Jim Dwyer Memorial Parks Run

“I think it’ll give us a bounce,” he says. “Just the
fact that more people will be aware of our event. We haven’t had a big
marketing budget in the past, and I hope we can gain some synergy from
being identified with these events.”

Runners begin and end at lovely Upper Onondaga Park, and
the halfway point of the race is the top of the Woodland Reservoir
hill, which at one time was the highest point in the Mountain Goat.
“The race came about because the Greater Strathmore Neighborhood
Association wanted to focus on our two nice parks, Onondaga and
Elmwood, and raise some money for a good cause. In September 2001 we
lost our connection with Elmwood Park because of construction, so we
decided to change the course and add back the water tower for those
folks who claimed they missed it from the Mountain Goat,” Martin jokes.
“That hill scares some people off, but after they run a few events in
the series, maybe they won’t be so nervous about it. We tell runners
that it’s a very terraced approach to getting to the top, and the
two-mile mark of the race is the top of the hill. Everything coming
back is downhill or level.”

Proceeds from the race benefit Sarah House, a residence
that, much like Ronald McDonald House, provides accommodations for
out-of-town people who have relatives in local hospitals, Martin says.
One reason attendance at this race has suffered in past years is that
its mid-October date clashed with the height of marathon season. “Last
year, the race was on Columbus Day weekend, but scheduling this year is
working out pretty well. I’m sure the running community will chime in
with ideas once they see that the series exists. Give me another 300
runners, and I’ll be happy.”