Tag Archives: First Responders 5K

First Responders 5K returns to the village next week

23 Aug

One of my favorite 5K races of the year returns to Village of Webster streets next Friday night, and I will definitely be there, as I have for the past several years.

It’s the First Responders 5K, and I especially like this event for a few reasons. First, it’s in the Village of Webster, so I don’t have to travel very far to participate. For that matter, since it begins at the south end of Fireman’s Field, I can walk to the start line from my house. PLUS the course runs right by my house. And a lot of my friends run this race with me, which always makes it more fun.

I also like supporting 5K events that raise money for good causes. The First Responders 5K benefits the First Responders Special Treatment Agency (FRST Agency), which is dedicated to helping first responders and their families deal with mental trauma.

The race is scheduled for Friday Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. It will BEGIN AND END at the south side of Fireman’s Field on Sanford St., and take racers through east-side village neighborhoods. Cost is $43, or $19 for active first responders (advance registration required). Each racer will also receive a t-shirt, and food and drink after the race.

My family will once again be setting up our “refreshment” stop on Fuller Ave., with water — and beer — so watch for our signs!

To register for the race, and for more information including a course map, click here . They’re also looking for volunteers, which is an easy gig and nets you a t-shirt, too. You can also find out more about that opportunity on the website.

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(posted 8/23/2024)

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Thank you, my Webster neighbors, for the cowbells

2 Sep

My personal thank you to everyone who came out for Friday night’s First Responders 5K. This annual race takes runners on a 3.1-mile course from Webster’s Fireman’s Field through east-side village neighborhoods and back.

As usual, I ran the race — it’s one of my favorites since it runs right by my house — and am always appreciative of the families who set up lawn chairs and sit along the route to cheer us on, many with cowbells in hand. (I love cowbells. You can never have enough cowbells.) I especially like it when I can get children to give me high-fives as I pass; they always give me an extra boost of energy.

There were also plenty of volunteer road marshals, which I was happy to see since the call had gone out a few days earlier about the need for more volunteers. They were all smiling and friendly, cheering us on as they directed us down the next street. This race could not happen without them, so thank you very much to all.

I joined my friend Dave again this year for the race, and we both did very well. Could have been the perfect weather, could have been having a good friend at my side pushing me along, but I managed to beat my time from last year.

As usual, my husband and some friends set up a water and beer refreshment stand in the driveway, which I understand many runners took advantage of. The beer especially is a welcome distraction for a lot of participants near the end of the race.

I’m already looking forward to next year.

(Thank you to my friend Karen for the photo above.)

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(posted 9/2/2023)

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Webster community mailbag

31 Aug

I always thought that the height of summer marked Webster’s busiest months. But looking at my page-long list of events coming up in the next several weeks tells me I was way wrong.

Most of these I’ve touched on in earlier blogs, so I’ll just remind you of them and give you links to follow in case you need more information. But let me start off with some detail about a race taking place in the village this Friday night, the First Responders 5K.

The race is scheduled for Friday Sept. 1 at 6:30 p.m. It will BEGIN AND END at the south side of Fireman’s Field on Sanford St., and take racers through east-side village neighborhoods. You can see the exact route in the map below.

Several roads on the east side of the village will be affected, and Rt. 250 between State Rd. and Main St. will be closed for a short time after the race begins to allow the runners through.

I always run this race, so I look forward to seeing you on the course. Cow bells, shouts of encouragement and high-fives are always appreciated. You can register up till noon Friday. Click here for more information.

The next meeting of Webster’s Visionaries Low-Vision Support Group is Wednesday, Sept. 6, from 10:30 to noon at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr.

The Visionaries is a support group for adults with low-to-no vision. Members of this support group share their interests and opportunities with others, encouraging those with visual impairment to get the most out of their lives.

The meeting is presented this month by Goodwill Vision (formerly ABVI), which offers services for those with low and no vision. For more information, contact Ed Wilkonski at 585-265-4167, or email wingstwofly@rochester.rr.com.

The Village of Webster will hold its annual Sept. 11 Memorial ceremony on Monday Sept. 11, beginning at 6 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Park on North Ave.

The Webster Village Band and the Chorus of the Genesee will both be performing. Community members are encouraged to attend.

