BELLE ISLE (12/31) -- With temperatures hovering near 45 degrees, the Belle Isle New Year's Family Fun Run/Walk offered its 1,000 participants one of the warmest events in its 34-year history. But the blustery, 30-mph winds kept entrants from getting too cozy.

"I had never run a four-mile before, so my 19:10 was a PR," said winner Richie Brinker, 27, of Rochester Hills. "But that wind was horrible. Coming over the bridge on the way back, I tried to bend into the wind, but it stood me straight up three times."

Brinker, a native of Sandusky, ran much of the first mile with his Hansons Olympic Distance Project teammate Mark Menefee, who finished second overall in 19:37. Paul Aufdemberge, a seven-time winner here, took third in 20:38.

`"Mark and I went out pretty hard with the wind at our backs," said Brinker. "By the second mile, I had the lead to myself." Women's champ Leigh Daniel also sported a Hansons outfit and set a PR, crossing in 22:49. "That's a big improvement for me," said the former Texas Tech star.

"Where I'm from in west Texas, everything is windy, so the wind didn't bother me much."

Daniel beat out Hansons teammate and fellow Texan Jacki Rzepecki, 25, from the University of Houston. They ran side-by-side until Daniel took charge at mile two.

"We went out in 5:20 and were flying," said Rzepecki. "Then we came back with the wind in our faces and I stopped flying. But I found my own comfort zone behind Leigh."

Rzepecki finished in 23:22. Monica Joyce, 45, of Pinkney, placed third in 23:57.

Gary Morgan, 43, of Clarkston, and Janet Applebaum, 52, of Oak Park, won the men's and women's four-mile race-walk. "I've done this race about 20 times," Morgan said. "It's always a lot of fun."

In the one-mile, Sean Maxwell, 15, of Walled Lake (5:34) edged Kevin Sherwood, 41, of Royal Oak (5:35) for the men's title. Clair Meernik of Redford (7:41) won the women's race.

Steven Seward of Trenton (6:57) and Jennifer Sathlon (7:53) were children's mile winners.

The event was sponsored by St. John Health, Hansons Running Shops, Tom Waligorski Roofing, Riemer Floors Inc. and Michigan Runner magazine. Hosts were the Belle Isle Runners and Downtown Runners & Walkers. Proceeds went to Special Olympics. MR