The 24th Annual Grunt Run Sunday drew 386 runners to Geddes for 5K and 10K races.
Runners as young as 7 and upwards of 75 years turned out for the race sponsored by Geddes Parks and Recreation Department. “That’s the most we have had since the race began,” Parks and Recreation Director Cindy Maggiore said. “We were very pleased.” One of the unique things about the race is, though relatively small, it began before there were many other races held in the fall in the Syracuse area and there are runners who have participated every year since the race began. Carol Boll, of DeWitt was on the sidelines to cheer on her husband Tom and daughter Rachel, 16. Boll said her husband has run the Grunt Run for at least 10 years, each time with one of their three children, and this was Rachel’s first race with her dad. “We like it because it’s a small race, it’s a nice time of year to do it,” Boll said. “And it brings out a nice group of people.” Camillus resident Mike Bott took first place in the 5K, a race he finished second in last year. The run started nearly a quarter-century ago when a group of veterans approached the parks and recreation department with hopes of holding a race on Veteran’s Day. Since the race was never actually held on Veteran’s Day, the race came to be known as the Grunt Run, so named after Army foot soldiers. Next year, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Grunt Run, the department hopes the race will be bigger and better, said Maggiore. Both races began near Lakeland Park on Alhan Parkway, and continued through Lakeland and into the town of Camillus. Money raised by the race goes to the town of Geddes. And the winner is
5K
Mike Bott, 19
17:13:95
Kelly Dworak, 46
19:13
10K
Joe Smith, 28
34:37:60
Tricia Young, 30
41:48:70