Gardiner 5K runners weather the elements

By Gary M. Ayd
Posted 7/24/19

The day threatened to cause all types of problems for being outside: overbearing heat? Check. Oppressive humidity? Check. Off and on heavy and moderate rain? Check too. This was the tail of the tape …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Gardiner 5K runners weather the elements

Posted

The day threatened to cause all types of problems for being outside: overbearing heat? Check. Oppressive humidity? Check. Off and on heavy and moderate rain? Check too. This was the tail of the tape facing the 225 registrants leading up to the Gardiner 5K run last Thursday at George Majestic Memorial Park.

The event was rain or shine, and as it turned out, the rain turned into the day’s biggest blessing. Right around the scheduled opening time of 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, the rains, which had been going most of the day suddenly stopped, just in time to get in a mostly dry race. And in their wake were much cooler temperatures and significantly lower humidity than had existed before.

“I think runners would much rather run in some rain than in the heat,” Donna Lyons, one of the race’s organizers said. “That said I do think the rain scared off a few.”

Lyons was referring to the slightly down, but still strong registration count and runner turnout, which this year stood at 225 and 175 respectively. The first number, according to Lyons was down from an average of around 300 in previous years.

July 18, 2019 marked the 17 annual running of the Gardiner race, and this year, local resident and area public address announcer Ray DelCotto provided the announcing.

“I live right around the corner and they asked me to do it this year, so I volunteered,” DelCotto said shortly after completing the opening announcements.

The race, which was won by New Paltz resident Riley Brutvan with a time of 16:30, began at the park, before heading around Sandhill Rd, turning onto the nearby Rail Trail and looping around before completing back at the park. There were two water stops provided along the path.

“It was nice to win,” Brutvan said. “I run here all the time so I think that really helped me today.”

Runners, joggers and walkers came from as far out as Tucson Arizona with several coming up from Brooklyn and New York City. The proceeds of the race go to benefit the Gardiner Fire Department.

The top female runner was Amy Cole who finished 7 overall with a time of 19:09.