duale, a communications major. This was her fourth year as a participant. “This is definitely something I want to keep as a tradition, something I keep coming back and doing.”

Duale rows for Sac State’s crew team and said she first started the race after her coach encouraged her to participate. She beat her previous time by about one minute, finishing the 10-kilometer run in 54 minutes.

Last year’s first place overall participant was 31-year-old Simon Sawe, whose time was just over 29 minutes, according to the Run to Feed the Hungry website, http://www.runtofeedthehungry.com.

Others were less concerned with their performance.

“Since I don’t know how much of my money goes toward (the food bank) I know it helps, but I’m here more for the experience,” said undecided freshman Lianna Winternitz. This was her fourth time participating in the race.

The start of the race has been held at Sac State since 1999, according to the Run to Feed the Hungry website.

Mary Chou contributed to this report.

Cody Kitaura can be reached at [email protected]