Run the Gates 5-Miler & 1-Mile Fun Run
Next run: June 5, 2011

Be sure to visit our Facebook page.

To view photos of winners in the 2010 run, please click here.

The rain held off on Sunday, June 6th, but hazy, hot, and humid conditions greeted the runners as they toed up at the start line for the fifth running of the Run the Gates at Forsythia Crossing Park – an oasis set between Snowball Gate and its neighboring Forsythia Gate. The figure-eight course takes runners first clockwise through Snowball, then across Forsythia Crossing, and ends traversing through Red Rose and Forsythia Gates counter clockwise to finish back at the Park.

We far exceeded our expectations on Sunday. We had 236 total paid participants (179 five milers and 57 milers) with 203 finishers (162 in the five-miler and 41 in 1 mile fun run/walk). This topped our last year’s previous high by almost 25%. We have been building this event up slowly prior to this, but this amazing jump in participation surprised even the most optimistic of our group.

Before, during and after the run, Tuesday's Gone, southern rock group from Bucks County, filled the Sunday morning with their renditions of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, Charlie Daniels Band, and their own original tunes. These gentlemen have graciously provided their music for all five of our editions of Run the Gates in Levittown.

Patrick Haneman, 20, from Jamison, PA, a three-time men’s champion, won the men's competition with 29:22, slightly slower than his winning time in 2009 of 29:08, but eclipsing his 2008 winning time of 29:37. He was runner up in 2007 at age of 17 to BCRR's own, Jim Barger, who set a course record of 28:57 that year, which still stands.

Mary Aull , 46, from nearby Basking Ridge, NJ won the women's division with a time of 40:03. The distaff course record was set in 2008 by Jill Liney with a blistering 32:19.

Our one mile fun run saw 13 year old Hailey Boyer from Wayne, PA take the female division with a time of 8:09. Nick Meadows of Langhorne took the male race in 8:29.

Denise Gilroy and Tony Gibilante, both from Levittown, and members of the Handicapped Crusaders, one of the beneficiaries of the race, decided they would beat their record of seven times around the park. So, with Denise in her motorized wheelchair, and Tony, legally blind, took off, with Denise’s sister’s Debbie’s help, to make it very proudly around Forsythia Crossing eight times. Quite a feat!

BCRR (Bucks County Roadrunners Club) was in strong evidence with over 10 volunteers and 20 runners in attendance. The club has provided its expertise in race organization, registration, timing, marshalling, and scoring for over nine years now.

The three organizations that are supported by our race (Bucks County Council for Individuals with Disabilities, Delta Community Supports, Inc., and Handicapped Crusaders) also had numerous volunteers who were instrumental in pulling off this event. They had spent much of their valuable free-time prior to the event insuring that the races and events of the day went off without a hitch. And, we couldn't have had such great success without the support of the employees of Middletown Township Parks and Recreation Department, and Department of Public Works. The good folks from BCCID and Highland Park Community Church also lent a hand on the course and back at the start/finish area.

We also want to thank the Gates neighborhood folk who came out to support the runners and walkers, especially the Lynch and Matlock families who manned the water stops out on the course. There were also water sprinklers and hoses manned by locals on the course. These were a welcome sight to the runners, especially on the second loop through Forsythia and Red Rose.

We had valuable monetary sponsors: Bucks County Government, Middletown Township, the Middletown Community Foundation, Waste Management, James J. Dougherty Funeral Home of Levittown (certainly an incongruous ad on the back of a running t-shirt), and other individuals.

Others donated product and services: bottled water and juices from Morning Start Services (formerly Mark’s Vending of Levittown) and Wawa, Hostess products from a Teamsters Local, and soft pretzels from Philly Style Pretzels in Penndel.

Runners goodie bags contained a sample of New Wheaties product provided by Runners World, various local race flyers, Middletown newsletter, Metro Race Forum magazine, water bottle from First National Bank & Trust Company of Newtown, race t-shirt (orange and black this year in honor of you-know-who), and coffee mugs from BCRR.

We have not yet tallied up the net amount that will be whacked up among the three groups, but we anticipate, even in this weak economy, that we should be able to exceed the checks presented last year. We estimate approximately $9,000 in net proceeds after all expenses are paid. More than monetary gain, however, was the sense of community that was in evidence on Sunday in Forsythia Crossing Park.

Families of the runners and walkers were out to support their own. Neighbors in the Gates neighborhoods came out and cheered the runners along the route. We had a great congregation (on a Sunday, no doubt) at the park after the race enjoying the music, food, raffle baskets, and camaraderie. This certainly is what Bill Levitt had in mind when he set his developments weaved about these ‘gates’.

Hopefully, at the end of the day, most race goers could come away with their normal endorphins flowing as well as a feeling of accomplishment for a job well done for the charities that will benefit from their efforts.

The Sixth Annual Run the Gates 5-Miler and 1-Mile Fun Run will be held on Sunday, June 5, 2011. We hope to see you there..

To view and print out the results from the 2010 5-miler, click here.

To view photos of the 2009 winners on our Facebook page, click here.

To view and print out the results from the 2010 1-mile Walk, click here.

If you would like to donate to Run the Gates, please click below:

 

Event Schedule

7:30-9 a.m.	Registration and packet pickup
9 a.m.	5-mile run
9:10 a.m.	1-mile fun run/walk
Approximately 10 a.m.	Awards ceremony

Five-Mile Award Categories
(Note: Expanded Age Group and Award Categories!)

Overall Men and Overall Women
Men and Women
Under 14	First, Second and Third
14-19	First, Second and Third
20-24	First, Second and Third
25-29	First, Second and Third
30-34	First, Second and Third
35-39	First, Second and Third
40-44	First, Second and Third
45-49	First, Second and Third
50-54	First, Second and Third
55-59	First, Second and Third
60 and Over	First, Second and Third

Top three men and top three women
in 1-mile run will also receive awards