Off to the Races-the Fleet Feet 15K-Run Into Buffalo 
 

The third annual Fleet Feet 15K-Run Into Buffalo was a showcase for Masters runners.  Hosting the National Masters Championship for the first time, the race was run on a new course and moved to a totally new location.  With the terminus of the Erie Canal, the Buffalo River and Lake Erie as a back drop this year’s event was a major success.

With over 60 runners competing in the Masters Championship the race showed that aging doesn’t equate to slowing down.  While the overall winner, Jorden Davis ran an event record 46:45, first overall Masters, Paul  Aufdemberge dogged him all the way finishing in 46:53 and last year’s winner Kevin Poole close behind in 46:57.  On the women’s side, Salome Kosgei, of Kenya dominated the field running a very fast 51:59 also an event record, followed by Amanada Lopiccolo in 55:45 and Mary Veith in 56:04.   The new course proved to be very fast and runner friendly.  With 6 water stops and a downhill finish the course was a big hit with all of the entrants.

The depth of the Masters Field was truly amazing with 3 of the top 10 men and 10 of the top 25 coming from the Masters ranks.  Equally impressive on the women’s side with Lori Kingsley taking 4th overall and 5 of the top ten being masters athletes.  Our man’s master’s champion, Paul Aufdemberge also set a single age record for 44 year olds with his time of 46:53.

It was a great day for racing in Buffalo.  The new course and the new setting proved to be very popular with all the runners.  With the proceeds from this year’s event we will have donated just over 1000 pairs of Brooks training shoes to local high school athletes in need.

We are already planning next year’s race and looking forward to hosting the National Masters Championship on Labor 2010.  Save the date, September 6th, 2010.

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Thanks To All Of You

Once again we donated running shoes to local high school athletes.  Runners from Newfane, Albion, Barker and the City of Buffalo received shoes this year. Special thanks to Brooks for not only supporting the race, but for providing us with an opportunity to purchase all of the shoes we need to help these kids reach their running goals. This year we were able to provide runners with the Brooks Switch Training shoe.

We are looking for your input-if you know of a high school cross country program that could use our assistance, please contact us.  Every year we have been able to expand our program to help more kids throughout Western New York.

Running the 15K helps us to help out all of these local high school runners.  When we started the event in 2007 our goal was to use the event to not only promote the City of Buffalo, but also to use the proceeds from the event to have an immediate, positive impact on our local community.  Our goal is to grow the race to the point where we can donate at least 1000 pairs of shoes every year.

Thanks again to everyone who ran in, help with or sponsored our event, you are the ones who make this donation reality.