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West York Juniors Putting on a 5K

Posted on: Wednesday, 19 January 2005, 00:00 CST

Runners are often asked to support a good cause, and here's another one for local athletes to consider.

Four West York Area High School juniors are organizing a 5K race for their graduation project. The race will be held at 1 p.m. on Feb. 13, starting at Sunset Lane Park in West Manchester Township.

The event will be a fund-raiser for the Four Diamonds Fund, which benefits pediatric cancer patients at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The Four Diamonds Fund is an organization that was started in 1972 by Charles and Irma Millard after the death of their son, Christopher, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 11. It aids families financially who are dealing with the same troubles and has helped more than 2,000 families since its inception.

The cause is a personal one for two of the junior race directors in particular Caitlin Pflaum and Alicia Poist.

Pflaum, 16, was diagnosed with cancer as an infant, and Four Diamonds came to her assistance.

"They actually paid my medical bills," she said. "They know how stressful it is to go through that."

And the results of her treatment have clearly been overwhelmingly positive.

"I've been (in) remission almost 15 years," she said. "I feel normal, I guess. I'm capable of doing things everyone else can do."

Poist, meanwhile, has her own reason for supporting the cause. Pflaum said Poist recently lost two grandparents to cancer.

The two young women are joined by classmates Ben Jones and Nathan Kocher in their efforts to put on a successful event. Poist is the only one who is not a member of the Bulldogs' cross country and track teams.

This project is fulfilling a requirement for the foursome that must be done before a student can graduate from West York.

"Everyone is required to do a graduation project, but this is the first year that you had to have a final product," said Pflaum. "It used to be a five-page report that most kids did the night before."

Students do their project during their junior year, and unless they fail, they do not have to do another their senior year. One student recently put on a fashion show, other students held bake sales, and others are building a variety of products.

Students have the opportunity to do something they are interested in, which made the decision easy for Pflaum.

"That's why I decided to do a race; it's something I love," said Pflaum. "I love to run, and I knew it would be a great opportunity to learn about how a race is organized."

Pflaum acquired that passion for running only recently. After playing basketball her "whole life," as she put it, some friends of hers talked her into joining the cross country team last year. She fell hard.

Pflaum is not playing basketball this winter. She has immersed herself in indoor track instead. So when it came time to choose her project, she teamed up with her friend Poist, and they came up with the 5K plan.

Then they took the concept to their adviser, Carolyn Dougherty, who also happens to be the assistant track coach. Dougherty told them that two other students Jones and Kocher had the same idea.

So the four joined forces, and it has been a perfect match.

"Nate has been dealing with the insurance and the legal side of things," said Pflaum. "I've been the contact person, Benjamin has been securing sponsors ... and Alicia is going to be instrumental in registration since she is such a people person."

Pflaum has also leaned on her uncle, Dave Pflaum, a well-known runner on the local scene, for advice. Dougherty has also been a valuable resource, as have various members of the York Road Runners Club.

And, of course, Greg Baum of Flying Feet Sport Shoes is helping out. (Does he ever say no? I think not.)

Flying Feet is donating the race numbers, and Baum will allow them to use his timing system.

And the younger Pflaum was smart when it came to scheduling the event.

"The first thing I made sure of was that it doesn't conflict with the (YRRC) Winter Series," said Pflaum with a laugh. "The biggest stress right now is seeing how many people come out. I'd like to get 100, maybe 200... I just don't know."

If past races like this are any indication, Pflaum will likely reach her goal. Of course, the weather is the one unknown factor, but a 1 p.m. start should make it more appealing to some fair- weather runners (like your host).

There will also be a cross country team challenge, where students are able to enter teams of four. Cross country scoring will be used, and the top high school team will win a prize. Perhaps that will draw in some of the high school athletes.

No matter how many people show up, Pflaum and her three peers will be judged by a panel of three teachers on March 7. If their early efforts are any indication, it looks like a passing mark will be a walk make that a run in the park.

The entry fee is $12, if paid by Feb. 1, or $15 after that date. Race-day registration takes place from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

For a race application or more details, call Pflaum at 764-3004 after 5 p.m. or e-mail her at crazy2520@verizon.net. ..........

Winter Series: The York Road Runners Club Winter Series looks like it will finally live up to its name this weekend.

Series runners will be back in action at the Saginaw 10K, the fifth event in the series, at noon on Saturday. The forecast is for temperatures in the 20s and possible snow showers.

Runners not taking part in the entire series are still welcome to participate. Call Jack Goodwin at 600-2282 (home) or 718-2951 (work) for more details.

Winter Walk: The York White Rose Wanderers club will be hosting a "volkssport" a free, non-competitive walk over the weekend of Feb. 5-6.

The walks will start at Central Market House at 34 West Philadelphia Street in York. Walkers can begin their "march" anytime from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The walks will wrap up at 4 p.m.

There will be a 5K and a 10K walk for people to choose from, both traveling on sidewalks through historical and residential sections of the city of York.

For more details, contact Gloria Reedy at 292-3777 or JGWALK6541@webtv.net.

Upcoming events -- Tri-Speed offerings: Tri-Speed Multisport in Timonium, Md., is offering a class geared to beginner triathletes during the months of March and April.

Classes will meet the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the store, which is just off Interstate 83 at the Timonium exit.

Registration is required, and the fee is $40 for the course.

The store is also offering a "Planning Your Training" course on Wednesday; a "Bicycle Care & Maintenance" seminar on Feb. 16; a "Eating Right" seminar on March 16; and a session titled: "Are You Ready? Race Season is Right Around the Corner" on April 13.

All of these seminars are free and begin at 7 p.m.

Contact the store at (410) 252-3103 for more details, or visit its web site at www.tri-speed.com.

M.C. Helsabeck covers local running and biking events for the Daily Record/Sunday News. Reach him at 771-2058, or mhelsabeck@ydr.com. Fax race results or upcoming events to 771- 2009.

MUG: Pflaum

Source: York Daily Record

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