Adirondack Sports February 2024

RUNNING & WALKING continued from 17
FEBRUARY 2024 19
■ START OF THE RUN 4 YOUR
LIFE 5K AT SCHENECTADY’S
CENTRAL PARK IN 2023.
those leprechauns 12 and under. The Leap starts
first at 10am, followed by the Shuffle at 11am.
Register: zippyreg.com.
On Sun, March 30, the 15th annual Schenectady
Firefighters Cancer Foundation’s Run 4 Your Life
5K Run/Walk will welcome you to Central Park
in Schenectady. In commemoration of reaching
of a milestone of 15 years, which nearly half of 5K
events nationwide do not reach, the foundation
has added several exciting facets to this year’s
race. Race director John Daniel Falotico, certified
through Road Runners Club of America, shares
that it’s certified and sanctioned through USA
Track & Field, the governing body for distance
running, and is the starting event of the USATF
Adirondack 2024 Grand Prix Race Series.
Once an event attended by a few score runners,
the Run 4 Your Life 5K has grown to nearly
700 runners and boasts participants from nine
different states. Offering open competition, age
group awards, open team competition, and a
Kids Fun Run, all events are for the prevention
and support of firefighter cancer. A new team category
composed exclusively of First Responders
will hit the pavement along with hundreds of
other runners. As in years past, participants will
take part in the ChowderFest following the run.
Serving as the largest fundraiser each year for the
foundation, the R4YL allows the it to provide preventative
screenings, decontamination cleansers,
and various types of Personal Protective
Equipment to its members. For those who choose
not to run, opportunities for spectators to attend
ChowderFest and the post-race awards party
ensure that everyone will be a part of the fun and
magic that is the R4YL. Sign-up: zippyreg.com.
Also on Saturday, March 30, is the Albany
Rowing Center’s 14th annual Ice Breaker
Challenge 5K, a one-of-a-kind race challenging
runners and walkers against rowers from Albany
Rowing Center. Runners and walkers will travel
along the Corning Preserve’s paved recreation
path while rowers from the Albany Rowing Center
will race alongside in shells on the Hudson River.
It is also a major fundraiser for the Albany Rowing
Center, helping the ARC to expand access to rowing
and to the Hudson River for community members
of all ages. Come join them for this unique
and exciting event at the Albany Rowing Center
Boathouse in the Corning Preserve. Participants
can win unique prizes from local merchants. Prior
to the 5K, there’s a free 0.5-Mile Kids Run for ages
10 and under. Register: runsignup.com.
Mona Kulkarni Caron (mona@adksports.com)
is a contributing editor at Adirondack Sports,
race director of the Good Karma 5K, and a
program manager for the NYS Canalway Water
Trail at the Erie Canalway National Heritage
Corridor. She enjoys running, bicycling,
paddling and all outdoor activities.