Oatka 15 "just do it anyway" (Stage race despite cancellation)

SCOTTSVILLE, NY-Refusing to bow to disappointment, a two-seat, in-line baby jogger and 13 pairs of enthusiastic legs held their own "Festival on the Oatka Over/Under 5k" race Saturday morning, August 22.

"No sense in wasting the morning" seemed to be the common sentiment in everyone's mind.

At first the situation looked grim to early arrivers at Johnson Park: they saw no registration table, no race numbers, no signs of a road race anywhere. With veterans who knew the course among the crowd, however, support for doing some running seemed to spring up naturally. (Lack of volunteer support and increased business responsibilities had apparently forced the director to cancel the race, which had been a fixture of the Wheatland Arts and Crafts Festival for the past few years.)

So at precisely 9am, Tom Gabruk, drafted into the role of race starter, gave the hardy band some professional last-minute instructions and they were off, past the central block of downtown Scottsville that veritably teemed with people setting up shop for festival day. Most spectators seemed a bit mystified by the motley crew chugging down the main drag unescorted and without official recognition; but at least one senior citizen gave a rousing cheer as the runners passed. (Turned out later she was the grandmother of the two youngest race finishers.)

Down Main Street to circle the high school they flew, enjoying the warm temperature and light wind from the north, but disliking the high humidity. By the time the runners headed up North Road about mile 2 Gabruk and perennial Masters maven Mark Harrison had the lead for good, finishing in 18:40. First female to cross the finish line, accurately marked as exactly opposite the "No Parking" sign on the park entrance road, was newcomer Bryn Mulligan in 21:08.

In order of finish, the "Oatka 15" were:
Mark Harrison--18:40
Tom Gabruk--18:40
Steve Healy--21:06
Bryn Mulligan--21:08.
Steve Aldersley--21:10
Ed ???--23:14
Gary Andrews--24:15
Anne Procopio--24:40
Margie Culbertson--25:42
Peter Haggerty--26:01
Ted O'Brien (ignoring shin splints)--26:20
Stephanie Aldersley--27:00
Patricia Martin--27:11
Tim Mulligan (and two kids)--30:00
Gene Lylak --30:21

Lylak admits to an "over" run, his enthusiasm carrying him back through the village of Scottsville, extending his distance but allowing him to secure the course as sweeper. Steve Aldersley also journeyed through the village, but voiced no complaints.

"After finishing that swim at Hamlin, lots of things will be a piece of cake for awhile," said Aldersley, referring of course to the now legendary swim at the recent Hamlin Beach Triathlon that saw five-foot swells, kicked up by a stiff northeast wind, force some competitors not to attempt the swim and blow all other swimmers--and some buoys--well off course, ensuring the experience a top place in local fitness lore for some time to come.

After the race, nine of the finishers hoofed three minutes over to the Scottsville Diner, enjoyed its renowned breakfast cuisine, and swapped exercise stories and information. Surely one of the most dramatic tales of the day was recounted by Culbertson. The daring mother-of-three had everyone's attention when she told of having both first and second parachutes fail to deploy properly during a recent first skydiving experience. She survived unscathed, her enthusiasm for the sport undiminished.

"Sure, I'd try it again," she said quietly without bravado. "After what I went through the first time, I think I really ought to get to have some fun out of it next time."

Before departing to live the non-running part of their Saturday, the remains of the "Oatka 15", shaved to 6, sashayed over to Chez Haggerty's new crib in Riverton, West Henrietta, downed some Hazelnut coffee and some Monks' date-and-nut bread, and brainstormed running ideas, including how to bring a five-star road race to the Rochester area.

They also left a small poem in the wind to commemorate their experience.

"It was not what we had forseen,
Not part of our weekend scene.
But fore'er in our running dreams,
We'll conjure fondly the "Oatka 15."