Justin Wood will face an uphill battle Sunday.
Of course, that's what the Pit Run is all about.
Wood, a former standout runner at Walton Central and SUNY Delhi, will make his Pit Run debut at 10:45 a.m. Sunday. Wood said he has yet to complete the 10-kilometer course, but he has put some time in on the hills.
His preparation will be put to the test about midway through the 15th annual race, when the course turns left at the East Street entrance of Oneonta State. That's usually the make-or-break part of the event, a grueling climb up the mountain-like Bugbee Road.
"Not to give my race strategy, but I know they give prize money for 1, 3 and 5 miles," said Wood, SUNY Delhi's women's cross country coach. "I'm not so interested in that as feeling good with the first 5 kilometers. ... I'm pretty competitive. Any time I step on the line and am fit, I look to win."
Wood, 25, said unless something happens over the weekend, he'll be ready to compete in a field that co-race organizer Steve Parisian said already has close to 1,000 combined entrants for the 10K, the 5K and the 2-mile stroll.
"It's actually tracking pretty close (to normal)," said Parisian, who added that nearly 700 runners are signed up for the 10K. "Hopefully we'll get a couple hundred the day of the race."
The weather might help attract runners, Parisian said, as the National Weather Service is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high near 62 degrees.
As of Thursday, two-time defending champions Alene Reta and Alemtshay Misganaw have not signed up. Parisian said that's pretty much the norm for elite runners.
"They are always the last ones," Parisian said. "We usually get a voicemail (the day before) and they show up Sunday. They just call to confirm times."
Reta won last year's race in 30 minutes, 19 seconds _ six seconds off the course record set by Paul Mwangi in 2003 _ and beat Bainbridge-Guilford graduate Aaron Robertson by 3:12.
Misganaw, who set the women's course record of 34:23 in 2006, won last year in 35:30. She beat former Unatego standout Amanda Laytham by 1:33.
Laytham will not be back this year as she will marry Oneonta State cross country coach Matt LoPiccolo on Saturday. LoPiccolo, who placed fifth last season and third in 2006, said the two will leave for their honeymoon after Saturday's ceremony.
LoPiccolo's absence could leave the door open for Wood to claim the top area performance. Wood won seven national track titles at SUNY Delhi and finished as a national runner-up twice in cross country. He went on to compete for Division I Seton Hall and D-II Southern Connecticut.
"I'm not a true 10K runner, but I'm in as good of shape as I can be," Wood said. "Provided I feel good Sunday morning, I'll be racing. I wouldn't say I'm at 100 percent, but I'm in good shape and feel good."
Although this will be Wood's first Pit Run, he has competed in other city races such as the Oneonta Tigers 5K and the Frostbite 5K.
Wood has won two area road races this summer, the Delhi Covered Bridge 10K (32:59) in June and the O-Tigers 5K (15:18) in August. He also holds the Frostbite 5K record, winning the 2007 title in 15:11.
"I'm familiar with running the city," said Wood, who added he lives and trains in Oneonta. "I wouldn't say it's an advantage, but I've run several races throughout the city. I'm at least familiar with the streets."
Men's and women's winners will each earn $500, and $100 bonuses will be given to those who lead at specific mile markers (first, third and fifth miles for men; second, fourth and sixth for women). Second- through fifth-place finishers in each gender will receive $200, $100, $75 and $50 apiece, respectively.
A course record will be an additional $100 in the open divisions, with age-group records earning $50 apiece.
Madison to defend 5K title
Oneonta High runner Nick Madison, 17, said he'll be back to defend his Pit Run 5K crown.
Madison, who the 5K last year in a record time of 16:53, said he's looking to improve on his personal best (16:49).
"Last year, I didn't know about the 5K because I was new to road racing," Madison said. "Now that I put a year of consistent training in, I just want a personal best. I'm kind of anxious to see where I am now."
Bainbridge-Guilford/Afton track coach Robb Munro, who won the inaugural 5K two years ago and placed second to Madison last year, said he won't compete this year.
Munro said he has a wedding to attend Saturday before being inducted into the Sidney Hall of Fame. On Sunday, he is working a fundraiser for his indoor track team, he said.
DeLancey resident Julie Hilson is the defending women's 5K champion. She also set a course record last fall, winning in 20:12.
Parisian said as of Thursday, more than 220 runners had signed up for the 5K.
15 years later
The Pit Run is named after Parisian's brother, Ricky "Pit" Parisian, a state trooper who was shot and killed while attempting to prevent an armed robbery at the former Great American Grocery Store on Oneonta's Southside on May 20, 1994. Parisian was off duty at the time.
Steve Parisian said it doesn't seem like the event has been going for 15 years and added that it has grown nearly every year. The Pit Run is a major part of raising money for the Ricky J. Parisian Memorial Scholarship Foundation, which has given more than $200,000 back to the community, Steve Parisian said.
Parisian said his brother would be shaking his head, though.
"He hated running," Steve Parisian said. "We did that on purpose."
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P.J. Harmer can be reached at pharmer@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 229.
15th Annual Pit Run 10K
10:45 a.m. Sunday (lineup begins at 10:25 a.m. near the corner of Main St. and River St.)
Race is a challenging 6.2-mile course that ends in Neahwa Park
Entry fee: $20 pre-race; $25 race-day, from 8-10:15 a.m in Neahwa Park.
Defending champions: Alene Reta (10K men); Alemtshay Misganaw (10K women); Nick Madison (5K men); Julie Hilson (5K women).
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