Most races raise funds for charitable causes. The entry fees, plus the contributions of businesses in donating goods and buying advertising, provide the expenses, food, and awards of the event and the proceeds go to the cause. Many walks and runs raise money for health support (heart and cancer are common) and some are for local athletic scholarships in high schools. Some are for communities.
Today's Annual Off-Broadway Run & Walk ( http://www.safe-harbors.org/event.cfm?page=190 )was for community support of "Safe Harbors of the Hudson" in Newburgh in conjunction with St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital. See http://www.safe-harbors.org/ .
The timing of this positive event was apt. Six days ago, the NY Times published "In Newburgh, Gangs and Violence Reign" . On Thursday, May 13, the headline read: "Agents Swarm Newburgh in Raid Against Gangs ". One of the pictures showed FBI agents raiding a house about two blocks from the race registration.
Sometimes a race is more than a fund-raiser. The mayor of Newburgh started both the 1 mile race and 5K races and heartily thanked people for participating. There was a friendly police presence, but that was to handle traffic. The volunteers, bystanders and participants were all enthusiastic. A worthy cause and a worthy event.
How did I do? I tried something different. I entered both races, hoping to get an official sub-eleven minute mile time, rest up for 15 minutes, and then do the 5K (with the expectation of not getting my best time.)
I won both events in the walking division: 10:46 for the mile and 36:26 for the 5K! Got a nifty windbreaker in addition to enjoying being part of the races.
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