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5th annual 'Run with the Rapids' 5K Race scheduled for May 18

by jmaloni

Press release

Thu, May 2nd 2013 09:10 am

USA Track & Field sanctioned-event benefits the Downtown Niagara Falls Business Association

The fifth annual "Run with the Rapids" 5K Race will be held on Saturday, May 18, in downtown Niagara Falls. This USA Track & Field-sanctioned race will benefit the Downtown Niagara Falls Business Association.

Race registration and the post-race party will be held on Old Falls Street, USA. Check-in time is from 7:30 until 8:45 a.m., with a race start time of 9 a.m. The post-race party runs until noon.

The unique course, certified accurate by the USA Track & Field Association (Course No. NY11005JG), showcases the recent developments in downtown Niagara Falls along with a scenic view of the upper Niagara River rapids. The race will start on the corner of Third and Old Falls streets. It guides participants through the Buffalo Avenue Heritage District, along a portion of the Robert Moses Parkway, through the downtown area and finishes on Third Street. Seasoned and amateur participants are encouraged to register.

Returning this year will be chip timing by Score This. Runners will receive electronic devices to insert in their shoes, which will be able to compute finish times to thousandths of a second

Race registration forms are posted on www.FallsStreet.com or can be obtained by contacting Dan Mezhir, race coordinator, at 716-278-2111 or at [email protected]. Prepayment can be made online at www.score-this.com. Pre-registration price for a single participant is $25, or $45 for a pair (two people only) of runners. Onsite race registration is $30 per person.

This year, all preregistered and prepaid runners receive one entry to win a "Niagara Falls Getaway," including an overnight stay at The Giacomo Hotel, dinner at the Hard Rock Café, and Niagara Falls State Park Discovery Passes.

The festive post-race party will be held on Old Falls Street, USA, from 10 a.m. to noon. The party features a buffet picnic, beer and wine, soft drinks and live entertainment for registered runners. The party is also open to the general public, with the purchase of a $10 wristband. New to the party this year is a basket/gift certificate auction featuring items donated by members of the DNFBA. Proceeds benefit the DFNBA.

"This fundraiser is the official kick-off of the 2013 Old Falls Street summer season," said Ryan Coate, DNFBA president and general manager of Old Falls Street, USA. "Visitors and residents alike will enjoy the course as it highlights the many new changes to our downtown landscape as well as the thunderous upper river rapids themselves."

In addition to participants, the DNFBA is also looking for race volunteers. Volunteers will help mark the intersections of the course and provide water for participants. Those wishing to help should call 716-278-2115.

The goal of the DNFBA is to create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, with commercial, retail and residential development elements that service several market segments and ultimately result in capturing more tourist visitation to downtown Niagara Falls.

The race is sponsored by Global Spectrum, The Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls, Old Falls Street, USA, the Quality Hotel & Suites, Legends Bar & Grill, the Niagara Gazette, Sevenson Environmental Services, the Holiday Inn, the Aquarium of Niagara, the Comfort Inn - The Pointe, the Hard Rock Café, ROAD ID, the Sheraton At The Falls, Try-It Distributing, Lindt Chocolate, the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission and The Giacomo Hotel.

For more information or to pre-register for the event, visitwww.FallsStreet.com.

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