The Town of Niskayuna will host a Nisky Fall Fun Run Saturday, Sept. 12. The course will begin and end at Niskayuna Town Hall, and will include a 5K run/walk, a 1-mile run, and a 100-yard dash for children. The run will begin at 5:30 p.m., rain or shine.
The Nisky Fall Fun Run was created partially so the community could have a special fall event to look forward to and to replace a beloved community event the DARE Race.
Two years ago, the schools decided to do a different type of program for substance abuse so the DARE program disbanded in Niskayuna, and everyone missed the race,` said Julie McDonnell, a Niskayuna Town Board member and an organizer of the event.
`It was always a fall race and it was always a fundraiser. It was always a community event that was very family friendly. A lot of people enjoyed it,` said McDonnell.
As a runner herself and a Town Board member, McDonnell said she thought it would be a nice community-building tool to hold a race in the fall.
`My goal for this race is to make it a real community building event,` said McDonnell.
She said that she is looking forward to seeing various clubs and organizations participating and that she wants to make it something `very kid friendly.`
`We’re having Radio Disney come, we’re getting door prizes and sponsorships from local businesses. We wanted to start involving the community so we’re hoping that it will continue to grow next year,` said McDonnell.
She said the run is about creating a community event for all ages that involves nonprofit organizations, youth organizations, sports clubs and families.
Participants can register online by using the town’s registration system (http://www.sportssignup.com/niskayunarec.start) or by downloading a registration form from the town’s Web site (www.niskayuna.org) and mailing it to Town Hall. Registration forms also are available at Town Hall in the Office of Community Programs (One Niskayuna Circle in Niskayuna). Race-day registration will be permitted in front of Town Hall from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. The cost of the 5K Run/Walk is $10 and includes a T-shirt for the first 300 participants. The 1-mile run and the 100-yard dash are free.
There will also be race-day registration on site.
`I think with schools just getting back in, a lot of the people are still settling back [into their routines] so we expect to have a lot of same-day and last-minute registrations, but we’re hoping for a good turnout,` said O’Donnell.
For information, contact Lori Peretti, community programs coordinator at 386-4526 or by e-mail at [email protected] .
`We’re hoping for about 300 this year and keep building on that. We’re hoping to get even more spectating and participating in some of the kids’ events,` said O’Donnell.
“