MANSFIELD — At least 2,5000 fans of running and the Shawshank Redemption rolled past five sites used in the movie on Saturday morning.

The second annual Shawshank Hustle snaked seven kilometers through downtown Mansfield, beginning and finishing at the most famous Mansfield movie site, the Ohio State Reformatory.

“I just am a fan of the movie,” said Ben Behm of North Olmstead, who sported prison inmate’s attire. “My wife and I did this last year, and we came back to run it again.

“(The costume) was easy to find, just stripped shirt and striped socks were the thing to do. We just thought, ‘we’re at a prison, why not dress like a prisoner.’”

The hill going up North Main Street proved to be a challenge for numerous competitors.

“It was a tough run, we don’t have hills like that in Columbus,” said Jim Cleary, who hails from the state capital.

He runs with a group and that arrived together for the event.

“I came for the hardware,” Cleary said. “We like the medals, came last night and took the tour of the prison.”

Cleary said he enjoyed the pace-runners who ran holding signs of the runner’s times. He said that made it easier for him to know how he was doing during the seven kilometers.

He said he has yet to see the movie as a whole, “just bits and pieces late at night.” But he is excited to go back and finish it after seeing some of the sites.

Erica Shelton ran with her cousin and her mother. She said they were big fans of the race and being from the Cleveland area, the chance to run around settings of a movie they all enjoy was too big of an opportunity to miss.

“This just seemed the perfect length — not too long, not too short,” Shelton said. “We are big fans of the movie, and we always wanted to come see (OSR). It’s just really fun. A perfect event.”

For Erica Caodwell, a resident of Cincinnati, Mansfield is still her home. Last year when she heard of the Shawshank Hustle she knew she wanted to participate.

“I’d never toured the Reformatory, and being from Mansfield, that was the draw,” Caodwell said. “I’ve watched the movie, I didn’t know it was filmed in Mansfield. But there was one scene when the go over the hills, and I said ‘That’s home.’

“Going along Main Street they have Brooks’ wall. It’s really cool.”

Shelton agreed the Shawshank tour was cool.

“As I was running, I was like ‘Oh yeah, that’s cool,’ and kept running, but it was really cool because you get to see the layout from the movie. I’m really excited to tour the Reformatory.”