Coogan's Salsa, Blues & Shamrocks 5K Run

Coogan’s 12th Annual SALSA, BLUES & SHAMROCK 5K RUN
(begins at Fort Washington Avenue and West 173rd Street)
March 7, 2010

What a beautiful day to kick-off the 2010 running season and how better to do it then with another famous New York City run, the Coogan’s Salas-Blues, Shamrock 5K Run starting at West 173rd Street and Fort Washington Avenue in Washington Height’s. The scenic route circles the historic Cloisters and returns to 169th Street. New York City Road Runners calls this “the best road race outside of Central Park”. The run starts at 173rd Street a few blocks North of the New York Armory, and for those of you who know running history, this is an indoor track facility that has seen it’s fair share of world class runners come through its doors, in addition it house the USA TRACK AND FIELD HALL OF FAME. This race is a celebration of the strong community ties and rich cultural diversity of northern Manhattan.

There must have been over 4,000 runners of all ages running toady including world class competitors, local celebrities and hundreds of kids running their hearts out. The course is hilly and starts in a very urban New York City setting of Washington Heights in the shadow of the George Washington Bridge, it eventually takes you into Fort Tyron Park, which is a very wooded park with spectacular views of the Harlem River to the East and the Hudson River and the Palisade Cliff’s of New Jersey to the West. If you did not know better when you get to Fort Tyron Park you would not know you were in NYC! Another treat of running in this race is along the course there were Salas Bands, Meringue Bands, Klezmer Bands, Blues and Jazz Bands, Bagpipes and Brass Bands, as well as groups of cheerleader squads and local high school marching bands, this is a real neighborhood celebration!

Proceeds from the race will benefit the newly opened USA TRACK AND FIELD HALL OF FAME and the ARMORY TRACK AND FIELD CENTER.

Races “within the race” also include the Captain Frederick III Jr. race, created in memory of a local firefighter who lost his life in the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Captain III had founded this race, a competition among uniformed service. This year, Captain III’s wife was there to start the race alongside other local dignitaries.