AHA Wall Street Run & Heart Walk

American Heart Association Start! Wall Street Run & Heart Walk
May 19, 2009

The Start! Wall Street Run & Heart Walk is a 5K (3.1 mile) competitive run and non-competitive walk to raise awareness and funds to support the American Heart Association's mission to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke – the nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers. Approximately 12,000 people participate in this year's event including Memorial Milers Joan Hamilton, Paul Pietropaolo, Connie Lee and her brother Peter Lee.

The AHA Start! Wall Street Run & Heart Walk traveled a circuitous route through Lower Manhattan, starting on Greenwich Street at Murray Street and finishing on the Esplanade. The exact route is as follows: Head north from the start on Greenwich Street, turn right on Warren Street, right on Church Street, left on Dey Street (becomes John St), right on William Street and continuing down on South William Street, left on Broad Street, left on Pearl Street, right on John Street, right on Water Street (turns into State Street and continues along Battery Park), left on Battery Place, left on Third Place, and right on the Esplanade to the finish near Liberty Street.

More than 27,000 people in New York City alone die from heart disease and stroke each year. At the Start! Wall Street Run and Heart Walk you can visit the Create Hope, Inspire Change and Celebrate Success communities, featuring free health screenings, nutrition and fitness information, resources on heart disease and stroke, product sampling and more.

What is Start?
The Issue Cardiovascular disease is our nation’s No. 1 killer. Physical inactivity significantly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Seventy percent of Americans don’t get enough exercise, blaming lack of time and lack of motivation. Ignoring fitness and health increases chances for disease.

The Start! Solution Start! is the American Heart Association’s groundbreaking national campaign that calls on all Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health to live longer, heart-healthy lives through walking. Promoting physical activity through workplace walking programs can help employees reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke and lead longer, stronger, healthier lives.

Joan and Paul on Broadway, heading to the start of the race.

Joan, Paul, Peter and Connie before the start of the race.

The runners take off!

Paul with the Brooklyn Cyclone mascot at the finish of the race.

Tucson, Arizona

On May 14, 2009 I flew out to Tucson Arizona to pick-up Amanda as she wrapped up her freshman year at The University of Arizona. While I was there I managed to get some runs in and we took a little hike in the Saguaro National Park. Amanda had a great year at the U of A, and she was ready to come home for the summer.

The Saguaro Wilderness Area:

The Saguaro Wilderness Area was officially designated as wilderness in 1976. This large, road less back country consists of 57,930 acres within the Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park. It is bounded on three sides by the 38,590 acre Rincon Mountain Wilderness Area, which lies within the Coronado National Forest. Although these wilderness areas are adjacent to one another, management philosophies differ.

Plant communities within the Saguaro Wilderness Area vary from hot and dry desert scrub to cool and moist pine forest. Six different biotic communities are represented here including: desert scrub, desert grassland, oak woodland, pine-oak woodland, pine forest and mixed conifer forest. This biologically diverse area supports a tremendous variety of plant and animal species. Please help protect this wild and wonderful place; leave all natural and cultural objects as you find them. It’s a great place to visit and if you get to Tucson, you should plan on making your way to this park.

Lodge on the Desert: This where I stayed!

Lincoln Tunnel Challenge 5K Fun Run/Walk

April 26, 2009

Lincoln Tunnel Challenge 5K Fun Run/Walk for Special Olympics

Athletes from far and wide converged on New York and New Jersey’s Lincoln Tunnel Sunday morning for the 23rd annual Lincoln Tunnel Challenge 5K Fun Run/Walk for Special Olympics New Jersey and the Memorial Miles team of Tom Grassi, Kamran Khan, Abdul Karimi, Vivian Okwuagwu and Paul Pietropaolo were there. The Lincoln Tunnel, the tunnel under the Hudson River that connects New Jersey and Manhattan is usually bumper to bumper with cars and impatient commuters, but it’s closed for this race. Thoroughly cleaned the night before, the tunnel is continuously ventilated; with the inside air changed every 90 seconds. The race starts at the south tube of the Lincoln Tunnel in Weehawken and continues to New York City and back. No traffic was allowed in the tunnel until post-race.

The race is presented by AmeriHealth of New Jersey, The Port Authority of NY & NJ, the Lincoln Tunnel Administration, and Coach USA, and benefits Special Olympics, New Jersey. The Port Authority of NY & NJ is a member of New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey, a volunteer organization.

WCBS 880's Tom Kaminski was Master of Ceremonies for the event, Mr. G – WPIX 11 Weatherman was a host and Weehawken, NJ Mayor Richard Turner was on hand to announce the Celebration of Weehawken’s 150th anniversary.

Not everybody can say they've run through the Lincoln Tunnel. This is a once in a year opportunity and the type of a race you do to say you’ve done it. It is really a neat event! A record number of close to 3,000 people participated in today’s event. Because this race has grown in popularity, the competitors with 5K times of under 25 minutes started at 8:45 a.m., and all other competitors began at 9:15 a.m.; this was a great way to manage the crowd.

The temperature was also record-breaking, which made the race a bit more challenging. But all in all it was a great event and a fun day.

1) Tom signing up. 2) Special Olympics Tent 3) Josh Teicher and David Shah get ready to film the event.

Heading toward the start of the race


1) Paul at start of race 2) Great event for the family 3) Kevin finishing the race

Start of the Race - WCBS 880's Tom Kaminski was Master of Ceremonies for the event, Mr. G – WPIX 11 Weatherman was a host. Kamran, Abdul & Tom get ready to go!

Paul and Tom at the finish line! We made it!

1) Abdul and Tom 2) Abdul 3) Vivian, Kevin, Tom, Abdul & Paul

Views from the end of the race.

Paul, Tom and Vivian at the finish line.

View from Weehawken, NJ across the Hudson River. Empire State Building in the background.