STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The last race of the season takes place Sunday as the 32nd annual Staten Island Special Olympics Pat & Diane 2-Mile Run will once again be held at the Elizabeth Connelly Center in Willowbrook.
Chris Calimano and Melissa Davila are the defending champions.
Check out the race application below for more details.
2025 SI Special Olympics 2-Mile RunStaten Island Running Association
News from SITRAC
SITRAC is pleased to announce the distinguished recipients of this year’s Staten Island Triple Crown Awards Special Awards, which will be formally presented at the organization’s annual dinner in January.
This year’s Humanitarian Award will be presented to Tom Brady for his exceptional dedication and years of service to Special Olympics. The Arnold Obey Road Warrior Community Service Award will honor Lisa Lubarsky, of The Richmond Rockets whose contributions have strengthened and inspired the local running community. The George Kochman Service Award will be given to Cindy Amato, CYO St. Charles, in recognition of her steadfast commitment to years of youth coaching. Matt Cona will receive the Rising Star Award, celebrating his promising achievements and service. Rounding out the evening, Chris Mancusi will be recognized with the prestigious Bill Welsh Coaching Award.
The awards dinner will be held on Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lifestyles for the Disabled Educational Center located at 884 Targee St.
SITRAC will present all age group awards and overall winners as well from the three races this past year.
Runners will be honored at the SITRAC Triple Crown Awards event.Staten Island Running Association
For more information regarding the Staten Island Triple Crown Awards, please contact Lorraine Lettieri letgorun55@yahoo.com or Bill Allert, billallert0813@gmail.com “
Running book news!
Former Staten Islander Chuck Petersen, whose family actually lived in the South Shore’s Biddle house, came into running later in life and he certainly has made the most of it!
Petersen’s running experiences have now been published in his book “Running Just For The Health Of It.”
Former Staten Islander Chuck Petersen.s book, “Running Just For The Health Of It”.Staten Island Running Association
From the book’s info release:
“Chuck Petersen was born in Tottenville in 1940. He attended PS #1Grammer School in Tottenville and graduated from Tottenville High School in 1958. When he was 3 years old his parents purchased an abandoned homestead in Tottenville that was built by Henry Hogg Biddle in the 1840s. It had deteriorated to the point that restoration seemed to be unattainable. His parents completely restored the “Biddle House” to the impressive estate it once was. It became the Petersen family home for the next 57 years. Today it is part of the New York City Park system and can be enjoyed by each of us. Recently Chuck wrote about his childhood in the homestead in a book entitled “Growing Up In The Historic Biddle House”.
After graduating high school Chuck joined the Navy. Two days after completing his Navy service Chuck was a full time student at Wagner College. While attending college Chuck met his wife Carole who was a nursing student at the time. They have now been married for over 62 years. Chuck eventually earned a Master’s degree in Business Management at Wagner. After living for many years on Staten Island they eventually moved to Fanwood New Jersey. At 36 years of age Chuck found himself weighing in at 214 pounds and smoking more than two packs of cigarettes daily. As a 1977 New Year’s resolution Chuck committed to start running and becoming smoke free. As the pounds dropped and his conditioning improved Chuck began his venture into “Running Just For The Health Of It”.
Today Chuck has run far in excess of 100,000 miles and successfully completed 57 marathons, 12 one hundred mile trail races and over 100 races of marathon distance or longer. Although he has now gone past his 85th birthday, he continues to complete several ultra runs each year.
In his book, aptly entitled “Running Just For The Health Of It” he writes of many of his experiences over his 50 years of running. Within his narrative there are several “nuggets” for each of us to consider. While some are about running, many are just about life.”
To purchase “Running Just For The Health Of It” go to:
https://www.amazon.com/Running-Just-Health-Chuck-Petersen
Monthly trivia contest sponsored by ASICS & JAMBAR!
Please submit your answer to my email below. All correct answers will then be put into a lot where two winners will be drawn randomly. One winner receives a pair of ASICS running shoes and the second a free 12 Bar Variety box of JAMBAR energy bars.
Congrats to last month’s winners Gregg Petersen (ASICS) and Dave Michaels (Jambar).
This month’s question –
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Ocean Breeze Indoor Track & Field facility, where runners of all ages have competed on the fast indoor surface and continue to do so.
St. Joseph Hill’s Kirsten Harper takes off in the 55-meter dash final at the CHSAA Intersectional Championships from the Ocean Breeze Track and Field Complex on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)Staten Island Advance
Can you name ONE Olympic T&F Gold Medalist who has competed there?
Good luck and see you all next next year! Happy holidays to all and keep running!
Questions, comments, upcoming news? Please feel free to email Jeff at rbenja726@aol.com