The annual Miles for Michael/Pittston Tomato Festival 5K Run and Fun Walk is in its 21st year for 2019 and it’s turned out to be a premiere running event in northeast PA.
The race will kick off the events for the Tomato Festival at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, lining up on Main Street.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Greater Pittston YMCA’s Main Street entrance. The fee is $30 per runner and $15 per walker with $4 per entrant being donated to the Miles for Michael Foundation for the fifth consecutive year. Long sleeve t-shirts will be give to the first 150 runner and 25 walkers.
Miles for Michael is a not-for-profit local foundation in the name of the late Michael Joyce who was stricken with esophageal cancer and, after fighting a courageous battle, passed away in 2006 at the age of 43.
Miles for Michael, in its 13th year, has raised well over $750,000 to aid local people struggling with cancer who could use financial help.
Visa gift cards are distributed in denomination of $250 or $500 for gas, lodging, tolls, food, or whatever the patient or patient’s family needs during a very difficult time.
When Miles for Michael was created in 2006, the foundation was hoping to raise $10,000. At the conclusion of the first event, over $120,000 was raised.
A statement from the Miles for Michael organization, said, “Addressing the needs of cancer patients and their families, this fund provides support for unexpected expenses such as travel, lodging, food, gas and tolls that help families to remain with loved ones during treatment and recovery.”
Trophies will be awarded to the top three overall male and female runners of the 5K run.
A 1.5-mile Fun Walk will start after the runners begin the 5K run. Scoring and timing will, once again, be provided by The Scranton Running Company.
The course, just over three miles, starts on Main Street, Pittston, crosses the Kridlo Bridge into West Pittston, follows along Susquehanna Avenue, crosses back to Pittston over the Fireman’s Memorial Bridge. The course then turns south on Kennedy Boulevard before the beginning of the hill section, ending back on Main Street to the finish at the Tomato Festival lot.
The course will have a split time at the one-mile mark as well as having two water stations, one at the two-mile mark and one at the end of the race.
In 2018, Chris McCabe, of Carlisle, was the top male and overall winner with a time of 15:54 while Amy Viti, of Sugar Notch, took the top honors for women with a time of 20:31.
First-place winners will be given a medal in each age category: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-59, 60 and older.
