World Class Runners Compete in this Year’s Classic (Middletown, NY)

PRLog (Press Release) – Apr 28, 2008 – Middletown, NY: Competitors in the Crystal Run Healthcare Classic 10K Road Race (formerly the Orange Classic), slated for June 8th at the Twin Towers Middle School on Wisner Avenue in Middletown, may not be running neck and neck with the world’s top runners, but they’ll be standing shoulder to shoulder with them at the starting line, thanks in great part to Coach Mike Barnow of Westchester County.

Mike has been the coach of the Westchester Track Club for the past 26 years. He has coached 9 Olympians and 40 U.S. National Qualifiers in the Westchester Track Club, and he served as Head Coach of the Somalian Olympic Team for the 1984 Olympics. Mike has 31 years of coaching experience at the high school, college, open, and elite levels. Five of the athletes he has coached have become National Record Holders. Among the runners who have benefited from Mike’s passion and commitment are local heroes Bill Krohn, Charlie Bevier, Eamon Coughlan, and Jack Armour.

“Mike has a reputation for finding athletes, even from the most oppressed countries, and providing them an opportunity to come to the United States and compete,” says Frank Giannino, one of the organizers for this year’s Classic. “I can’t think of any other sport where everyone is given the opportunity to compete against the top in their field. Runners of the Classic will stand on the starting line with the best of the best. In other sports, they would be just spectators,” Frank adds.

Mike coaches several nights during the week in Westchester and on Friday nights locally at the Rondout Valley High School track.  "I prefer to under-train runners and then race them into shape. This is my biggest challenge in coaching high level athletes — holding back the really great ones."

Organizers are crossing their t’s and dotting their i’s, in their final preparation for the 2008 Classic 10K Road Race scheduled for June 8. Continuing its emphasis on community health and fitness, race day events include the Classic 10K, a 6.2 mile road race inspired by Olympic Gold Medalist, Frank Shorter, which winds through the historic streets of Middletown; the Rowley 5K, a 3.1 mile high school team competition and health walk; the Junior Classic Races for kids age 12 and under; the Community Health & Fitness Expo, featuring more than 40 vendors with abundant give-aways; and the awards luncheon for all participants.

To learn more about Mike’s training programs and to find more information on the Crystal Run Healthcare Classic 10K Road Races and activities, please visit www.classic10K.com or call Frank at (845) 692-9225.