Think Pink

Always a strong running town, Syracuse of late has been overrun with cyclists, but we mean that in a good way. Nearly every weekend, recreational and competitive runners alike can find a race within driving distance and of a variety of lengths. The same is starting to be true of bike rides, many of them recreational, but with participants who are no less passionate about their sport. 

Add in the component of raising money for a specific cause, and endurance athletes of all stripes find it hard to resist. That’s certainly the case for the cause of breast cancer awareness. Two events scheduled for this weekend hold huge appeal, and not a little conflict—which one do I sign up for?—while two others at different times of the year fill in the gaps, both in scope and in sport.

Trek Women Breast Cancer Awareness Ride (and Run)

Saturday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m.

Green Lakes State Park (use Route 290 entrance), Fayetteville

Registration is $25 at syracusebicycle.com or active.com

For more information, call 446-6816

Entering its fourth year, this recreational ride—with a new 3-mile run/walk—has grown into the largest by number of participants in the country. While it’s motivational to know that this ride takes place at the same time all across North America, it’s even more important that 100 percent of the money raised will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Silent auctions and raffles will raise additional bucks for the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund. 

“We ride in congratulations for survivors,” says Trish Dugan, co-owner of Syracuse Bicycle, 2540 Erie Blvd. E., “but also in memory of those who didn’t survive. We also ask women who have survived breast cancer who are participating to identify themselves. We do a special ceremony for those women—about 10 to 15—and we have a special gift for them. That’s my favorite part of the whole ride: congratulating them that they are here and survived it and have gone through an incredible journey back to wellness. That they can come out and ride, it’s very heartwarming, great to see.”

Organizing this ride in conjunction with Trek bicycles, based in Madison, Wis., carries a personal component for Dugan as well. “I lost my sister-in-law, C.J. Ryan, to breast cancer 10 years ago; she was my brother’s wife.”

In addition to the camaraderie of cycling the scenic roads around Green Lakes State Park, cyclists can enjoy a goody bag, the chance to win some impressive door prizes and a really tasty lunch afterward from Angotti’s Family Restaurant, 725 Burnet Ave. “It’s fun after a nice ride to get off your bike and fill up on ziti, meatballs and bread,” Dugan notes. “We have a band that comes out. We’ve been lucky with the weather, so we’re hoping for the same this year.”

A family-friendly ride of 10 miles along the adjacent Erie Canal path is another option. Or, new this year, a 3-mile run or walk on the Green Lakes nature trails is available for those who would rather hoof it.

That the event completely benefits the cause is another attraction. “We don’t make any money on this ride,” Dugan says. “This ride actually costs us money: staff time, marking the course, promoting, putting out the maps, food and drink. We meet Angotti’s halfway. Coincidentally, Paul Komanecky, the other owner of Syracuse Bicycle, just found out that his mom has breast cancer. She caught it early, and she’s been involved with this ride since the beginning. It’s a cause that has touched probably everyone in every way, shape or form.”

A Run for Their Life

Sunday, Oct. 14, 

9 a.m. (15K run), 9:10 a.m. (5K run), 9:15 a.m. (5K walk)

Manley Field House, 1301 E. Colvin St.

Register on race day for $35; $15 for students

For more information, visit cmbarunfortheirlife.com or call 672-5288

In its second year, the race committee made the wise decision to link this event with the Syrathon race series, co-sponsored by the Syracuse New Times. This series includes races that include a city of Syracuse park as part of its route; in this case, both venture into Thornden Park. After conquering the storied Thornden hill, the more grueling 15K heads to Armory Square along the Connective Corridor and makes its way back up to the Syracuse University Hill and the finish line at Manley Field House.

“I knew the 15K {9.3 miles} would be challenging to seasoned runners,” says Gary Crisalli, the race director and a runner himself, “and I wanted to bring in the Connective Corridor. The route brings town and gown together. The 5K isn’t nearly as tough and it was easy to make it a walk, which would include a lot more people.”

In its first year, last year’s races attracted nearly 2,000 participants and raised $90,000 for the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of CNY. “We will probably get between 2,000 and 3,500 this year,” Crisalli notes. “A lot of people wait to hear the weather forecast. We got almost 1,000 people on race morning last year because the weather was good.”

Along with runner-friendly foods, such as bananas, oranges, bagels, coffee and new favorite Chobani yogurt, the event features music from Andrew Greacen, who also played at last May’s Runapalooza 5K at Onondaga Community College. “We have a professional sound system this year, so the quality of the sound and the amperage will be up a bit,” says Crisalli. And since this is a Syrathon event, expect some prizes from The New Times doled out to those who sign up at the Fleet Feet Syracuse tent. 

