Raven Rocks Run

Dear Runners,

Shirt design for 2016 by Maria Scrivan.

Thanks for coming out for a run on the trails of Ward Pound Ridge Reservation this past Sunday.

The second annual Raven Rocks Run went very well with over 300 runners participating in the 10k trail race. Runners from 5 states were represented – The 4 states nearby (NY, CT, NJ, and MA) plus our overall winner who was the sole representative from Pennsylvania.

If you have any race related feedback, please let us know using the contact form — or send us an email at ravenrocksrun@gmail.com.

Results

Complete race results are posted at https://ravenrocksrun.org/results/2016-results/

Robert Kehoe leading the race on Pell Hill (photo by Tom Casper)

The overall men’s winner was Robert Kehoe of Allentown, PA who finished in 47:49. Robert grew up in Katonah and is a John Jay graduate. He made the trek back to his hometown area to compete in the race.

Jacqueline Kehoe on the Blue trail climb (photo by Chris Reinke)

The overall women’s winner was Jacqueline Kehoe of New York City. Jacqueline set a new course record (56:01) for the women’s race, knocking off a minute from the prior record set last year in the inaugural race. She is also the older sister of Robert and was a 4 year standout cross country and track athlete at John Jay HS.

Rounding out the top three men were Fox Lane’s Cole Rooney (48:33, 2nd overall) and Goldens Bridge resident and JJXC coach Tommy Nohilly (49:00).

For the women, Pound Ridge’s Cathrine Wolden Levine was second overall (58:14). Wilton’s Jennifer Morello (58:59) was a few runners behind at 3rd overall.

9 Year Old Christopher Demuth on Pell Hill followed by his dad Chris (photo by Tom Casper)

Youngest runner, 9 year old Christopher Demuth finished (1:25:48) just ahead of his dad, Chris Demuth.

Nick Ohnell, longtime trail runner, ran with Tony Godino, founder of the famous Leatherman’s Loop trail race. Both runners walked away with an age group pie prize.

Volunteers

A big event like this is dependent on the help of many volunteers. A big thank you to all of the registration helpers, photographers, course marshalls, course setters, pre-race runners, announcers, water table volunteers, sweeps, and course clean up crew.

Special thanks to my wife, Ciorsdan. For always remembering the things I forgot, especially on race morning. Tony Godino & Judy Godino – without your help and guidance via working with you on Leatherman and Run The Farm over the past (nearly) 10 years, we would not

Volunteer and Sunday Runner Group (photo by Ciorsdan Conran)

have been able to pull this together. Lee Willett, Peter Muurseep, and Joe Cloidt, who pre-ran the course at 7am to make sure the markings were set — and thanks to some “misguided” campers the check and reset was definitely needed this year.

Joe Mokszycki and Bob Branizza helped set the course with me the saturday before. Tom Cohn, former president of the Friends of Trailside Museum board of directors, has been incredibly supportive of the race and helped shepherd it in the inaugural year with the county and museum. New mantra for 2017: We will get that fire tower back! 😉

Water stop volunteer selfie – Mike Paletta, Chris Cassone, and Michelle Zandona. (photo by Chris Cassone)

Mike Paletta hiked up to the former Fire Tower site along with Michelle Zandoná and Chris Cassone and served everyone water while cheering everyone on. Chris Reinke stepped in with his EMT training while photographing at the top of the blue trail to render aid to an injured runner. Once again, Andy Hafter sliced nearly every bagel and orange for the runners (with the help of my mom Pat Cummings and Francis Corcoran and a few others!).

Karen Haitoff, Kristen Noble, Debbie Mullin, and Amelia Mullin made sure no runner was left behind as race sweeps. Brian Stempel, Eric Foxhall, Barry Fagan, Kathy Lynch, Eileen Polese, Lisa Abzun, Orion Cummings, Sawyer Cummings, Deb Buscema, Alan Wegener, Jeff Thompson, Mark Vincent, and Bill Bradsell all helped with registration, parking, course marshaling, and general on the spot assistance. If I have forgotten anyone I can add them in!

Francis Corcoran (County Legislator, 2nd district), Jeff Main (park superintendant), and Tom Cohn (past president of the Friends of Trailside) get ready to send runners on their way at the 2016 Raven Rocks Run. (Photo by Alan Wegener)

Special thanks to our official starter Tom Cohn and special guest Francis Corcoran. Francis is our representative for the second district in the Westchester County Legislature. He has heard about and embraced the fire tower project. He is all in with helping to restore it back to its rightful place at the top of Cross River Mountain in the Rez. Francis grew up in the local area and attended John Jay schools. He fondly remembers climbing the original fire tower and wants to help so future generations can experience the sweeping views and inspirational climb to get there.