The annual Webster Rocks ALS music festival returns Saturday, Sept. 9.

The festival is held to raise awareness for ALS in memory of Kacie Jones, a longtime employee of the Coach/Rubino’s, who passed away from ALS at 31 years old, less than two years after he was diagnosed. Proceeds will benefit organizations that fight to change the standard of case and empower people with ALS. (Visit www.healingals.org or www.teamgleason.org for more information.)

The festival will be held Saturday Sept. 9 at the Webster Firemen’s Field on Ridge Rd. Click here for more information.

That same day, Saturday Sept. 9, there’s another FREE concert taking place at Veteran’s Memorial Park on North Ave.

It’s the second annual RHB St. Jude Benefit Concert, featuring the Red Hot and Blue Band, Sarah De Vallière, The M-T-V Jam Band and The Tug Hill Band. Pub 235, Guida’s Pizza and Terry’s Tips And Beef will also be there with some great food.

More info on the flier.

Of course, that same weekend, the Webster Garlic Festival returns to the Webster Recreation Center on Sept. 9 and 10. I’ll be posting another longer blog about that again soon, but in the meantime, here’s the website for more information. Word is that more than 100 vendors have already signed up and more are trying to get in every day.

Two huge garage sales are happening the following weekend, Webster NY Hope’s annual sale, scheduled for Sept. 14 to 17 at 1450 Ridge Rd, AND the Webster Museum’s Barn and Vintage Sale on Sept. 14 thorough 16. These are always very big events, so make sure to make time to stop by both.

More to come about these soon.

Community members are invited to attend an official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Webster Highway Department facility at 1005 Picture Parkway on Thursday Sept. 14 at 2 p.m.

Webster Town Board members, Highway Department staff members and local dignitaries will hold a brief ceremony, followed by the groundbreaking. Click here for more information about plans for the new facility.

The Third Annual Webster Recreation Center Mud Run is returning on Saturday Sept. 23. This event is tons of wet, muddy, so-much-laughing fun for the entire family. I will definitely be there, and try to get even muddier than I did last year. (Check out the photo.) More about this later as well.

The Oktoberfest returns to Webster’s Fireman’s Field on Friday and Saturday Sept. 15 and 16.

The event runs from noon to 10:30 p.m. both days, and will feature live German music, German cuisine from Swan’s Market and Helmut’s Strudel of WNY, and beer and wine by Cobblestone on Main restaurant.

Tickets will be sold at the door. On Friday from noon to 3, they’ll cost only $5. After that, and at all other times, tickets will be $10. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult.

Organizers are also looking for volunteers to help with the event. Visit the website for more information.

Reminder that the 4th annual Barry’s Irish Festival takes place Saturday Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at The Barry Patch Farm, 2668 Brick Schoolhouse Road, Hilton. Tickets are available at the pub for $15 (2 West Main St., Webster), and can be purchased online here. You can also get them on the day of the festival, when they’ll be $20. Kids 16 and under are free.

Visit the event’s Facebook page for more information, and if you have any questions, email Danny and Jessica at Barrysirishpub@gmail.com.

St. Martin Lutheran Church will hold a Drive Thru Chicken BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 23 at the church, 813 Bay Road, Webster. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. and will continue until all dinners are sold out.

Dinners will include a half chicken, salt potatoes, coleslaw, roll, butter and cookie, and will cost $15.

The event will be drive-through only and there will be no advance sales; first-come, first-served. Cars should enter the parking lot, follow the signs, and purchase dinners using exact payment of either cash or
check. Cars will then pick up boxed dinners.

Proceeds from the BBQ will support both St. Martin’s Little Free Pantry and Christmas Stocking Project, which reaches more than 500 local youth in Monroe and Wayne counties.

Looking forward to fall, the Webster Recreation Center’s annual Pumpkins on Parade has been scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 28 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. I literally bounced in my chair when I saw the notice, because I enjoy this event so much. Start thinking now about what kind of creative jack-o-lanterns you and your family can carve. Click here to see the Facebook event page for more details.

And of course, you can start your day earlier in the village at Village of Webster’s Trick-or-Treat Trail, scheduled for Saturday Oct. 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. More info here.

