Event to benefit Washbourne House, honor fallen local vet
Kingston, N.Y. (Feb. 16, 2012) – With over 4,500 runners expected to participate this year and a dedication to a Kingston soldier who died in Afghanistan, the 24th annual Shamrock Run on Sunday, March 11, will be a special event.
The two-mile run, sponsored by a number of local businesses and organizations, will be dedicated to the memory of PFC Doug Cordo, who died last August. Cordo, the victim of a roadside bomb, was well known in the Kingston community. Last year, he participated in the Shamrock Run while on leave, and made many people laugh with his good-natured antics during the race.
“This race is always a fun event and really gets people excited for spring, but I think it’s important for us to all realize the sacrifices people like Doug have made for us to be able to hold such an event,” said Bob Ryan of Team Ireland, which organized the race. “All of us in the community miss Doug very much, and we are happy to run the race in his honor.”
His mother, Tracy Karson, has been especially touched by this dedication to honor him and is expected to be on hand on race day as well.
According to organizers, the Shamrock Run is considered the first float in Kingston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Following the race is a runners-only post-race party at the Rondout Neighborhood Center at 105 Broadway, Kingston. Check-in and race day registration are from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. across from Academy Green at Gov. Clinton Apartments, 1 Albany Ave., Kingston. Prizes for runners, which will be randomly drawn, include a grand prize of two round-trip tickets to Ireland.
All proceeds from the event will go to the Washbourne House for victims of domestic violence. A few of the past years’ beneficiaries include Ulster County Catholic Youth Organization, Ulster Performing Arts Center, American Red Cross, Angel Food East, Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, Kingston Area Library and Boys & Girls Club of Kingston.
Many of the runners participating in the 24th Shamrock Run will also take part in the 30th Kiwanis Kingston Classic on Saturday, April 14, which features a 10K race and 2.1-mile fun run for all ages. The Kingston Classic is also a mainstay in the region and has grown in popularity since its inception in 1982. Preregistration for the 10K event is $20 before April 1 and $25 after. Students are $5 less. For the 2.1-mile run it is $10 for preregistration and $15 the day of the race. Those who are interested can enter at http://www.kiwaniskingstonclassic.com/.
The Shamrock Run event started in 1988 as a way to get people out in the spring and into running before the Kingston St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The idea came from local runner Jim Kelley Smith, along with his two roommates, Ryan and Bob Nanz. The first race generated 297 runners, and this year over 4,500 are expected to participate.
In addition to the race, the parade immediately afterward will run through the city of Kingston to where the Roundout Creek flows into the Hudson River.
This year’s race starts at 12:50 p.m. sharp at Academy Green, winds throughout the downtown area and ends at the foot of Broadway. Runners may enter for a discounted fee of $10 if they sign up prior to March 1. For entry forms and to learn more, visit http://www.shamrockrunners.org.
