NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — More than 4,000 runners hit the streets of New Haven Monday morning for the 46th Annual Faxon Law New Haven Road Race. Some of the best distance runners in the country participated, and so did some familiar faces from News 8.

Labor Day in New Haven always starts with the Kid’s Race because the Faxon Law Road Race is all about families being together, like Eric Heath and his 11-year-old son Logan, who both ran the 5K.

“I love it. It’s flat, it’s easy,” Heath said. “It’s a home course, and I’m excited to get my son involved.”

“My dad said it was pretty flat, and that’s what I like running, the flatter courses,” Logan said.

News 8 asked if he would run alongside his father or try to beat him.

“I’m going to try to beat him,” he said.

It’s tough to beat the impressive field in the National Championship 20K race. It included seven former Olympic athletes.

“We’ve, of course, had former Olympians and future Olympians, I’m sure,” race president Michael Dolan said. “This is a really strong field.”

As impressive as some of the runners are and as much fun as it is to run the race, this year’s biggest comeback story is someone working behind the scenes. John Bysiewicz, an athlete himself, has been the road race’s director for years. He was hit by a car while biking in Guilford last November. He lost part of one leg and is lucky to be alive.

“I was in a hospital bed for almost two months, and then, at the beginning of this year, I was able to get a prosthetic and start walking with a prosthetic,” Bysiewicz said.

He used a walker until February. Now, he is walking around independently and in charge of everything, just like before.

“I walk a couple miles every day,” said Bysiewicz. “I try to make sure I’m trying to get a little bit stronger and a little bit better every day.”

It was an exciting end to the men’s Championship 20K. It was a photo finish with Utah’s Clayton Young just edging out last year’s winner, Conner Mantz, with a time of 59:15.

On the women’s side, Emily Sisson of Providence, the North American record holder in the marathon, won with a time of 1:06:09, 30 seconds ahead of second place Ednah Kurgat.

In the men’s 5K, it was local New Haven runner Travis Martin with the win.

“It was fun to sort of go up, and it was the first time racing on the roads in about five years, so it was a good experience,” Martin said.

Also running the 5K were News 8 anchor Laura Hutchinson, chief meteorologist Gil Simmons, senior producer Jon Rosen, studio camera operator Ben Bruson, reporter Kent Pierce and video journalist Kevin Pflaumer, who ran his first-ever road race at age 60.

Good job to all the finishers! Click here to view this year’s results and learn more about the event.