On your mark, get set, go. The fourth annual Skaneateles Labor Day Race Weekend will take place this Saturday and Sunday.
This year, there are two new additions to the lineup: the Coon Hill Grind, a two-mile bike race, and I'm All That, where athletes compete in all four races throughout the weekend. There are still 25 spots left in the I'm All That competition and there is no limit on how many people can enter the bike race, said Chris Legg, media contact for the event.
“When we started putting the races together, the aim was to put a quality set of races together that would encourage people to get physically fit,” Legg said. “We had a swim and we had a run so this year we decided (to) try and add a bike.”
The event is accessible for people who have never entered a race before but it is also a challenge for those who are veteran runners, he said. Originally, there was a race every day, with the Skinnyman Triathlon taking place on Saturday, the Escape from the Judge swim happening on Sunday and the Skaneateles Road Race on Monday. This year, the triathlon will be on Saturday and the other events on Sunday.
“Now you have individual races that mirror the major event - the triathlon. For somebody who's thinking about doing a triathlon, it might be a safe way for them to approach it the first time ... and maybe next year they'll try to do the whole thing by doing the Skinnyman Triathlon,” Legg said.
Organizers thought it would be fun for the high performing athletes to participate in the triathlon Saturday and come back Sunday to compete in the other three races and see how they do overall against the rest of the competition. For beginners, Sunday's events are a good way to get started. Those who want to participate in one race that day can do that while those who may want to push themselves more can do two or even three races.
Awards will be given out to the top three male and female winners in all races. Cash prizes will be given out to top performers in the I'm All That competition - with $500, $250 and $100 given to the top three male and female winners for a total of six prizes - and the Coon Hill Grind bike race, where the King and Queen of the hill with the overall best time will each receive a massage at the Mirbeau Inn and Spa valued at $125 and the top male and female rider will get $100.
Proceeds from the races will support community projects, Legg said. In previous years, the money was used to purchase a new electronic pool timing system in the recreation center. Proceeds also contributed to SAVES (Skaneateles Ambulance Volunteer Emergency Service), Skaneateles Volunteer Fire Department, the Ecumenical Food Pantry and many other local programs.
Although spots for the Skinnyman Triathlon and the Escape from the Judge are full, there are still open spots left in I'm All That, the Coon Hill Grind and the Skaneateles Road Race. There is also a Splash Dash kids fun run that is free for children ages 4 through 12, and a fireman's challenge that will take place Sunday evening.
“It encourages somebody who's very young,” Legg said of the Splash Dash. “It is a community family event ... a chance for the kids to do something fun and emulate an adult. Maybe years later, they come back and they do the big run.”
Those who want to come out and support runners either by volunteering or by watching the races are encouraged to do so. In the past, there have been as many as 2,000 people watching the events, Legg said.
“They can go out and have some fun encouraging runners,” Legg said. “When you see that many people out there in one place it's rather exciting to see ... people pushing themselves.”
Gitana Mirochnik
253-5311 ext. 237
gitana.mirochnik@lee.net
If you go.
What: Skaneateles Labor Day Race Weekend
When: Skinnyman Triathlon: 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30; Escape from the Judge: 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 31; Coon Hill Grind: 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31; Skaneateles Road Race: 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31
Where: Skinnyman Triathlon: Clift Park, Skaneateles; Escape from the Judge: Clift Park, Skaneateles; Coon Hill Grind: Skaneateles Ski Center, Route 174, Marietta; Skaneateles Road Race: Jordan Street, Skaneateles
Cost: Varies by race; free for spectators
Info: Visit www.skanraces.com
Where to watch
Skinnyman Triathlon
This event can be seen from Clift Park. Spectators will see the whole swim, then they will see participants change, depart on bikes and, finally, run out to West Lake and Genesee streets.
Escape from the Judge
For the swim, it would be best to also watch from Clift Park because the race ends there. For those who want to see the beginning of the swim, they can go to the country club.
Coon Hill Grind
Anyone interested in watching the Labor Day Race Weekend's inaugural bicycle race can see most of the course from along Coon Hill Road.
