The Skeleton Run put on by the Utica Roadrunners normally marks the end of their event season, however, this year it was there first in-person event since the pandemic began.
Club President Jim Mott said all of their in-person events were either cancelled or went completely virtual.
Skeleton run in saquoit.
It's put on every year by the utica road runners.
The event is normally in deer field, but was moved to a private pumpkin patch in saquoit, due to the pandemic.
Because of that, there are new rules, but as newschannel 2's brent kearney shows us, runners were still thrilled to be there.
Nats 3,2,1 enjoy!
The skeleton run normally marks the end of the utica roadrunner's event season, but this year due to the pandemic, its there first.
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None jim says with the year the way that it's been we had to cancel all of our races.
We've gone virtual with all of our races so to actually have an event where we can see people that's the biggest thing for me."
The pandemic has also forced them to switch from their original location in deerfield to pumpkin junction here in saquoit.
"the perfect marriage obviously the skeleton run with the place with the halloween theme it's worked perfectly."
Race officials had to follow strict guidelines just to hold the event.
Instead of setting off all at once, runners were sent out in waves...15 minutes apart to promote social distancing since it's private property, we're able to hold an event like this and as long as we keep the number at 50 per wave we are within the restrictions.
And these 250 runners were eager to get out on this challenging course 3.1 mile course.
Jocelyn says: it's nice last year i think we were in for five races together this year it's our first one actually.
Gavin says: it's accomplishing when you finish you feel accomplished especially for ms ameilia brown who's celebrating her 12th birthday ameilia says i love running and i want to take after her and sometimes things get on my mind.
So if i run it just leaves my mind it feels good it just makes me satisfied.
Runners were asked to wr mks and soci distance, t keeping with the hloweentheme, h their faces covered.
Gene says "it's the halloween season this is a great race i hadone ie advantage of it being able to dress up a little bit."
It's why i'm doing what i do withthed seeing people together seeing ts faces.
Everyone's missed each other so the virtual events are going to get the people through and through social media they can stay connected.
But this is what running is all about and this is why people do these events it's not for competition necessarily it's just the camaraderie camaraderie in saquoit brent kearney news channel 2> a program that