Thousands of residents and visitors took to the streets of Honolulu as part of the Great Aloha Run between Aloha Tower and Aloha Stadium today.

Under cloudy skies and humid conditions, the 8.15 mile run got underway just before 7 a.m. with military runners in formation and wheelchair entrants. The rest of the pack started at 7 a.m.

Brandon Laan, of Ontario, Canada, won the event with a time of 41 minutes and 53 seconds; and Lanni Marchant, of Okemos, Mich., was the first female finisher with a time of 47:40.

According to the event’s organizers, 27,233 people signed up for the run while 23,254 people crossed the finish line. Participation was up about 3,000 from last year’s event, organizers said.

This is the 27th year for the run, which raises fitness awareness and money for charity.

Several road closures were in effect this morning downtown and along Nimitz Highway, Dillingham Boulevard, Kamehameha Highway, Center Drive, Radford Drive, Kamehameha Highway and Salt Lake Boulevard.