Runners set off on the final run of the 5 race Winter 5K Series.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Winter 5K Series. Over the course of two months and 5 races, 79 runners braved the bitter cold (and one particularly warm rescheduled race in March!) to run the 5K course in Celoron.
23 runners completed at least 4 of the 5 races, allowing them to place in the age-graded series standings:
1st: Adam Rowe
2nd: Greg Brink
3rd: Stephen Matteson
4th: Tim Gribbin
5th: Jeff Carlson
We would also like to thank our Series Sponsor Howard Hanna Holt, Chautauqua Harbor Hotel for allowing us to use their facilities at races, and the village of Celoron for hosting us. A final thank you must go to the team of volunteers who provided support on registrations and course marshaling throughout the 5 races.
If you missed the Winter 5K and are looking to run, be sure to join us for the Start of the Runner of the Year Series sponsored by UPMC Chautauqua, on Saturday, March 12, 2022 for the St. Patrick’s Dash in Jamestown. You can register at http://www.runsignup.com/stpatricksdash
Enjoy this great WRFA interview with our Mentoring Coordinators Elimelec Perez and Caryle Swanson, where they talk about our mentoring programs, what being a mentor is like, and how you can get involved!
On November 3, 2021, Western Region PTA recognized Chautauqua Striders with their Community Service Award. The award is presented annually to an individual or organization that do outstanding work with youth in Western New York. The Western Region PTA is an organization that supports the work of 28 District PTAs stretching from Jamestown to Rochester.
Striders Executive Director Jen Swan-Leuze remarked when accepting the award “I think, like many others, when the pandemic began in March of 2020, we put our heads down and got right to work figuring out how we could still maintain our services and support the youth of Chautauqua County. Throughout the year, we didn’t really take time to reflect on our efforts. The recognition by Western Region PTA has allowed us the time to look back on and appreciate what we were able to accomplish in trying times. It has also helped confirm our belief that the work we do in our community is relevant, has a positive impact and is necessary in helping youth reach their full potential.”
Since March of 2020, Chautauqua Striders has implemented online access to our services, and supported youth in Jamestown in the previous school year by providing daytime tutors in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA to students who needed somewhere to go on their remote days. In spite of restricted access to schools due to COVID restrictions in the last school year, we were able to provide our services both online and in-person to over 1,000 students in Chautauqua County from 13 different districts through our Academic, Mentoring, Life Skills, Athletic, and North County programs.
Director of Communications & Development Richard Walter added at the award ceremony, “we owe a debt of thanks to our wonderful Striders Team, our partners, funders, parent and students. We are proud to support the amazing work being done by teachers, counselors, principals, and school administrative staff across the county – thank you for engaging with us. A huge thank you as always goes to our volunteers; especially the volunteer mentors who support youth in Jamestown, Southwestern, Falconer, Frewsburg, and Bemus Point.”
If you are interested in volunteering for Chautauqua Striders, either as a mentor or in other program areas, please contact Richard Walter at 716.489.3489, or email richard@chautauqua-striders.org
The 2022 Chautauqua Striders Winter 5K Series begins on Saturday January 8, at Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron. Registration begins at 9:00 AM, with the race starting at 10:00 AM. Runners can sign up for the whole series, or for individual races.
This 5-race series is a 5K run which takes place on the roads of Celoron. Funds from the series support the Athletic Club and Athletic programming at Chautauqua Striders.
The Chautauqua Striders Winter 5K Series is a fun (and freezing!) “age-graded” race series, with races starting and finishing at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel. Age-grading levels the playing field for all runners, just as a “handicap” is intended to do in bowling and golf. It provides the runner with the percentage value of an “ideal” or best time for his or her age and gender. Rankings for the series are calculated using the runner’s best 4 times.
Online registration for the series closes on January 7, and at 11:59 PM on the day prior to each race for individual races. ‘Day of’ registration available for each race and for the series.
Striders are also looking for volunteers to help steward the course. If you are interested in volunteering, or want more information about the series, contact Chautauqua Striders at 716.489.3489, or richard@chqstriders.org