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(posted 8/31/2023)

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First Responders 5K welcomed back to the village

5 Sep

In-person racing came back to Webster on Friday night when the First Responders 5K returned to the village after a one-year, covid-induced hiatus.

More than 200 men, women and children of all ages wound their way through the 3.1-mile course that took runners from the Webster Firemen’s Field, through east-side village neighborhoods and back. And like anything else that happens in our village, it was another great example of the kind of caring, supportive community we have here.

It was a perfect late-summer night for a run; cool and sunny, much MUCH better than the humid days we’ve recently experienced. The race began at 6:30 p.m. on the south side of Firemen’s Field on Ebner Dr. There, under the Fleet Feet archway bearing the huge First Responders 5K banner, 227 runners and walkers of all shapes and sizes streamed across the start line when the order to “GOOOOOO!” was broadcast loudly through the speakers.

  • At the start line
  • Photo courtesy Mary White

I was one of those runners, huffing and puffing alongside my good friend Dave Nicchitta, who kindly agreed (after much needling) to run the race with me. I had a lot of fun running with my friend, but even more than that, I was so proud to show off my village.

From the very beginning of the race and all through the neighborhoods, families were sitting in their front yards or standing along the road, clapping and cheering the runners, yelling encouraging comments and ringing cowbells. My husband and some friends set up a water and beer refreshment stand in the driveway, which was a popular stop near the end of the race.

And the volunteers? There were so many of them, one stationed at every intersection to guide the runners — and there were a lot of intersections and turns in those neighborhoods. Not to mention the Special Police, who managed the traffic along busy South Ave. during the race.

As I passed by one runner on the route, we chatted briefly and she told me how impressed she was with the route, how well the race was organized, and especially, how many volunteer race marshals there were. I simply told her, “Well, this is Webster.”

Thank you to everyone who helped make this race happen. For many of us, it was the first in-person race we’ve run in more than a year and a half. Thank you also to all those who participated. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the FRST Agency, a local charity that provides support, awareness, assets, and services to first responders seeking assistance in dealing with the effects of PTSD.

Click here to see a gallery of photos from the race which my husband and I took, and visit the Fleet Feet Rochester Facebook page to see a much bigger gallery of much better photos taken by Mary White (of Turkey Trot photography fame).

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The First Responders 5K is back

30 Aug

I like participating in 5Ks. (You’ll notice I didn’t say “run” 5Ks, because the pace I set cannot actually be called “running.”) So I’m pleased to see that after more than a full year off, in-person races are coming back.

I was especially thrilled to see that the First Responders 5K is not only returning later this week, but will offer both in-person and virtual options.

This is one of my favorite races for a few reasons. First, it’s in the Village of Webster. I can walk to the start line AND it runs right by my house. Second, SO MANY of my Webster friends also run. And finally, a portion of the proceeds benefit a great cause.

The race website explains,

The First Responders 5K presented by L3Harris recognizes the strength, perseverance, and courage of police officers, firefighters, EMTs, 911 operators and their families in our local community.

First responders put their lives on the line for us every day as they face hardships that most of us will never know. The repetitive negative experience of stressful and potentially traumatic events that first responders face on a daily basis leaves them particularly vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder. We hope that this event can raise awareness for PTSD in first responders, and raise funds for a local charity, FRST Agency, that will provide support, awareness, assets, and services to first responders seeking assistance in dealing with the effects of PTSD.  

The in-person race is scheduled for Friday Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. It will begin and end at the south side of Fireman’s Field on Sanford St., and take racers through east-side village neighborhoods. Cost is $30, or $15 for active first responders. Each racer will also receive a t-shirt and grab-and-go snack bag after the race.

My family will once again be setting up our “refreshment” stop on Fuller Ave., with water — or beer if you’re a first responder — so watch for our signs (“Running in gear? Have a beer!” “In turnout gear? We’ll turnout beer!”).

The virtual race, by the way, can be run any day between Sept. 3 and 12. Cost is $20, and you’ll also get a t-shirt. 

To register for either option, and for more information including a course map, click here .

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Thoughts on the First Responders 5K

2 Sep

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(Photo courtesy Mary White)

An amazing 625 people — both adults and children — participated in the second annual First Responders 5K on Friday night, which began on Sanford Street near Firemen’s Field and wound through the east side of Webster village.  It’s an impressive number considering it was the start of Labor Day weekend AND it was a Friday night, two very good reasons that race participants might have had other things to do or places to be.

