The 41st Annual Wesson Memorial Run hosted today

This Independence Day started off on the humid side but the steamy weather didn’t keep people from getting out and running in the 41st Annual Wesson Memorial Run.

More than 400 runners laced up this morning for the 2 mile run.

The kids’ course was only a quarter of a mile.

Many of the participants showed up in their red, white, and blue — eager to get in a good run before indulging in any Fourth of July cookouts.

The Wesson Run is a partnership between the YMCA in Ocean Springs and the Gulf Coast Running Club.

It’s a major fundraiser for the Y’s scholarship fund.

“All these runs are health runs and we promote health its great exercise, great way to keep your weight down, and its a part of the YMCA — one of their fundraisers programs supporting the Y — they do such tremendous work throughout the community,” Leonard Vergunst, the race director of the Gulf Coast Running Club, said.

“This is my first community race in a while just to see what type of shape I’m in, but I have done a lot of high school races, a lot of college races coming up,”  Gary Mata, the first place winner, said. “Just try to run any chance I really get, to be honest”

The memorial run honors the memory of Ray and Ann Wesson, who were huge YMCA benefactors that tragically died in a plane crash more than 40 years ago.