HERLIFE Magazine - Freihofer`s Run for Women

herlife spotlight
This appeared in the May 2011
issue of Herlife Magazine
www.herlifenewyork.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF FREIHOFER’S RUN FOR WOMEN
Freihofer's Run For Women
By Ann E. Butenas
Photos by J ill Rich ardson of J ill Rich ardson Photography
L
ace up those running shoes and
stretch those muscles! There’s
still time to prepare for the
upcoming 33rd Annual Freihofer’s Run
for Women, scheduled for Saturday, June
4, 2011, at 10 a.m. at the Empire State
Plaza.
Whether you are a seasoned runner
or just a beginner, nothing speaks to fun
more than running with over 4,000 of
your friends. This high-profile race brings
together some of the biggest names in
international running competition, as well
as from the Capital Region and across
the country. When Olympic-level athletes
come together with recreational runners,
it provides hearty competition with the
spirit of friendship and accomplishment.
The thundering applause of thousands of
running shoes against the pavement was
never so melodious.
From the starting line to the finish
line, located on Madison Avenue between
the Empire State Plaza and the New York
State Museum in Albany, this 5k course
promises to be even more exciting than
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years’ past.
New to the event this year is the
10-week training challenge program
based around the Couch to 5k Running
Plan, which is designed to encourage
participants in the race to get in shape
and prepare for the big event with local
media celebrities: Kelly Lynch of
WGY-810 AM, Ann Hughes of FOX 23
News and Jennifer Gish of the Times
Union. This particular training initiative
takes the novice runner from her beginning steps to gradually completing three
miles of running within eight weeks.
As one of the team captains for
the training program, Ann Hughes, an
experienced runner, is excited about
the opportunity to get women involved
and help them to discover their potential
and the feeling of accomplishment as
they cross the finish line, no matter what
their race times might be.
Each training group will spend one
day a week walking, jogging, running or
a combination therein with their team
leader, meeting at The Crossings in
ANN HUGHES
Colonie. Ann, along with two certified trainers, led her team
on its first training event on Monday, March 28th, and she was
pleased with the overall turnout.
“We had more than 100 women come to the first group
run,” Ann enthusiastically noted. “We meet every Monday
evening. We began with a steady one-mile run this first time
out and we will gradually work up from there.”
Ann’s team is a blend of serious runners and those who
are just putting on a pair of running shoes for the first time.
However, camaraderie dominates over experience with this
group of ladies.
“The exciting thing about it is that everyone is cheering
each other on. Everyone is so supportive of each other,” Ann
expressed. “I am really enjoying this opportunity, as it is
helping me spread the word about the joys of running, and I
am making some new friends along the way.”
Event Director George Regan is equally excited about
this training opportunity for the participants, as it is a way for
first-time runners to get into shape and simply experience the
thrill of competing in such an exciting and respected race.
“Through this race, we have hosted 25 national championships for women,” he explained. “In 2005, we opened it to international female runners, with many coming from Europe,
Asia and Africa. What is exciting about this is that road racing
is the only sport where recreational runners can compete side
by side with world-class athletes and champions.”
Even more unique to this event is its “Silver” label
designation. The Freihofer Run for Women is the only 5k road
race in the United States to hold this stamp of approval from
the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF),
which is the sport’s worldwide governing body.
“What that means is that we operate the race to the
highest standards,” said George. “We are one of four races in
the country that have this label.”
The Freihofer’s Run for Women is definitely among
highly-esteemed company, as the only other races that hold
this prestigious label are the Boston, New York and Chicago
Marathons. It is also the only 5k race in the world to have
such a designation.
“We enjoy supporting the U.S. athletes,” noted George.
“And we are thrilled to have the highest level of competition
right here in Albany. It’s inspiring to observe the intensity and
focus of the professional runners.”
Among the spirited individuals who will be participating
in the big event are Tara Yasenchak, 39, and her mom, Kathy
Yasenchak, 63, both of Saratoga Springs, who are entered in
the event’s popular mother/daughter division. This will be the
seventh year in a row this duo has competed together, and it
will be the 15th year in which Tara has run in the race.
“My mom started working out when she was 55 years old
and by age 57, she completed her first 5k event,” said Tara.
“We decided it would be fun to do this race together.”
In their first year of racing together, Tara admitted to slowing
her pace a bit to stay with her mom. By the second year, they
ran together at the same speed. By the third year, however,
things looked remarkably different.
“My mom just left me in the dust,” laughed Tara. “And
she still does!”
For Tara, this race is enjoyable for so many people, and
with the professional runners in
the mix, it really
livens things up.
“It is
interesting to see
some of those
athletes finish the
entire race before
I complete my
first mile, but then
there are others
who are still on the
course after I have
TARA AND KATHY YASENCHAK
crossed the finish
line, so it definitely
hosts a broad range of abilities,” Tara noted.
For Kathy, the race represents a personal sense of accomplishment.
“You don’t have to be a pro or even super-competitive,”
she said. “You can just come out and race for the fun of it and
be a part of something so huge and amazing. I really appreciate
Freihofer’s and all of the event sponsors and coordinators for
giving ordinary women like me an amazing opportunity such as
this.”
More importantly, Kathy appreciates how this race fosters
a strong sense of community.
“So many people come out and support the runners, cheering and providing ongoing encouragement from the sidelines,”
Kathy noted.
For more information on this event or to register, go to
www.freihofersrun.com.
EVENTS AT A GLANCE
(Friday, June 3rd and Saturday, June 4th, 2011)
CAPITALCARE HEALTH & FITNESS EXPO
Friday from Noon-7pm
Saturday from 8am-2pm
Empire State Plaza Concourse
USA OPEN AND JUNIOR NATIONAL
10 KM RACE WALK CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday at 7:30am
33RD ANNUAL FREIHOFER’S RUN FOR WOMEN
Saturday at 10am
JR. FREIHOFER’S 3K RUN
Saturday at 11am
24TH ANNUAL FREIHOFER’S KIDS’ RUN
Saturday at 11am
23RD ANNUAL FREIHOFER’S COMMUNITY WALK
Saturday at 12:30pm
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