Skaneateles Road Race
Those who want to watch the run can see it from the Skaneateles Firemen's Field Days. Participants can also be seen along Charlie Major Nature Trail.
“When we started putting the races together, the aim was to put a quality set of races together that would encourage people to get physically fit,” Legg said. “We had a swim and we had a run so this year we decided (to) try and add a bike.”
The event is accessible for people who have never entered a race before but it is also a challenge for those who are veteran runners, he said. Originally, there was a race every day, with the Skinnyman Triathlon taking place on Saturday, the Escape from the Judge swim happening on Sunday and the Skaneateles Road Race on Monday. This year, the triathlon will be on Saturday and the other events on Sunday.
“Now you have individual races that mirror the major event - the triathlon. For somebody who's thinking about doing a triathlon, it might be a safe way for them to approach it the first time ... and maybe next year they'll try to do the whole thing by doing the Skinnyman Triathlon,” Legg said.
Organizers thought it would be fun for the high performing athletes to participate in the triathlon Saturday and come back Sunday to compete in the other three races and see how they do overall against the rest of the competition. For beginners, Sunday's events are a good way to get started. Those who want to participate in one race that day can do that while those who may want to push themselves more can do two or even three races.
Awards will be given out to the top three male and female winners in all races. Cash prizes will be given out to top performers in the I'm All That competition - with $500, $250 and $100 given to the top three male and female winners for a total of six prizes - and the Coon Hill Grind bike race, where the King and Queen of the hill with the overall best time will each receive a massage at the Mirbeau Inn and Spa valued at $125 and the top male and female rider will get $100.
Proceeds from the races will support community projects, Legg said. In previous years, the money was used to purchase a new electronic pool timing system in the recreation center. Proceeds also contributed to SAVES (Skaneateles Ambulance Volunteer Emergency Service), Skaneateles Volunteer Fire Department, the Ecumenical Food Pantry and many other local programs.
Although spots for the Skinnyman Triathlon and the Escape from the Judge are full, there are still open spots left in I'm All That, the Coon Hill Grind and the Skaneateles Road Race. There is also a Splash Dash kids fun run that is free for children ages 4 through 12, and a fireman's challenge that will take place Sunday evening.
“It encourages somebody who's very young,” Legg said of the Splash Dash. “It is a community family event ... a chance for the kids to do something fun and emulate an adult. Maybe years later, they come back and they do the big run.”
Those who want to come out and support runners either by volunteering or by watching the races are encouraged to do so. In the past, there have been as many as 2,000 people watching the events, Legg said.
“They can go out and have some fun encouraging runners,” Legg said. “When you see that many people out there in one place it's rather exciting to see ... people pushing themselves.”
Gitana Mirochnik
253-5311 ext. 237
gitana.mirochnik@lee.net
If you go.
What: Skaneateles Labor Day Race Weekend
When: Skinnyman Triathlon: 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30; Escape from the Judge: 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 31; Coon Hill Grind: 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31; Skaneateles Road Race: 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31
Where: Skinnyman Triathlon: Clift Park, Skaneateles; Escape from the Judge: Clift Park, Skaneateles; Coon Hill Grind: Skaneateles Ski Center, Route 174, Marietta; Skaneateles Road Race: Jordan Street, Skaneateles
Cost: Varies by race; free for spectators
Info: Visit www.skanraces.com
Where to watch
Skinnyman Triathlon
This event can be seen from Clift Park. Spectators will see the whole swim, then they will see participants change, depart on bikes and, finally, run out to West Lake and Genesee streets.
Escape from the Judge
For the swim, it would be best to also watch from Clift Park because the race ends there. For those who want to see the beginning of the swim, they can go to the country club.
Coon Hill Grind
Anyone interested in watching the Labor Day Race Weekend's inaugural bicycle race can see most of the course from along Coon Hill Road.
Skaneateles Road Race
Those who want to watch the run can see it from the Skaneateles Firemen's Field Days. Participants can also be seen along Charlie Major Nature Trail.
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