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HEART RUN & WALK EVENTS
America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk will take place Saturday, March 8 at sites around the Mohwak Valley. Here’s the lineup of events:
* 30K-run begins at 7:30 a.m. from Vans Tavern, Barneveld (buses leave Utica College at 6:30 a.m.)
* 10-mile run begins at 8:40 a.m. from Route 291 at Irish Road, Stittville (buses leave Utica College at 8:10 a.m.)
* 5-mile run begins at 9:20 a.m. from Main Street (at Route 69), Whitesboro (buses leave Utica College at 8:50 a.m.)
* 3-mile run begins at 9:40 a.m. from Whitestown Veterans Club, Main Street, Yorkville (buses leave Utica College at 9:15 a.m.)
* Paige Ann Doxie Memorial 5-Mile Walk from Utica College begins at 10:30 a.m.
* 3-mile walk from Utica College begins at 10:30 a.m.
From this morning's O-D:"Depending on how a fast-moving storm develops, this morning's America's Greatest Heart Run & Walk participants might be drenched. Or they might not be. Either way, heart runners and walkers would be wise to prepare for the worst. One of the region's largest public-participation events begins this morning amid a winter storm warning that includes portents of heavy rain, snowfall and freezing rain through early Sunday.
What does that mean for the Heart Run?
“Probably not much,” WKTV-TV meteorologist Matt Lanza said Friday night. “It looks rather quiet out there (this) morning.” Dick Matia, director of the local American Heart Association, said organizers never had to cancel the event in the past, and they are no strangers to bad weather. “We got rain, we got snow,” he said. “It's on.”
However, officials said they are worried about the walkers who may cut their miles because of the weather today. “Runners are all set. We don't worry about them,” event Chairperson Jim Stasaitis. “They are die-hard.”
While the storm caused substantial rain Friday night, precipitation likely will break by this morning, picking up again much later in the day, Lanza said. “There is going to be a lull, which might actually coincide with the Heart Run and Walk,” he said. Ice is part of the weather service's forecast, Lanza said, but it's unlikely streets and sidewalks would be icy on the Heart Run route. Even with ice, long-time runner Dennis Johnson knows he will make it to the finish line. In the 18 years he has participated in the event, he has braved worse weather, he said. One time, he recalled, it was warm when they started out - about 50 degrees. But through the course, they were hit by sleet, ice and a downpour, he said. “I was smarter. I kept my jacket,” he said. “It was bad. The cause is important.” Johnson said he would advise runners and walkers to wear windbreaker pants and jackets and definitely a hat.
Katee Grimaldi, 17, will walk at the event for the first time. She is not letting the forecast change her mind. She plans to wear layers of clothing, a poncho and rain gear. “We are definitely going,” she said. Her father, Robert Grimaldi, is more worried about rain because it might ruin his make up — he will be dressed as a clown, he said.
About 8,000 people are expected to turn out today for the event. The money will be used for heart research and education."
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.....enjoy them again and remember that they're all "clickable."
These are the tiny flowers in the lower left-hand corner of the first picture.
In the center bench were several little scenes ......
A new, ornamental Witchazel!
