Lake Effect Run Club - 1636 - It's a Wonderful Run 12/12/09

What a way to ring in the Holiday Season by strapping some brass bells on your running shoes and banging out a 5K through small town America!

This was the inaugural "It's a Wonderful Run". It took place in Seneca Falls, NY. The folks of this town, just off the thruway between Syracuse and Rochester, believe Bedford Falls, from the holiday movie "It's a Wonderful Life", was modelled after their town Seneca Falls. And there's a lot of details to prove their case. There's even a yearly festival to promote the Village this time of year.

My wife and I went up earlier in the day as we made a weekend of it by staying in the Clarence Hotel, named after the Angel in the movie. The hospitality and ambience of this newly renovated hotel made for a great stay that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a weekend get-a-way. The weekend brought such things as horse-drawn carriage rides, a Santa train ride and plenty of Holiday shopping in the quaint stores.

The race was scheduled to start at 4:30 pm which is an unusual race time, but the thought here was that there would be enough light to see, but it would be dark enough to enjoy the light displays put on by the folks in the Village. This start time turned out to be perfect for their intentions. The weather was perfect for this time of year as the race was sandwiched in between a day of intense wind and a day of freezing rain. By race time the sun had fallen enough to make it somewhat bitter, but since the race started off on time we all warmed up quickly.

We all made our way to the bridge which marked the start area. The sounds of bag pipes drew us in. It was a great place for the start area as we watched the strangely calm canal waters flowing underneath us. The race seemed to go off without a hitch as nearly 450 runners broke the start line, a HUGE number for a 1st annual! The course wound its way through the village streets.  Barely a hill was climbed as we passed many houses lit up for the Holidays. Traffic was a near non-issue as there were cones set up staking our claim to part of the road and police presence was a-plenty. A few water stops were along the way, but I don't think many indulged due to the cold temps. The finish chute was placed after a relatively steep downhill, which made for some fast approaches as some runners sprinted into the chute.

After the finish we all made our way into the nearby community center for the after party. Here there were 2 choices depending on the direction you turned. In one room there was a "taste of Seneca Falls" of sorts going on. We were met with some delicious foods such as goulash, spicy chicken bits and meatballs. There also was cake, holiday cookies and juices. If that wasn't enough, in the other room, there were bagels, bananas, ginormous cookies, water, hot cocoa and coffee. This gym area was where the results were posted and the awards ceremony was held. The awards included medals and "It's a Wonderful Life" wine bottles complete with their own decanters! Very nice and unique touch!

The after, after-party was held at Red's Place, just a 5 minute walk away. The owner was gracious enough to provide racers with a choice or McSorley's or Blue for most of the night free of charge! It was here that I met the 2 race directors Kevin and Jeff. They were beaming at the outcome of the race and deservedly so. It was an amazing job they and their team of wonderful volunteers pulled off. This race felt more like it had been around for years already with the bugs already ironed out. It truly was a "Wonderful Run"!

