It seems so ingrained in our collective daily lives at this point. But we need to point out that the Walkway Over the Hudson was christened for the first time — appropriately enough, in our opinion, with a running race — less than three years ago!

The Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club’s Treetops to Rooftops race was the first such event to set foot on the Walkway in October of 2009. Back then, it was a big deal, to be sure.

Now, events on the Walkway are such a common occurrence that it barely raises an eyebrow. Even non-events — such as a family walk, a group run with friends, or bike ride — on the Walkway are just a daily part of our lives. But it was not long ago that the Walkway was simply a relic of history known as the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge.

In the local running community, I feel we cannot be thankful or grateful enough for the boon the Walkway is to our lives. Local attorney Fred Schaeffer, and all others so instrumental in turning the rusty old bridge into the lifeblood of our community, deserve our admiration. And it’s not only for the road races; just the ability to go for a leisurely run, walk or pedal across the Walkway has improved the quality of our lives.

Anyway, runners will get to celebrate the Walkway in the same manner as how it started on Saturday, with the Treetops to Rooftops race. The race is now firmly ensconced into the local running schedule and it is among the most popular 5K races around.

What’s not to love?

» A traffic-free course.

» Majestic views of the mid-Hudson Valley from more than 200 feet above the Hudson River.

» A great post-race feed on the Highland side of the Walkway.

» The usual, great MHRRC hospitality.

By: Pete Collaizzo
Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club member Pete Colaizzo, the track coach at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, writes on running every week in Players. He can be reached at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more club information, go to www.mhrrc.org