Race for Hope kicks off with dinner, recipes and coaching
The Capital Region Special Surgery Race for Hope, now in its third year, has always made strides to connect with a wide audience, from competitive runners to casual walkers.
This year, that message is being built upon with some new initiatives. It’s just about nine weeks out from the Sept. 10 5-kilometer run/walk, which is just enough time for those who want to step up their performance to get into shape, said Capital Region Special Surgery’s SarahNicole Mahoney, who is again organizing the race.
There are people who have walked and that maybe ran/walked this year, and this year they really want to run it, she said. `We want to give people as many tools as possible to do that.`
To that end, the Slingerlands medical practice is launching an `8 weeks to your first 5K` training program, which will be kicked off at a special `5Kourses of White Management` fundraiser Wednesday, July 13, at Central Steak.
Two coaches will be working with participants: Brett Sears, who will be holding Wednesday night group runs at The Crossings in Colonie, and Jerry Abdelnour, who will be running Saturday mornings in Cohoes. Both will be at the kickoff dinner and throughout the lead up to race day for advice and training.
But when it comes to fitness, just as important as physical training is eating right. That’s why White Management, which runs Central Steak, CREO, Bountiful Bread and Mangia, will be having its chefs release recipes for healthy dishes in the weeks leading up to the race. The upcoming event at Central Steak will feature five of these.
`White Management is proud to support the Capital Region Special Surgery Race for Hope,` said Brian White, vice president of White Management, which has fielded a team in the past two runs (Brian White actually is the defending race winner). `The race provides a wonderful opportunity for the business community to work together to support critical services to the Capital Region.`
Some of the dishes in store for diners include a lemon-pepper roasted salmon fillet with ginger-infused vegetables and sweet soy glaze and grilled pizza topped with grilled summer vegetables like asparagus, zucchini, eggplant, red onion and tomatoes from Jim Franklin at Mangia; a Circassian chicken-walnut salad from Josh Alcott at Bountiful Bread; and a mouth-watering Balsamic Chicken and Succotash from Central Steak’s own Chef Dave
For those who aren’t interested in running, CRSS wants to emphasize that walkers are welcome. Those who want to walk, including families with younger children or strollers, are invited to join the `Walk With Ronald` team, which will be headed by Ronald McDonald himself.
`Since day one, we’ve always wanted to make it inclusive and get as many people involved as possible,` said Mahoney.
For the competitive runners, this year’s race will feature chip timing.
Last year, about 500 turned out for the Race for Hope, which starts at the Special Surgery offices on New Scotland Road and loops through Slingerlands. Both past races raised about $50,000 each, and donations this year will again benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region and a patient fund at St. Peter’s Hospital.
CRSS assumes the cost of running the race itself, so donations all go towards these worthy causes.
Tickets for the 5Kourses of White Management fundraiser are $35 and can be ordered ahead of time online or by calling Chris Turner at 438-2655, or can be purchased at the door. The event starts at 5 p.m. Central Steak is located at 1632 Central Avenue in Colonie.
For more information, to donate or to register for the race, visit raceforhopealbany.com.
“