But again this year, Webster and our surrounding communities showed how incredibly

holly and me

Before the race with my friend Holly. (Courtesy Mary White)

supportive they are of our first responders. And not only did the race attract a lot of runners, but the number of village residents who took the time to sit out front of their homes and cheer the runners as we raced by was heartening and very much appreciated.

Kudos to all of the firefighters and police officers who ran in their full gear; the weather was much improved over last year’s heat and humidity, but it must have still been a struggle to complete the 3.1-mile course while wearing many pounds of gear.

I took a few pictures, but not as many as our favorite Turkey Trot photographer Mary White. I’ve posted a few here, but if you’d like to see a lot more, click this link for an entire gallery.

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Race in Webster Village Friday night will affect traffic

29 Aug

first responders

If you find yourself driving in and around the Village of Webster on Friday night, be prepared for some possible temporary road closures.

The second annual First Responders 5K will be winding its way through (mostly) the east side of the village Friday night Aug. 30, beginning at 6:30 p.m. 

first responders logoThe race is designed to raise awareness of PTSD in first responders, and raise funds for FRST Agency, a newly created organization that will provide support, awareness, assets, and services to first responders seeking assistance in dealing with the effects of PTSD.

It will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Sanford St., on the south side of Firemen’s Field. Runners will head east down Sanford Street to South Ave., and then snake their way through the east-side neighborhoods before returning to Firemen’s Field. The course will take runners along Fuller Ave., Dunning Ave., Meadow Dr., Southwick Dr., Hawley Dr., Judson St., Harmon St., and Curtice Park, requiring temporary restrictions on these streets. In addition, Rt. 250 between State Rd. and Main St. will be closed for a short time and restricted for about an hour.

Click here for a map of the race route.

Organizers have mailed notices to all the affected residents on these streets, noting that while some streets will be closed during certain times, local residential traffic will be delayed but accommodated. So it’s not like you’re going to be trapped at home — or stuck on Main Street — for the entire race.

However, if you live on one of these streets and CAN afford to be stuck at home, please consider pitching a chair or two in your driveway and come out to cheer on the runners. As a frequent participant at races like these (and I will be running Friday night as well), I can attest to how great it feels to have people along the route encouraging you, ringing cowbells and handing out high-fives. This is a great community event, and it would be awesome to see the community come out in force to support it. (The race will run by my house twice, so I’ve convinced my husband to offer a special “water” stop for first responders in gear.)

If you’d like to participate as a runner OR walker, registration will be open on-site up to the start of the race. Just look for the registration tent at Firemen’s Field after 5 p.m. that evening.

For more information about the race, or to register online, click here.

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First Responders 5K a great success

2 Sep

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More than 600 runners and walkers participated in the inaugural First Responders 5K on Friday night, enjoying gorgeous (albeit somewhat warm) weather and a party atmosphere to support a good cause.

The race was organized, according to the website, to “recognize the strength, perseverance, and courage of police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and their families in our local community.” Funds raised will go to create a local charity to “provide support, awareness, assets, and services to first responders seeking assistance in dealing with the effects of PTSD.”

The race began and ended on Sanford Street, at the south side of Firemen’s Field, and wound three miles through neighborhood streets on the village’s east side. Every finisher received a medal, and enjoyed plenty of post-race food, a free beer and live music. Runners came from all over the area, including representatives from fire companies, police departments and EMS companies from all over Monroe County and beyond.

Of course many of our very own Webster Volunteer Firefighters participated, completing the entire race in full turnout gear. I even saw a Webster policeman running in his full uniform — including his dress shoes.

The number of people who signed up for the race was a delightful surprise. Even the race organizers, Fleet Feet, noted that more than 600 participants is pretty much unheard of for a first-time race, especially on a Friday night. AND on Labor Day weekend.

But that’s who we are in Webster — a strong, supportive community. I fully expect that given this year’s success, the First Responders 5K will be back again next year, and Webster will come through again.

Click here to see a small gallery of photos from the race. You can also check out a short video which Channel 8 News ran after the event, featuring one of our very own Webster volunteer firefighters.

