About 1500 runners, joggers and walkers (along with 68 volunteers) took part in the Mother's Day Classic around Lake Wendouree in conditions ranging from a bit chilly in the beginning to downright dismal about half way around. For those who had made it that far, there was no turning back anyway.

Numbers were slightly down on previous Mother's Day Classics in Ballarat but organisers said that did not dampen expectations of a great outcome in terms of funds raised for breast cancer research, which is ultimately what the annual event is all about.

"It was still fantastic to see so many people come out to support the event," Kay Macaulay from Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast said. "There was no shortage of pink around the lake.

"Our final online registration for the event was 1285 and there were several hundred who signed up on the day."

If the weather scared off a few, others merely took it in their stride or at least came equipped to deal with it.

"Obviously we were well prepared," said Tanya Ellis, who was carrying an umbrella as she walked with daughters Ebony and Jade Ellis. "So, yes, we were expecting this."

Others, dressed in pink capes, relied on super powers to keep dry.

"The cape's not helping much," Brenda Clemens admitted. "But it least it looks good."

The walkers tended to be well rugged up but the joggers and runners generated their own heat, setting cracking times in the more competitive sections of the Classic.

Robert Ellis completed two laps of Lake Wendouree in 44.24 minutes to win the 12km event, with Natasha Fraser (48.19 minutes) the first woman to complete the course.

In the six kilometre event, Dominic Miesen was first home in a time of 25.13 minutes, with Kellie McLeod the first woman (26.33 minutes).

The event was organised by the Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast and Rotary Club of Alfredton, with all profits to be donated to breast cancer research.

Mother's Day Classic was held in all Australian capital cities and major regional centres.