A mere 2 years old, and part of an already-packed race season, the Baldwin run has made its mark. “The board was quite pleased,” says Crisalli, the group’s vice president, “that not only did we propose the race but that it was a great success last year. We feel it’s a wonderful addition to many of the activities that the Carol Baldwin Fund puts out every year.”

Susan G. Komen CNY Race for the Cure 

May 18, 2013

New York State Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd.

5K run/walk; 1-mile walk; 1-mile Kids for the Cure (for children 12 and younger)

Registration is already live for next year: komencny.org

The grandmommy of them all attracts the most runners, has been going on the longest, and raises the most money for the cause. In the early years of the Komen race, it was at Shoppingtown Mall, if you can believe it. Nearly a decade ago, the event moved to the New York State Fairgrounds and it has grown every year since. 

“In the earliest years we had under 1,500 participants,” says race director Deborah Nosky. “Our average annual participation since moving is nearly 7,000. We consistently bring in close to $750,000 a year. That’s certainly gone up tremendously; the first year we raised $90,000.”

Of that money, 75 percent stays in Central New York; $400,000 last year went back to this community to help women who are underserved and to fund support services, Nosky explains. “The other 25 percent goes toward large national research studies, which are providing some of the greatest advances in breast cancer cures.”

Survivor stories are a major part of any of these events, and the Komen race is no exception. Last year, close to 700 survivors participated, and they return year after year. “We always start our day with a survivor parade, both women and men, who come through Chevy Court,” Nosky says. “Last year they carried placards that have their years of survivorship written on them. One that sticks in my mind from last year had one woman holding “Last Treatment Yesterday” walking hand-in-hand with “19-Year Survivor.”

“That truly is a moving part of our program,” Nosky adds. Also poignant to her is the children’s run. “We see a lot of children. We created the event because the first year we were at the fairgrounds, we came across a 7-year-old. The media asked what had brought him there, and he said he was marking one year of his mother’s passing. It was a little discomfiting, knowing he was all alone, that he was out on the course by himself.”

Even though the race is seven months away, the registration site is already up on komen.org. “We really encourage teams,” Nosky says. “Almost 75 percent of the people who attend that day will be on a team, be it friend or family, school group or a community group. You can register now or you can volunteer now.”

Gillie Girl Sprint Triathlon

July 21, 2013

Half-mile swim, 14-mile bike ride, 5K run

Gillie Lake, Ike Dixon Road, Camillus

gillie-girl.com

Triathlons are all the endurance event rage these days, so accomplished triathlete competitor and coach Eric Prager decided to organize one in memory of his mother. Carol Prager died from the disease in 2008. She founded Women Supporting Women in the Chesapeake Bay region to help newly diagnosed women.

 

“Her organization is just as big back home as the Baldwin Fund is here,” points out Prager, who is a partner in Endurance Monster, 11 Fennell St., Skaneateles. “But I am living in Syracuse, her organization is on the Dalmarva Peninsula. I can’t do a race up here to benefit my mom’s organization down there, and hers being a homegrown organization, and the Baldwin Fund being a homegrown organization, it all fell into place.”

With the idea of introducing first-timers to the sport, although seasoned veterans were certainly welcome to compete, Prager hit upon the perfect venue through a co-worker. “One of the guys that works with me had mentioned Gillie Lake, and I had never heard of it, so I checked on it and as soon as I saw the location, I was floored.”

With its non-threatening, spring-fed lake (more like a pond) with a lot of nearby shoreline, and flat bike and run courses, Prager knew he had found a winner for the newbies out there. And the women responded. “I had 325 slots but almost 360 women raced because we had 17 relay teams. And we had a lot of people that had never raced before, who were doing it because it was a Baldwin Fund event. Only 58 people out of those 360 were USAT (USA Triathlon) members. I would never have guessed that.”

And like running, the triathlon calendar fills up pretty quickly. “There are a lot of triathlons up here, so how do you get exposure for the sport? You have to do something that’s going to get attention. We ended up having a huge contingent from Pine Grove Country Club that came in and did the race, had a huge amount of women from the town of Camillus. We developed a lot of energy in the community.”

Not only did a lot of energy result, but Gillie Girl also raised $19,000 for the Baldwin Fund. “It was an incredible event; it wasn’t something I expected,” Prager adds. “It put things in a completely different perspective for me: the volunteers, the races, the town of Camillus, where Carol Baldwin lives, we had so much support. My goal would be to use the same race site, and guarantee $25,000 raised each year for the Baldwin Fund. That would be perfect.”