“We had so much fun! I’ll be running the next one,” remarked Catherine Ward, 5k walker and branch manager of Community Bank (a gold sponsor for this event).  Catherine was just one of 92 participants in our 2nd annual Race for Open Space on Saturday, June 2 in the town of Philadelphia. This year, we added a 10k run to the 5k walk and run that we successfully held last year. Both options traveled along four family farms that have been permanently protected by the Army Compatible Use Buffer Program (ACUB), with support from Ducks Unlimited and Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust.  Through this program, farmers can keep their land and continue to farm, while development around Fort Drum is minimized.

“It was really cool that I won my age group. I can’t wait to do another one!” exclaimed 8 year old 5k runner, Sophia Voss, who crossed the finish line with her father with a time of 38:27.  Although adult males dominated in both the 5k and 10k, the kids who participated really took the spotlight and brightened up the rainy day. Emerald Pfeffer, age 16, placed 7th in the 5k with a time of 25:16. Silver Pfeffer, age 8, Joey Richardson, age 12, and Joshua Caldwell, age 10, were not too far behind. Garnet Pfeffer and his younger brother Indigo, ages 12 and 10, were the only kids who braved the 10k run! Garnet finished in 10th place with a time of 49:18. And that’s not all; young and/or tired kids didn’t stop a few parents from bringing them along for the journey. Instead of being held back, several parents ran the entire race route pushing a stroller!  Way to go!

This event would not have been possible without generous support from our sponsors: Community Bank, Countryman’s Garage, Otter Creek Winery, Upstate National Bank, Nirvana Natural Spring Water, Price Chopper, Tilted Kilt, Cici’s Pizza, BOB Rafting, and the Black River Adventure Shop. A special thank you to the Town of Philadelphia, the Town of Philadelphia Highway Department, and Brett Kessler and his family for supplying everyone with a delicious burrito breakfast.

Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust is a non-profit regional organization that works with private landowners to protect and foster responsible stewardship practices of working forest, farm, recreation, and wild lands in northern New York’s 2,100 square-mile Tug Hill region.  The Tug Hill region covers parts of Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, and Oswego counties. Tug Hill Tomorrow provides conservation planning, land registry, and land protection programs for landowners.  The local land trust also works to increase the awareness, appreciation, and stewardship of the Tug Hill region through publications, field trips, special events, and community programs for kids and their families. For more information visit TugHillTomorrowLandTrust.org.