The venue shifted from one of Syracuse’s gems to Emerson Park, the pride of Auburn. The Superhero Run/Walk, in its second year, is a fundraiser for the Cayuga Centers and sponsored by a host of regional businesses.
I’d tased in Auburn in 1989, so this was my second competitive event held in the city. Emerson Park provided a beautiful venue for the event, which was held entirely within the park’s borders. As the name implies, runners were encouraged to wear costumes, making the race into a colorful procession around the park.
The course wound through the park and included the pier; unfortunately, this became something of a chokepoint at times as groups of walkers took up the full width of the pier. I saw this more as a problem of etiquette than a problem with the organizers; it remains an issue at many events, and is by no means confined to walkers. As it was, the occasional queues of participants really didn’t slow me down, as I had more persistent problems.
Unfortunately, I developed a mild cold shortly after Strathmore. My colds usually migrate into my chest, and while I didn’t develop a barking cough or serious congestion, my breathing was less than optimal. The field broke up rather quickly, and many of us seemed to be in the same position, neither gaining nor losing spots to other runners. I started making inroads on the runner directly ahead of me, but I simply couldn’t raise my pace in the final kilometer. This was unfortunate, as he won our age group by 12 seconds.
I paid for my effort with a bout of coughing at the finish line, but my time was comparable to what I’d run before. All things considered, I was pleased with the results.
This is a small event with a large budget and generous giveaways and awards, and it should be a consideration for runners looking for a fast, safe course one the shores of Owasco Lake. I hope the event will continue and gain ever-larger fields.
Location: Emerson Park, Auburn, NY
Cost: $30
Swag: shirt, medal, post race food
Events: 5K, Kid’s run
Field: 69
Result: 22/69@28:07; 9:04; 2/3
