Event: Sunday, October 11, 2009

FIFTH ANNUAL WESTCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER RUNNING FESTIVAL SET FOR OCTOBER 11

A road race for people of all ages and a festival featuring a host of exhibitors are in store during the Westchester Medical Center Running Festival on the Bronx River Parkway, Sunday, October 11, beginning at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.  

Presented by Westchester Medical Center, Westchester County Parks, Zachys Wine and Liquor Inc. and Genesis Adventures, the event includes a half marathon (13.1 miles), and a quarter marathon (6.55 miles). There will also be a special one-half-mile Kids Fun Run for children.

The course is a half marathon loop that starts just south of the Westchester County Center in White Plains. Runners proceed south on the BRP to Scarsdale Road where they hook a U-turn and head back on the northbound side of the parkway. The northern portion of the parkway features some rolling hills while the southern half has some steady inclines, but is much flatter. Overall the course trends downhill to Scarsdale Road then uphill back to the County Center. The 10K starts further south on the BRP and will make a U-Turn at the Crane Road exit.

Future race competitors ages 12 and under can also compete in a special non-competitive  Kids Fun Run at the County Center. Registration is free and available only on race day.

Racers can check-in on Saturday, October 10, at the County Center from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. or on race day beginning at 6:30 a.m.

Half marathon begins at 8:30 a.m.; 10K run at 9 a.m.; and the Kids Fun Run at 11 a.m.; awards presentation follows. The event will be held rain or shine.

Registration fee is $55 for the half marathon (14 years of age or older); and $45 for the quarter marathon (12 years of age or older). Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants receive a tee shirt, “goodie bag,” and finisher’s medal, along with access to post-race entertainment and refreshments.

For more information or to register for the Westchester Running Festival, log on to www.genesisadventures.com; or call (203) 232-9615.

After the race, participants can enjoy refreshments provided by Whole Foods Market of White Plains, Legal Sea Foods and goodie bags provided by Zachys Wine and Liquor, Inc.

The event is presented by Westchester County Parks and Genesis Adventures, Inc. It is sponsored by Westchester Medical Center, with assistance from Zachys Wine and Liquor, Inc., Whole Foods Market/White Plains and Hammer Nutrition. Media sponsors are News 12 Westchester, radio station 103.9 WFAS, The Journal News, and Westchester Magazine.

The Westchester County Center is located at 198 Central Avenue in White Plains, at the junction of the Bronx River Parkway and Tarrytown Road (Route 119).

Please note that the Bronx River Parkway will be closed to automobile traffic from 7:30 a.m. until 12 noon on the day of the race.