First Night Saratoga Artists

11th Annual First Night Saratoga 5K Run

Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Skidmore College Athletic Complex
Saratoga Springs, NY

THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR!

The 5K Run reached 1,000 registrants. We are sorry for all those who were not able to participate. Please join us next year. Hope you have a great year.

TROOPS RUN A FIRST NIGHT 5K RACE IN AFGHANISTAN - SPECIAL EVENT

Over 60 U.S. servicemen and women in Afghanistan joined in their own “leg” of our First Night Saratoga 5K run this year, coinciding time-wise with our 5:30 PM run, but at 8AM Jan 1st their time. Coordinated by Matthew Armstrong of Clifton Park, the troops ran at Camp Black Horse, near Kabul, and considered the run a much-appreciated tie-in with their homeland during holiday time. Matthew and his dad have run in First Night Saratoga 5K’s many times in the past, and Matthew was excited to have organized this event being away from home, and received our tee-shirts, finishing medals, and awards for the troops, sent gratis by the US Post Office. Please click here for photos and the results of the troop 5K race in Afghanistan.

THE RACE RESULTS ARE AVAILABLE

The race had about 6 inches of snow and cold- but most of the roads were down to pavement at race time. There were 807 finishers, down form our usual of just under 1,000 - the snow kept some away, but with the conditions, the turn out was great! Please click here for the race results. Please click on the phototo the left to see the entire album of 5K Run photos.

ABOUT THEFIRST NIGHT SARATOGA 5K RACE

USATF Certified Course
A Grand-Prix Event of the Adirondack Runners
Start and finish on the beautiful Skidmore campus. The first ¾ mile is a gradual uphill on the perimeter road. The course exits Skidmore at Clinton Avenue and continues to Greenfield Avenue, continuing up North Broadway and back to campus. This is a moderately challenging course, including both hills and downgrades.

Awards
To the overall top three male and female finishers, and top three male and female finishers in each 5-year age division. No duplicate awards.

Finisher's Medals
All race finishers will receive a commemorative First Night medal.

ChampionChip Scoring System
Each participant will receive a ChampionChip timing device, matched to runner and bib number, at race packet pickup. This device must be attached to the runner's shoe and each runner is responsible for returning the chip to v

olunteers near the Finish Line immediately following the race. A $35.00 charge will be assessed to the runner if the chip is not returned. Additional details will be provided at Race Packet Pickup. Participants who own a ChampionChip may register their chip number on the entry form.

Rules of Competition
Due to the hour of the race, anyone with dogs or carriages is prohibited from running. We reserve the right to cancel the race due to weather conditions that cause the running surface to be hazardous to the runners' safety.

Proceeds go to subsidize YMCA program fees so they are affordable for everyone.

For further information, call the YMCA Development Office at (518) 583-9622 ext 133.