Press Releases

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Bridge Run gets big boost from Marathon Project Youth running initiative gets start at 5K race

By Pete Colaizzo, Poughkeepsie Journal

There was a youth movement Saturday at the Dutchess County YMCA Bridge Run 5-kilometer road race. That is, the youths were moving!

The 26th annual race across the Mid-Hudson Bridge attracted 100-plus entrants more than than the 2006 event. Race director Karen Feeley attributes this spike in attendance to a greater number of youth runners entered in the race.

"We noticed a younger crowd,'' she said, "which is nice to see. This race is giving them the enthusiasm and commitment to running.''

Feeley cited The Marathon Project initiative, which used the Bridge Run as their first race, as a big reason for the boost. The Marathon Project is a program that is encouraging and training youths in Poughkeepsie and Beacon to take up running. The project will culminate with the children running in the Philadelphia Marathon and Half Marathon in November.

Feeley said more than 60 entrants - either children or their adult mentors - from the Marathon Project ran in the Bridge Run. "What a great group of kids and adults,'' she said. "They were very helpful, enthusiastic and they really added to the positive atmosphere of the run.''

Phil Shea of Beacon (17:14) and Robyn O'Kare of Cold Spring (19:00) were the overall race winners. A total of 269 runners completed the 5K race. There was also a children's fun run at Eastman Park after the race.

The Bridge Run starts by the toll plaza on the west side of the Mid-Hudson Bridge. The bridge is closed to traffic for a little more than 10 minutes to allow runners to cross into Poughkeepsie. From there, the course loops through city streets and finishes at Eastman Park next to the YMCA.

Because of the increased entries, Feeley said two extra bus runs to the starting line were needed. In all, a total of six busloads of runners were transported to the start. The extra trips caused the race start to be delayed by 10 minutes. But traffic was not closed until just before the start of the race, so motorists were not inconvenienced any more than normal.

"It was a fabulous, beautiful day and everybody was happy,'' Feeley said.

Reach Pete Colaizzo at pcolaizzo@poughkeepsiejournal.com or by telephone at 845-437-4848.