George Fillgrove's Staging Area

Oldest continuous foot race in the nation. Truly a memorable experience being one of 14,000 participants — especially when everyone is pumped up and waiting in the quarter mile from the start gate. You have to experience it once to just to believe it; and then you are a veteran with bragging rights. Walked it. Don’t know how I did a personal best. Was briefed before hand by other runners and race veterans. Course is paved, hilly and goes through a beautiful part of Buffalo. Last mile was marked by Buffalo Fire Department trucks with ladders extended over the runners. An American Flag is usually suspended but not this race because of wind gusts. Pace was slower than usual because I walked with my 10-year-old granddaughter who completed her first 8K. Has a health expo and an after-race party with live music. Planning, race communications, swag, costume contest, the race itself, relief facilities at the start, finish and route, the public support and the after party were the absolute best! They even had a race branded local beer produced by a local micro brewery and there are several events leading to race day. People travel to this event from across NY and PA, and several states. They tossed donuts to us from an overpass and spectators lined the route cheering us on. Hats off to the organizers and the volunteers! Can’t say enough about how great this experience was. Can’t say enough about the after-race comradery with other finishers. We talked for weeks! Funds raised by this race support Buffalo-Niagara YMCA Programs. We will do this one again!

Wasn’t timed. Was supposed to be for fun but was more of an exercise with only personal benefit. Best part of the whole race was using a portion of the Allegheny River Valley Trail. Race started late, causing people to wait around. Volunteer tried to keep participants engaged by mingling with them and having them sing Karaoke with lyrics and music coming from her cell phone. Course was paved and mostly flat along the river. Chem lights used to mark the trail. Existing mile markers related to the starting point of actual trail head and did not apply to the race. No visible mile markers placed for race itself. Not a full 5K according to my Garmin. Communication, or lack there of, was poor. Race coordinator used separate posters, one offering a race shirt, the second not and that one was used in most on-line, website or posted communications. Therefore, only early birds got shirts and nobody else. Communications issues were blamed on the participants who were expected to go to the Y and read the kiosks. No effort was made to match remaining shirts to those who didn’t receive one or to sell them to anyone interested. Instead, the shirts were later given out to non-race participants to use for Y workouts.

2019 was the eighth annual race honoring veterans on a mostly flat paved USATF-certified course that begins at Templeton Landing, near the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park, traverses along the Buffalo River to a downtown turn-around. The course returns along the Canalside, past the Naval Park to a second turn around at the Erie Basin Marina Observation Deck and then returns to Templeton Landing.

Previous races included a 10K event, but not this year.

This race attracts a loyal group of runners, walkers and spectators — veterans, military families, and those either open to the challenge or there to support veterans. You can’t leave this race without meeting new people or making new friends. Proceeds benefit the Veterans One Stop Center of Western New York or other local veteran’s related programs.

This year’s race followed a severe storm event where debris still lined that marina lane. The course, almost level to the river, offered some breath-taking scenery of the ships in the Naval Park, teaming waves and wind gusts.

Check-in and bib pick-up went flawlessly. There were some delays, largely because of the numbers of people effectively channeled to the appropriate tables. There was entertainment to pump up the runners, an awards ceremony, posted results, and a post-race event with ample food and social interaction. Race bling included dog tags for all finishers, challenge coins for veterans, and nice medals to the best of the various age groups.

A very family friendly endurance on the campus of Wright State University, one of the Air Force Marathon partners. 2,212 runners/walkers of all ages and sizes navigated the campus on a mostly flat course.

Entertainment was the Wright State Jazz Band and hydration stations were appropriate for the size of the race. I was both amazed and pleased at the number of very young who competed and the number of Wright State University students who cheered on the participants.

Although this was my first Air Force Marathon 5K, it was the second Air Force Marathon. This year, my wife and six-year-old granddaughter participated in the 5K. We are proudest of our granddaughter. It was her second 5K.

I returned the next morning for my second AF Marathon 10K and shaved six minutes off my previous time.

The annual McGreevy Run for our HEROES honors Lt. Michael McGreevy, a U.S. Navy SEAL who was killed in action on June 28, 2005 as a part of Operation Redwings. Mike was a 1993 graduate of Portville Central School and he was one of the standouts in both morality and drive.

Proceeds fund this very well organized event fund two scholarships, set up in Mike’s memory, and given to select Portville Central School students who live their lives in the manner in which he did.

Race alumni become part of “Team Groove,” who continue to gather long after the race. Team Grove members voluntarily contribute back to the community annually in local efforts that include picking up trash and garbage along Route 417 between Portville and Westons Mills.

Participants, traveling from five states and Canada, include numerous veterans, former Navy SEALS, U.S. Naval Academy alumni, race enthusiasts, and community members and leaders.

The race starts at the Portville Central School combination track and football field where Mike once competed and trained as a scholar athlete.
After a patriotic opening ceremony and gun start, runners and walkers begin a mostly paved course that weaves through the campus, back along a local creek, and then into the Village.

The route includes the local municipal park where there is a memorial bench in Mike’s honor and a two-mile patriotic stretch through the business district, containing streetlight-mounted banners honoring other local veterans and heroes.

The scenery includes ample Victorian architecture and numerous shade trees. There are mild hills and elevations along the way.

The hydration station is hosted annually by the Boy Scouts. Partipants are entertained along the way by a local musician performing in the park.

The race ends back at the high school track for closing ceremonies. At the finish line, runners and walkers are presented — in true military fashion — a challenge coin from Gold Star Mothers, members of the McGreevy family or individuals who were associated with him. The 2019 challenge coin was the second of a three-year commemorative set.

The 2019 race was the second time my wife and I experienced this very special local community event that continues to grow in popularity.

This was the third Annual Holiday 5K at Old Fort Niagara.

It is a beautiful and scenic 5K run/walk, not for the weak at heart, which takes place entirely within Fort Niagara State Park. The course is USATF-certified and features amazing views of Fort Niagara State Park; the Lower Niagara River; Lake Ontario; Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada; Historic Old Fort Niagara, and the Toronto skyline.

This race draws a loyal and cheerful crowd to a mostly flat-paved course that weaves not through the historic colonial fort, but through the remains of the former Army post that was active into the 70s, and once hosted German prisoners of war.

There’s lots of mostly preserved historic architecture on that section open to the public, awesome scenery, and lots of volunteers who direct and cheer on the walkers and racers. It is worth the experience.

Previous Holiday 5Ks were completed in cold, windy, snow storms. However, the 2018 race, the weekend before Christmas, was just blustery and overcast, which just seemed to add to a very pleasant experience.

There is a post-race celebration, featuring warm food and heated tents for those not wanting to brave the cold. While there are awards for the top in the various categories and raffle prizes, what makes the race truly special is a special medal and bib unique to the fort for all finishers, and opportunities to tour the historic site.

I was a first-time participant, walking with my wife in what was officially her second 5K. While others were dressed with the intent to expedite the course, we chose an aggressive walk to experience the fort where my wife’s step-father first reported and trained during World War II. His tour of duty, that began in the same wooden huts we passed, ultimately involved the first wave of D-Day and what he used to say, walking to Germany.

We, as a couple, now look forward to returning and striving for our own personal bests.