-Ray Holt

It's a Wonderful Run 12/12/09

It just so happened that NBC was airing this movie the night of the race!
It just so happened that NBC was airing this movie the night of the race!
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Seneca Falls
Seneca Falls
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Carollers in the Village
Carollers in the Village
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Just like Bedford Falls!
Just like Bedford Falls!
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Race Packet pick up location in the Village
Race Packet pick up location in the Village
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Packet pick up volunteers
Packet pick up volunteers
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Loved the hats, I bought 4 of them!
Loved the hats, I bought 4 of them!
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PCR Timing company. Did a great job!!
PCR Timing company. Did a great job!!
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Got my race packet, now where's the start??
Got my race packet, now where's the start??
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Zuzu's cafe was great for some pre-race grilled cheese. It's named after the little girl in the movie who said, "Every time a bell rings an Angel gets its wings".
Zuzu's cafe was great for some pre-race grilled cheese. It's named after the little girl in the movie who said, "Every time a bell rings an Angel gets its wings".
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Inside Zuzu's Cafe
Inside Zuzu's Cafe
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This would not be a good activity to participate in before the race!
This would not be a good activity to participate in before the race!
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This line of folks across the street was to meet the actress that played Zuzu who was in town for the "It's a Wonderful Life" festival.
This line of folks across the street was to meet the actress that played Zuzu who was in town for the "It's a Wonderful Life" festival.
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The Clarence Hotel in town. A great place to stay!! Right across from the race start.
The Clarence Hotel in town. A great place to stay!! Right across from the race start.
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Inside the Clarence Hotel, named after the Angel in the movie, they have the movie continuously playing on a huge wall in the lobby.
Inside the Clarence Hotel, named after the Angel in the movie, they have the movie continuously playing on a huge wall in the lobby.
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Santa and his Elf ran too!
Santa and his Elf ran too!
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John warming up a little
John warming up a little
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Ken, Gretchen, John, Brandi and Ray
Ken, Gretchen, John, Brandi and Ray
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We walked down this hill to reach the start line. This also was the hill that would end the race.
We walked down this hill to reach the start line. This also was the hill that would end the race.
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Jeff, one of the race directors, taking care of some last minute race logistics.
Jeff, one of the race directors, taking care of some last minute race logistics.
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Making our way to the start are on the Bridge Street Bridge.
Making our way to the start are on the Bridge Street Bridge.
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Seneca Falls thinks Frank Capra who directed the movie saw this plaque on the Bridge and it gave him the idea to have George jump in the water to save the Angel Clarence.
Seneca Falls thinks Frank Capra who directed the movie saw this plaque on the Bridge and it gave him the idea to have George jump in the water to save the Angel Clarence.
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John and Brandi on the Bridge
John and Brandi on the Bridge
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"If you fell in, I'd save you too honey"!
"If you fell in, I'd save you too honey"!
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Pre-race stretch
Pre-race stretch
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Bag piper
Bag piper
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John and Betty Jane
John and Betty Jane
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Nice shirt!
Nice shirt!
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PCR Timing talking to Jeff one of the race directors right before the start
PCR Timing talking to Jeff one of the race directors right before the start
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Jeff barking out some last minute instructions
Jeff barking out some last minute instructions
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And we're off!!
And we're off!!
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Ray in the red coat and Brandi to his left in the blue coat.
Ray in the red coat and Brandi to his left in the blue coat.
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Leaving the bridge. That's Betty Jane in the green from Pulaski.
Leaving the bridge. That's Betty Jane in the green from Pulaski.
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Santa holds the lead!!
Santa holds the lead!!
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Go Santa, Go Santa!!
Go Santa, Go Santa!!
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Santa had enough and took a shortcut back to the finish line.
Santa had enough and took a shortcut back to the finish line.
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#301 is Eden
#301 is Eden
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Some race supporters
Some race supporters
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Making the turn to cross another bridge
Making the turn to cross another bridge
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Crossing another bridge
Crossing another bridge
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The 1st water stop
The 1st water stop
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Mom's in Motion always has racers
Mom's in Motion always has racers
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Calling out times at mile marker one
Calling out times at mile marker one
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Brandi in the foreground
Brandi in the foreground
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Brandi about to hydrate in up
Brandi about to hydrate in up
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Up ahead is the home stretch toward the village center
Up ahead is the home stretch toward the village center
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Running by the Seneca Falls Museum
Running by the Seneca Falls Museum
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There were some beautiful historic homes in the Village
There were some beautiful historic homes in the Village
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Approaching the Village's center
Approaching the Village's center
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The main cross streets in town
The main cross streets in town
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Heading down the hill into the finish chute
Heading down the hill into the finish chute
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Entering the finish chute
Entering the finish chute
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Brandi enjoying her water
Brandi enjoying her water
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Getting their bibs wanded as a back-up timing system.
Getting their bibs wanded as a back-up timing system.
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Brandi ran so fast she had some steam coming off her head you can see just below the 2nd floor porch
Brandi ran so fast she had some steam coming off her head you can see just below the 2nd floor porch
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Running with her canine friend
Running with her canine friend
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Ray about to put his coats back on as it started to get cold again after the run
Ray about to put his coats back on as it started to get cold again after the run
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Betty Jane enjoying the finish!
Betty Jane enjoying the finish!
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Entering the Community Center after the race
Entering the Community Center after the race
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Great food samples at the "Taste of Bedford Falls"
Great food samples at the "Taste of Bedford Falls"
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That's John in the hat talking to Betty Jane and her husband.
That's John in the hat talking to Betty Jane and her husband.
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John spotting the cookies!
John spotting the cookies!
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The gym was also full of folks getting ready for the awards ceremony.
The gym was also full of folks getting ready for the awards ceremony.
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Penny, race director of the Chilly Chili Run was there too.
Penny, race director of the Chilly Chili Run was there too.
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Nice touch with the awards.
Nice touch with the awards.
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Cool, or should I say warm, hats for sale.
Cool, or should I say warm, hats for sale.
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Jeff talking about the race and calling out the awards.
Jeff talking about the race and calling out the awards.
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Nice job "It's a Wonderful Run"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice job "It's a Wonderful Run"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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