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5Ks come to Webster this summer

18 Aug

Runners, take note, because this is something that rarely happens.

If you like to compete in 5Ks, but don’t like traveling too far out of town to do so, you’ll be pleased to hear there’s not just one, but TWO 5K races coming up within four weeks of each other, right here in Webster.

first responders

The first is the First Responders 5K, scheduled for Friday August 31 at 6:30 p.m. This is a brand new race, created to honor and support our local first responders.

This information about the race comes from the event’s Facebook page:

The First Responders 5K will recognize the strength, perseverance, and courage of police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and their families in our local community.

First responders put their lives on the line for us every day as they face hardships that most of us will never know. The repetitive negative experience of stressful and potentially traumatic events that first responders face on a daily basis leaves them particularly vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder.

The event is designed to raise awareness for PTSD in first responders and raise funds for a local charity to provide support for those who suffer from its effects.

The race begins at Fireman’s Field on Ridge Road, just west of the village of Webster. Cost is $20, or $10 for active first responders. T-shirts are not included but may be ordered for an additional $10. The race will be chip-timed, with finisher medals, post-race food and live music. To register or find out more information, click here.

run walk and roll

This next race also benefits a great cause.

It the 4th annual Run, Walk & Roll 5K and 1 mile stroll to benefit Challenger Miracle Field. I’ve run this race every year, so I can attest to how fun it is.

Proceeds from this event will help build Play with Possibilities Playground at the Challenger Miracle Field of Greater Rochester Complex. These inclusive spaces will provide people with developmental, physical, or intellectual disabilities a barrier-free, safe, accessible place to experience the health benefits and joy of play through baseball, other team sports, and adaptive recreational equipment. All kids will be able to participate in elevated and ground-level play with ramps, transfer points, and sensory–rich play opportunities throughout so that the play space is friendly to all children and parents as well as other caregivers, such as grandparents and service animals.

This all-inclusive family-friendly event encourages participants to run or walk, push a wheelchair, push themselves in a wheelchair, or participate with other assistive devices including adaptive bicycles and tricycles.

The courses start and end at Webster Thomas High School, 800 Five Mile Line Road. Registration is open at 8 a.m. The 5K, including wheelchair athletes, will kick off at 9:30. The 1-mile stroll will begin at 9:35. Packet pick-up and in-person registration will take place that morning. Prizes will be awarded, and the first 200 registrants get a free t-shirt, which you can wear proudly to show what a good person you are.

Cost if you pre-register is $20 for the 5K and $17 for the one-mile stroll. In-person registration at the race will cost $30/$22. For more information and on-line sign-up, click here.

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First Responders 5K scheduled for August in Webster

12 Jul

first responders

There’s a new 5K in town — and I mean in WEBSTER — and it’s one I think we can all get behind. It’s called the First Responders 5K, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. the evening of Friday August 31.

This information about the race comes from the event’s Facebook page:

The First Responders 5K will recognize the strength, perseverance, and courage of police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and their families in our local community.

First responders put their lives on the line for us every day as they face hardships that most of us will never know. The repetitive negative experience of stressful and potentially traumatic events that first responders face on a daily basis leaves them particularly vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder.

We hope that this event can raise awareness for PTSD in first responders, and raise funds to create a local charity that will provide support, awareness, assets, and services to first responders seeking assistance in dealing with the effects of PTSD. Join us as we recognize the service and sacrifice of the people who dedicate their lives to protecting ours.

The race will begin (and end, I assume) at Fireman’s Field on Ridge Road just west of the village of Webster. Cost is $20, or $10 for active first responders. T-shirts are not included but may be ordered for an additional $10. The race will be chip-timed, with finisher medals, post-race food and live music. To register or find out more information, click here .

Note: In conjunction with this race, a separate  Facebook event has been established for those interested in running in memory of Jimmy Weaver, a firefighter and paramedic who most recently served with the Holley Fire Department as a lieutenant. Jimmy passed away unexpectedly on June 28.

If you’d like to read more about Jimmy, click here for his obituary. If you would like to join the group running in his memory, still sign up on the regular race site, but then clock over to the group’s Facebook page to let them know about your support.

 

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