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The First Annual
Bill Welsh Run

An editorial by
by Steve Lauria

Here is my vote that the Bill Welsh 5K Run be held for at least as many
years as Coach Welsh has been a Teacher, Coach, Runner, and Friend to the
Staten Island community.

There is no better individual to honor with such an event, and last Saturday
’s turnout – large for a first-year race – proved this point.  Despite
threatening weather, the 150+ runners were treated to a well organized race
on an excellent course, complete with mile splits and a supportive crowd.
The commemorative Bill Welsh medals given to the top 100 finishers were a
unique bonus, and much appreciated by those of us whose top 10 days are
mostly behind us.

The deluge of rain and sleet at the end of the race was merely God’s way of
hurrying people off the course and down to Jody’s for the post-race party,
just as Coach Welsh would have done himself.  This allowed him even more
time to entertain the overflow crowd at the celebration, providing the
perfect ending to the event.

Thanks for a great time.  Let’s do it again next year.