Annual race is making allowances for virus
Event won’t fly in elite runners, to be held in September for 1st time
The Freihofer’s Run for Women 5k still plans to have an elite field for this year’s event, which will be run in September for the first time because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It just won’t be quite as elite as past years.
Race co-director Kristen Hislop said title sponsor Freihofer’s, owned by Bimbo Bakeries USA, is not paying to fly in and lodge elite competitors for the Sept. 25 race in Albany because of COVID-19 concerns.
“With the kind of increase in numbers and the (Delta) variant, we’re not going to be flying in people from around the country, so it’ll be a regional focus,” Hislop said. “We’re really looking to recruit from New York, Boston, Buffalo and everybody in between because there’s some phenomenal talent out on the East Coast.”
The Freihofer’s Run is returning to an in-person race for its 43rd edition, pushed back from June because of COVID-19. Last year’s event was held virtually because of the pandemic.
“The priority for the event and for BBU is safety, and not just safety for the athletes that are coming and running, but also the community, right?” Hislop said.
The amount of prize money is also being reduced. The first-place finisher will get $3,000, down from the usual $10,000.
The rescheduled Freihofer’s Run is taking place close to marathon season. The Boston Marathon, moved from April because of COVID, is on Oct. 11 and the New York City Marathon is on Nov. 7.
“Why not run a 5k two weeks before and make some good money and maybe you don’t run your marathon quite as fast, but hey, you’ve had a nice payday,” Hislop said.
Hislop said about 800 women have registered for the in-person race with another 65 for a virtual race. Registration is $30 for either. The race typically draws more than 3,000 registrants.
“I am not expecting we’re going to have that quote, unquote, normal field, again, because we’ve moved the date,” she said. “We have the college runners who usually will come (in June) who are in their season and the top high school runners, they’re going to be running cross country. But what I’d love to see, because we’re still doing awards for high school teams, I’d love to have basketball teams, volleyball, let’s get the other athletes out here doing a 5k and they can walk home with some nice jewelry.”
Hislop said the race is not requiring competitors to be vaccinated. They will require masks for the Health and Fitness Expo held indoors on Sept. 23 and 24 at The Armory at
Sage College.
Hislop said masks will be given to all race registrants and volunteers. She said runners might be required to wear masks until the race begins, when they can be removed.
“Right now, we’re not to that point yet, of wearing a mask outside, but we want to be prepared and we want everybody participating to feel like they’re OK,” she said.
Until then, Hislop is doing her best to remind people that the race is in September this year. She’s hoping more people will become aware as they return from summer vacation.
“I think they’re going to start looking, ‘Oh wait a second, I didn’t know Freihofer’s was in September,’ ” Hislop said. “’This is great. I’ll do it.’ ”