Fifth Annual Harlem Renaissance 5-Mile Classic

ow do you help bring scholarship money to some of Harlem's most deserving youth, get a glimpse of some of Harlem's great landmarks, and satisfy your need to get some good, healthy exercise--all at the same time? Well, you take part in the Harlem Renaissance 5-Mile Classic, that's how!

This year's race will be held on Saturday, September 13^th, check in time, 9:00 am. One of the great things about it is it's for everyone, runners and non-runners alike. As Abdul El Amin, one of the race's founders, said, "We wanted to have something that the entire community can take part in, no matter what your age, your gender, your ethnic group, and no matter what your physical condition. No one should feel they can't participate."

And they mean that, too. There is the Pee-Wee Run for the wee ones ages 2 to 6, which begins at 9:30. The Wheel Chair and Physically Challenged race starts at 9:55 am. The children and youths ages 7 to 17 can either do the 2-Mile Fun Walk or make it it into a 2-Mile Fun Run. For runners who plan to go the distance, you can enter as an Overall runner (any age) or as part of the Masters (over 40) group, as an individual or part of a team.

The price is right, too. The Pee-Wee Race is free; seniors over 60 and the 2-Mile Fun Walk are $5. If you register in advance for the 5-Mile race it's $10, while race day registration (which must be completed before 9 am) is $15. Every entrant receives a free T-shirt.

Some very spiffy trophies and other goodies will be awarded to the top finishers in the various divisions. There will also be trophies given out to the top finishers in the 10 year age groups, to the top male and female teams, and to wheelchair and physically challenged finishers. A special $50 prize for the fastest first mile will go to the male and female in the Overall and Masters. "But," said El Amin, "the beautiful part is that everyone who finishes the course in any of the walks or races gets a medal. And it's a very attractive medal, too, with the emblem of the Harlem Renaissance Classic on it."

Everyone is invited to attend the special post-race award ceremony at Salem United Methodist Church where the race ends. Refreshments will be served, and there will be raffles for prizes.

This race came into being 5 years ago as the brainchild of Dr. Rosco C. Brown Jr., Tuskegee Airman and past President of Bronx Community College; Preston King Jr., CPA and marathon runner; and Abdul El Amin, who started running when he was 5 years old. He worked for the Road Runners Club for 18 years, training people to do long distance runs and safety runs, which entailed having people see the necessity of never running alone in Central Park.

Brown, King and El Amin convened a committee of runners, coaches and educators, as well as civic and business leaders, for the purpose of creating a racing and cultural event for the enrichment of the Harlem community. While having as their main theme and mission "Educate Our Youth," they wanted to use the race to highlight the contributions made by Harlem residents in the fields of art, civics, history, literature and science by providing participants and spectators alike a glimpse of Harlem's diverse architectural structures, cultural institutions and world-renown churches of the Renaissance period.

Their vision came true, and today the Harlem Renaissance 5-Mile Classic is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Proceeds from the race's sponsors and entrance fees go directly into their Scholarship Program. In 2002, $15,000 was awarded to high school seniors who entered college last September. Since its inception, this organization has directly assisted 30 students pursue their higher education goals.

Some of the race's sponsors are Harlem Hospital Center, Time Warner Cable, The Daily News, The City College of New York, Glaxo-Smith Kline and the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone. Sponsors also include Harlem's 9^th District Council Member Bill Perkins and State Senator David Paterson, both of whom will be running in the race.

To find out more - including about how to apply for scholarships - visit the Harlem Renaissance 5-Mile Classic website at www.harlemrace.org, email them at contact@harlemrace.org or call (212) 465-3328.