South Nyack Prepares for 10 Mile Run

All systems are “go” for the 23rd annual South Nyack 10-miler on Sunday.

“We already have 400 pre-registered runners, and could get more than 500 [for the race],” noted veteran race director Bernie Casserly of New City.

Casserly, one-third of an operational triumvirate with co-race directors Mike Angarola and Kathy Daly, said the course—one of the most popular in the metropolitan area—was altered slightly for this year’s event on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

“Because of 9/11, the —which always helps out immeasurably—is having a ceremony at 8:45 a.m. when the first plane hit, and finishes when the second tower came down [10:28 a.m.]. So a small portion of River Road will be closed a bit.”

The Piermont volunteer fire departments will share race proceeds with Orangetown Fire Company No. 1 in South Nyack, the Nyack Ambulance Corps and .

Casserly, a graduate of Erasmus High School in Brooklyn, and a brief schoolmate of pro basketball player Billy Cunningham, said the only ingredient needed for another spectacular day is “decent weather.”

, Upper Nyack’s perennial champion Art Gunther Jr. and 2003 Tappan Zee High graduate Nick Roosa—now a New York City resident, and an aspiring firefighter—staged a thrilling duel, and both are expected back for another showdown.

“Both ran around 54 [minutes], a 5:24 pace for 10 miles; that’s a great time, for sure,” noted Casserly, who has competed several times, and also has 15 marathons under his belt, although none since the early ’90s.

(Gunther’s official clocking was 53:38 while Roosa was timed in an equally impressive 53:57. The third-place finisher, Mike Slinskey, wasn’t too far behind, either, in 55:34.)

Roosa, who is prepping for his first New York City Marathon in early November (he ran the Austin, TX marathon last year), is nursing a sore Achilles tendon. Like most competitive runners who are as finely tuned as thoroughbreds, Roosa hopes he will be ready for the starter’s horn. The 2007 University of Rochester graduate admits he cannot run merely to run.

“I think I have a good shot to be there, but you can’t jump in a race without really racing,” he said, recognizing the allure of the event.

“I definitely want to be there, but I’m also getting ready for the marathon, and got to keep the long-term in mind,” the 2010 runner-up said. “It’s a great race, a good tune-up [for the marathon]. The course is tougher than it looks, it’s tougher than you think, but it’s a beautiful run along the Hudson. I’m hoping to be there.”

The race, sponsored by the Rockland Road Runners, is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. It will be preceded by the children’s fun runs at 8:15 a.m. Check-in for the 10-mile run is from 7 to 8:15 a.m., and for the fun runs from 7 to 7:45 a.m.

Casserly said that runners can pick up their numbers, or register, on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Orangetown Fire House on Depot Ave. in South Nyack. The Fire House will also be open at 7 a.m. on Sunday for late registrants.

The challenging out-and-back course begins and ends near Franklin Street Park. It offers picturesque views of the Hudson as it runs along the river through the villages of South Nyack, Grand View and Piermont and turns around at the end of the Piermont Pier. The last mile of the course is on the Esposito Trail, a converted rail-trail that was once part of the Erie Railroad line.

Gunther, a South Orangetown teacher and Binghamton University Hall of Famer, has dominated the race with 13 victories in 15 attempts. His race last year with Roosa was a near-classic.

The race annually generates close to $5,000 for its designated charities. Since September 11, 2001, race proceeds have been earmarked for local first-responder organizations. Since its conversion to the 10-mile distance in 1989—it was a 7.8-mile race from 1978 to 1987—the event has raised thousands of dollars for area fire departments, Junior Achievement and other worthy causes, such as Camp Venture, St. Agatha’s Respite Care, St. Dominic’s Home, Rockland County Friends of Autistic Children and Rockland County Association for Children with Learning Disabilities.

Last year, two scholarships worth $750 each were awarded to Clarkstown South students in recognition of the school’s volunteerism at the race.

“We’ve had 10 or 11 kids volunteer the last couple of years, and we’re getting some from North, too,” Casserly noted. “STAC [St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill] also helps out, as does Nyack College. So far, so good; all we need is decent weather to make it a perfect day.”

The entry fee at this time is $30 for all participants. The Children’s Fun Run fee is $3.

The overall male and female winners will be awarded Citizen watches, and the winning masters (40 or older) runners will receive trophies and a $50 prize. A special trophy will be awarded to the first male and female resident of South Nyack, Grand View or Piermont. In addition, awards go to the top three male and female finishers in the following age categories: 19 or younger, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, and 70 or older. T-shirts are guaranteed to the first 400 pre-registered entrants; no shirts for race-day registrants. Amenities include post-race raffle prizes, food and refreshments.

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For more information visit www.rocklandroadrunners.org; or contact Daly at vp@rocklandroadrunners.org or 845-536-3052; Casserly at president@rocklandroadrunners.org; or Angarola at mangarola@yahoo.com.

Short steps

• Tappan Zee High School coach Pat Driscoll, who once ran for Clarkstown North, and later at Marist College, is again in the field. “I try to make it every year. Art Gunther wins it every year, and I fight for second,” he said, unable to suppress his laughter. Driscoll, nnth last year in 1:00:28, is using the race as a tune-up for the Philadelphia marathon in November.
• Several members of the Tappan Zee team will use the race as a training run, but will officially team up on Sept. 18 in a Race for Recovery benefit for Jawonio at Rockland Lake. Saturday’s 10-miler will also serve as a warm-up for a triangular cross-country meet on Tuesday afternoon against Nyack and host Pearl River at the Pearl River Middle School.
• Casserly maintains that Gunther, now 40 and a Masters competitor, will remain a force for years to come. “He takes care of himself, and he actually could be the best Masters runner around.”
• April Ackermann of Cochecton is the defending women’s champion. She placed 23rd in 1:00:28. The top women finisher from Rockland last year was Carol Guzinski of Garnerville, who placed 41st with a clocking of 1:09:12.
• Seemingly ageless veteran road runner Jamie Kempton of Nanuet took 13th a year ago in 1:01:43. His goal is to beat that time this time around, regardless of placement.