Freihofer’s Run for Women set
ALBANY, N.Y. » People can now register online for the 40th Freihofer’s Run for Women.
The annual race that is attended by thousands of people will take place at 9 a.m. June 2 in Albany.
All registrants will receive a high- performance women’s commemorative T- shirt. Other perks include: a box of delicious Freihofer’s chocolate chip cookies; a fresh loaf of Freihofer’s bread; chip timing; live results; printable finisher certificates; free massages; chiropractic adjustments and discounted running gear at the event’s Health & Fitness Expo; live music both around the course and post event; post-race refreshments courtesy of Price Chopper Supermarkets; and, races for the kids throughout the morning.
“Our anniversary years have historically produced the event’s largest fields and we are planning to make the 40th edition special,” Freihofer’s Run for Women CoDirector Patrick Lynskey said in a news release. “So whether you are planning to run on your own alongside our Olympic-caliber athletes or in a team of family, friends or co-workers, we encourage you to register as early as possible so you don’t miss out on what is sure to be a memorable event.”
To help participants get in shape for race day, registration is also underway for the 8th annual Freihofer’s Training Challenge starting Monday, March 19. You can sign up for the 10-week program when you register online for the Freihofer’s Run 5K. Online registration through the 5K registration is the only method of registering for this program. The Training Challenge costs $55 and includes a specific Training Challenge T-shirt; seminars and clinics relating to strength training, nutrition, injury prevention, running form and core strength; and, offers from program partners, including a free threemonth CDYMCA membership, class discounts and much more.
“The Freihofer’s Training Challenge is designed to prepare you to run your best time at the Freihofer’s Run for Women 5K,” said Freihofers Run for Women Co-Director Kristen Hislop. “We offer a beginner program for those who are new to running. Our intermediate program is a great option for those who completed last year’s challenge or want more interval workouts. Our advanced program is for those athletes ready for focused speed and distance workouts. If you are already running five or more miles at a time, this is the track for you.”
Training Challenge registrants select one of the following Training Challenge sites/sessions as their home base:
• Mondays: The Corning Preserve at 6:30 a.m. (until there is morning light and then it will move to 6 a.m.) or The Crossings of Colonie (580 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville) at either 1 p.m. or 6 p.m.
• Wednesdays: at 6 p.m. at Capital District Y branches in Duanesburg (221 Victoria Drive, Delanson), Glenville (127 Droms Road Glenville), Greene County (35 Route 81, West Coxsackie), Southern Saratoga (One Wall Street, Clifton Park) or Troy (2500 21st Street Troy); Founders HIIT & Strength Club (243 Delaware Ave, Delmar); Power House Athletics (14 Walker Way, Colonie); or, Brick House Fitness (18 Drywall Lane, Voorheesville). Five Questions with Kelly Young: Young was recently named the executive director of the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund, which administers the prestigious New York Sire Stakes.
those whomay not know, can you explain the NewYork Sire Stakes?
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of your trustees said you were born into this job. Howhas your upbringing prepared you to take on this role?
I grew up on a horse breeding farm in Goshen in Orange County so there has never been a time that I can remember that I wasn’t conscious of the Sire Stakes program. I have always cared about it and have been deeply invested in it. As a kid, we went to the racetrack and followed the horses that were the offspring of the stallions that we had at the farm. We had to keep tallies of how all of them did at the races, so it’s something I have been passionate about from a very young age.
changes or improvements would you like to see that would grow the sport of harness racing and reach newaudiences?
I think the first thing we need to do is make sure we are always paying attention to our breeders, trainers, and horsemen and women. They are the ones who keep this program going. But we also need to pay attention to the racing fan when we are deciding how we are going to present events. There are a lot of people who are occasional fans, and we need to make sure we are engaging them as much as possible so that they become more than just occasional fans. Making sure that we are always conscious of them when we make plans is the number one thing I think we need to do. Harness racing is an exciting sport with great horses and people to follow, so I think it has a lot to offer the fan.
an award winning harness racing writer. What are your favorite stories to tell?
I just love long format magazine stories and being able to get in-depth and tell the stories of the people and horses in harness racing. Everybody that participates in this sport has an interesting story and it’s just finding that angle, finding that story. When these people open up their life to you and tell you their stories, often with intimate details, it’s really exciting to be able to share that with people. I always feel privileged when people give me that kind of access.
are you looking forward to about this new position?
The folks who created this program many decades ago had an amazing vision of what we need to do to expand breeding and support the people who breed in this state. So I hope I can be one of the people to help usher that through and continue the tradition. It’s exciting to see how committed the Trustees of the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund are to their mission. Working again with the many horsemen, owners, and the breeders who I have a history with, I’m excited to reacquaint myself with them and really get rolling.
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