| November/December 2002 Newsletter |
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Ithaca 5K Series Wraps Up
The Ithaca 5K Race Series is a work in progress, but in its inaugural year organizers declared it a success.
The five-race series, which concluded last Saturday, consisted of the following local 5Ks, each donating proceeds to selected charities:
Ithaca Twilight 5K, June 20 - the Kitchen Cupboard Food Pantry.
Moravia Fillmore 5K, July 27 - Power's Library Construction Fund.
Pud's Run 5K, Aug. 25 - Michael A. Padula Scholarship Fund.
Groton Labor Day 5K, Sept. 2 - Groton School District cross country teams.
Zeppy Run 5K, Oct. 19 - Zeppy Fund/Veterinary Care of local shelter animals.
Local road runners could run all or any number of the Series' 5Ks. Each race was scored equally, with points awarded based on finishing position. But running all five races, win or lose, would put you at the best advantage.
"I'd been paying attention to races in our area, and noticed some events were dwindling in numbers," said Chris Getman, the series creator. "I work with the Zeppy Run organizers, and know many of the other race directors: Scott Weeks, Alan Lockett, Todd Mattison and Kathy Troy - all tireless workers. It made me try harder to get this series off the ground on short notice."
Getman also credits Kelly Maule and Tom Murray of the Courtside Racquet and Fitness Club for helping with Series promotions and providing the Series-end awards. The overall male and female winners of the Series each received a four-month membership to Courtside, and a voucher promising free entries for three to five races in the 2003 Ithaca 5K Series.
Any runner who completed all five series races was awarded a voucher for free entry in three races in the 2003 Series.
"It's a cliche that you hear over and over again at road races, but we really could not have done it without the help of Courtside," said Getman, who competes for the Syracuse Chargers. "They have been unique in their involvement with promoting athletic events."
Next year, the Series may add more races, and allow runners options of not entering every single 5K on the Series. Award distribution will be expanded to include a masters (40-49) category, and perhaps veteran (ages 50-59) and senior (60-over) divisions as well.
Organizers also hope to apply more consistent timing and scoring, so that no runner slips through the cracks. And, through expanded promotions, lure more out-of-state runners to the Finger Lakes region by offering reduced fee incentives.
"All in all, the 5K Series was a positive learning experience," said Getman, an elite-level athlete who recently ran the Twin Cities Marathon (the USATF National Championship) in 2:37:37. "We saw considerable increases in participation at the Ithaca Twilight, Fillmore and Pud's Run. Again, it may not be due to 5K Series involvement, but hard work on the part of race staffers.
"Even with inclement weather, the Zeppy Run had 230 finishers. The event raised in excess of $6,000, and will continue to raise money throughout the year. With the 5K Series, our goal was to promote participation and honor charitable interests. This will continue to be our motto," he said.
Drum roll, please. And the Ithaca 5K Series winners are...
John Hylas, 45, of Ithaca was the overall male winner; Karen Grover, 32, of Alpine and Ithaca's Jennifer Whitney, 25, tied for the women's overall title.
Robert Meisner, 59, of Candor and 29-year-old Jennifer Judson of Newfield were the only runners who completed all five Series races.
Hylas, employed by the Cornell University physics department, ran all five series races and scored high in each one. He entered the Twilight 5K on an 11th-hour lark, getting to the evening race at the last minute by running three hours from Binghamton to Lisle, then hitching a ride into Ithaca with a friend.
"The Series was wonderful, and I felt lucky to run all the races," said Hylas, who runs a 5K in the 17-minute range. "It gives us a chance to get out there for a run, with some really nice people. The 5K distance is fun-just a speed workout, and you can easily recover from each one."
But Hylas thinks the last-place finishers are the real winners. "The runners at the end of each race are the most inspirational because they work so hard," he commented. "Those runners should get the first-place trophy, becauses they're doing it from the heart -not to be Number One."
-- Diane Sherrer
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