Parks Department

Thanks to John Baker, Jeff Main, Chase, and Sean — all from the Westchester County Parks Department. So many aspects of the race would have been difficult or impossible without their help. And they do this day in and day out!

Friends of Trailside

Forty Five runners joined in 2016 as members of the Friends of Trailside Museum and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation via the race website. If you haven’t already received it, you will be getting your membership information shortly from them. You can still join online – or fill out and send in the membership form here. Mindy, AJ, and David stand ready to make your trip to Trailside memorable!

The Friends of Trailside is a 501(c)3 organization and is dedicated to promoting a better appreciation and understanding of the natural world and the relationship between people and the land. Through its support of the Trailside Nature Museum, operated by the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation of the County of Westchester, the Friends provide financial and volunteer aid for exhibits, school, and education programs. For more information on the Friends group — including how to join — click here: http://friendsoftrailside.org/

The Fire Tower

We are very interested in restoring the Cross River Mountain Fire Tower to the park. The Fire Tower stood from 1927 through the early 1980s when it was removed without county permission and dismantled. Together with the parks department and many supporters, we would like to correct this historic error and create a beacon that will draw visitors to the top of the park for incredible vistas of the surrounding countryside. If you are interested in this endeavor, we want to hear from you and enlist your support (email us at ravenrocksrun@gmail.com).

LVAC

Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps standing by at Raven Rocks Run in 2016. (Photo by Carol Gordon)

The Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps was out and ready to heal on Sunday. Thanks to Captain Lucian Lipinsky and the rest of the volunteers.

LVAC has been a steadying and very helpful presence at the Leatherman’s Loop for years. It was great to have them back at Raven Rocks!

Photos

We have posted photos from our fantastic team of shutterbugs here: https://leathermansloop.smugmug.com/Raven-Rocks-Run/2016.

Thanks to photographers Ciorsdan Conran, Carol Gordon, Diane Bradsell, Tom Casper, John Cummings (my dad!), Alan Wegener, Sawyer Cummings, Rob Cummings, and Chris Reinke. Big thanks to a few of our runners and other volunteers who uploaded photos so far. There’s plenty of room for more photos if you want to share yours at our runner upload gallery here:  https://leathermansloop.smugmug.com/upload/fgbsNq/rrr

Chris Reinke also set up his GoPro and caught almost all runners coming up to the top of the Fire Tower hill. I sped it up 10x and set it to Leonard Cohen’s “Tower of Song” — available here: http://smu.gs/2gvENPX

Trail Mix

The Raven Rocks Run was the final event in the 2016 Trail Mix Trail Race series (http://trailmixseries.org). The series was in its third year in 2016.

We have published the final Trail Mix results for the series at the series website.

Congratulations to Virgil Bretz and Lindsay Obrig for taking the 2016 overall series for male and female runners. More details and age group winners can be found at the links above.

Thanks to the other Trail Mix race directors for having another great and expanded 2016 series — we are looking forward to the 2017 Trail Mix Series — get ready to go on tour!

Sunday Run group

We have a dedicated group of trail runners who meet every Sunday morning at 8am (http://sundayruns.org) to run trails in and around northern Westchester and occasionally beyond. All year round — all paces — all welcome! We never leave anyone behind and encourage new trail runners to try out the trails.

Many of our regular sunday runners are race directors and volunteers for the Trail Mix and many other local races. It is a very fun and welcoming group. Our group runs include course checks for many local races including the “Looper Bowl” running of the Leatherman’s Loop course on Super Bowl Sunday. This year will be the 6th year we have that group run. We also started a winter group run of the Raven Rocks Run course — called the “Raven Lunatic” — that takes runners on the Raven Rocks course after a fresh snowfall.

Other upcoming events

If you are looking for a great 5k road race this coming Sunday, Deb Buscema, who was one of our volunteers last Sunday — is organizing the Second Annual Lower Salem Turkey Trot 5k in South Salem, NY.

Registration link is here: http://www.lightboxreg.com/lower-salem-turkey-trot?func=&mobile=0 The course is a local favorite, circling around beautiful Truesdale Lake.

Lastly, the 31st running of the Leatherman’s Loop 10k Trail Race is coming up in 2017. The Loop Lottery will take place in early January. Check the link for more information. Sign up to receive emails from the Loop and also follow the Leatherman on Facebook and other media to be reminded of when to sign up for the lottery.

In Closing

Thanks for coming — and sticking around until the end of this writeup. Hope to see you on the trails!

Rob Cummings
Raven Rocks Run Race Director