Melissa Stagnaro
Sun Contributor
NORWICH – Five races remain in the inaugural Run Chenango series, an effort to connect and coordinate the 5K and 10K races organized by non-profit groups across the greater Chenango region each year.
“Our mission is to promote a healthy lifestyle by encouraging participation in the road and trail races that take place across Chenango County, and in the process support the non-profits that organize these events,” explained Ann Coe, who helped start Run Chenango.
Coe chairs the volunteer committee, comprised of running enthusiasts and race organizers including Steve Craig, Brianna Curley, Bill Davidson, Pat Dietrich, Anne English, Gretchen Hoag, Sonya Houston, Whitney McCracken, Steve Pelosi and Simon Solomon.
“It’s really an incentive contest to encourage people to participate in more of the events held locally,” Coe explained. “If a runner participates in five events, they receive a special Run Chenango shirt.”
A total of nine events are included in the 2018 series, which kicked off in April with the Dollars for Scholars 5K in Norwich. The Chenango Arts Council’s Allegro 5K Run For the Arts and the Dan Elwood Memorial 5K benefiting Hospice followed in May.
The fourth race in the series was the Milk Run, a 5K benefiting Relay for Life. Bill Davidson, a Run Chenango committee member, helped organize the event, held on June 16.
“Participation doubled this year,” Davidson said, something he credits to the added promotion of the Run Chenango series.
Five races remain in the series, starting with Chris’ Run in Cincinnatus this Saturday. The race, which includes both a 5K and 10K, benefits the Chris Tennant Foundation.
