Despite rainy and foggy conditions, 141 hardy runners completed the 8th annual Strathmore Parks run on Sunday.
The four-mile race that started and finished in Onondaga Park, included an uphill segment to the Woodland Reservoir water tower at the half way point.
Male and overall winner Richard Terpening (24:03) and female winner Maggie Mocete (28:23) each set course records.
Terpening, a Westsider, won for the 4th time, while Mocete, a senior at Corcoran High School, picked up her first Strathmore victory. Each received a carved glass trophy from Syracuse Glass Company.
Following the adult race, 25 children ran and laughed their way through the Kids Fun Run.
The Parks Run was the 4th race in the Syrathon 2009 Race Series, a series of five road races through city parks and along city streets that total the distance of a marathon race. The series, designed to encourage healthful, physical activity year-round while promoting the sights and sounds of city life will conclude with The Eastwood Park to Park Run on Oct. 18.
All the runners in the two races were treated to Gannon’s Homemade Ice Cream after the race.
The race was also aided by support from the Jim Dwyer Memorial Fund, a fund that honors the late Mr. Dwyer through contributions to support many worthwhile community efforts, including an annual scholarship for a college-bound senior at Corcoran High School.
Proceeds from the race benefit the Greater Strathmore Neighborhood Association and Sarah House.
History of Sarah House
Sarah House started out as a dream for Mary Keough. Mary and Dick Keough were walking in their neighborhood in the summer of 1992. While walking they met Father John Ahern, who told them about an available house belonging to the parish. Father Ahern asked did they have any idea on how the house could be used. Mary had the idea of housing families of patients because of her experience with her nephew. Her nephew, Billy Johnson, had gone through a bone marrow transplant in New Hampshire and her sister and brother-in-law needed a place to stay during the three-month period.
Billy was the driving force and inspiration behind getting Sarah House started. Mary, Billy and Father Ahern began their work. Father Ahern set forth to secure a loan. Mary and Billy did the needs assessment by providing the documentations, and proving the critical need for a hospital hospitality house. — from the Web site sarahhouse.org.
