Coach Mike Slinskey Celebration of Life 5k

A Grass Roots Running and Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club event in honor of a local legend, Mike Slinskey.

Sunday, November 2nd @ Bowdoin Park, Wappingers Falls, NY

5k: 9:30 am - $25 through October 12th, $30 through November 1st, $35 on race day

Kids 1 mile (12 and under): 9:00 am - $10 through November 1st, $15 on race day

5k Virtual: October 27 through November 2nd - $35 through November 2nd

Slinskey Surprise: Immediately following the 5k - 400 meters ALL OUT, for grit and turnover!  Coach Mike would occasionally have a "Slinskey Surprise" on random days when he thought the kids needed an extra push!

Join us as we lace up and hit the trail in tribute to beloved Hudson Valley runner, Coach Mike Slinskey - a man whose passion for running and the community around it was unmatched.  In May 2025, Mike was diagnosed with a brainstem tumor, and after a courageous battle, he passed away on June 20, 2025 - just ten days after celebrating his 56th birthday.  Today, we honor him in the most fitting way we know; by running.

Mike's running journey took him across the country, but his heart always remained in the Hudson Valley.  Whether it was pushing the pace on the rail trail, sunrise jogs with lifelong friends, or coaching some grueling training sessions at Our Lady of Lourdes, Mike lived for every stride - and for the people who ran beside him.  

To many, Mike seemed invincible.  He never backed down from a challenge, bounced back from every injury, enjoyed unexpected encounters with wildlife (and the occasional flying object), always with a grin and a story to tell. But in the spring of 2025, he was faced with a challenge even he couldn’t outrun: a stage 4 astrocytoma. His passing left a profound void not only in our family but in the entire Hudson Valley running community.

In his memory, we’ve created this 5K to celebrate his life, strength, and the joy he found in every mile. All proceeds from this event will support the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA), the nation’s oldest nonprofit dedicated to brain tumor research with the intent to fund early detection and patient education and fund the Our Lady of Lourdes scholarship set up in his name. 

We run today to honor Mike — his spirit, his legacy, and the miles he gave us all.

5k Awards:

Overall Male & Female Winners

Top 3 in each of the following Age Groups: 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+

Kids 1 mile Awards:

Overall Male & Female Winners