Last Saturday was the inaugural Father Fahey/Rick Ferko 10K race and 5K fun run/walk in Harborcreek. The race started and ended at Harborcreek Youth Services on Iroquois Ave. in, well, Harborcreek.
There weren't as many participants there as I would have expected on a nice Saturday morning (race conditions were perfect...cool, but sunny). The registration area was in the HYS gym where participants gathered before the race for pre-race instructions. Then, they led us over to the start (a short walk from the gym) and off we went.
The race was an out-and-back course on mostly back-roads through neighborhoods and winding subdivisions. It was slightly rolling in places and mostly uphill on the way back, but...hey...aren't we all sick of the pancake flat peninsula racing anyway?! (It's good to challenge yourself).
We finished in the field behind HYS. They had dishes of fresh-cut seasonal fruit for post-race refreshments and those seemed to go over big with the racers. I had a couple of bowls myself.
Prizes were awarded in 10-year age divisions, but...with so few racing, almost everyone was a winner. Top prizes were trophies -- age division awards were really cool red mugs like this (with the race logo..not the Harley logo :-).
I was happy that my husband and I both placed so we could get a pair of mugs. I've been using it every day since. I love it so much, I'm considering buying mugs for the Her Times race awards next year (only we'd do something pink and/or otherwise "girly").
All in all...it was a great event. Lots of volunteers on the course, cool shirt, cool awards, nice venue and all done for a good cause (the HYS Spartans football team).
Race results here.
Comments (1)
As the organizer for this event, I appreciate your comments. I'm very glad you had a positive experience and hope you will consider competing in next year's 10K, as well. Our plan is to have coordinating mugs and t-shirts next year, too, but in a different color -- maybe blue. And we'll definitely be bringing back the fruit cups! We're exploring the possibility of moving the race from September to late spring/early summer, to avoid getting lost in the shuffle of well-established autumn racing events. I'll be updating our Web site (www.hys-erie.org/fahey_ferko.htm) with new information as it becomes available. In addition to the 10K run and 5K walk, we'll be adding a 5K run. We hope that adding another event and changing the race date will encourage more participation.
Posted by Nancy Zawadzki | September 30, 2008 12:57 PM
Posted on September 30, 2008 12:57