Autism Run a Drenched Success

Rain may have dampened the roads, but it certainly didn't dampen the spirits of the estimated 350 people who turned out Friday night to participate in the first annual "All Out for Autism" 5K race in downtown New Canaan. The event aimed to raise funds to build a fitness path and recreation area for autistic and special needs children in one of the town parks.

George Buchanan won the race with a blistering time of 17 minutes and 34 seconds.

"This was my third race this week, so I was kind of on cruise control," said Buchanan, a 51-year-old Shelton resident, who had run a cross-country race and timed mile earlier in the week.

Close behind Buchanan at just over 18 minutes was 25-year-old New Canaan resident Christian Wolfgruber who works as a teacher's assistant in a special education class.

"It's something that's very close to my heart, and it was great to be able to come out and help the kids," Wolfgruber said.

Twenty-one-year-old Hope Kraus won the women’s division, just edging out 27-year-old Kate Katz. Both are from New Canaan.

The course took the runners on a 3.1 mile loop through the town, a route event organizer Ron Rosenfeld described as "very simple”. “Just four rights, so there's no way anyone can get lost,” he said. The race began on Elm Street, then worked its way along Weed Street and West Road before ending in front of Rosenfeld's New Balance store on Main Street.

"The course was a little hilly in the beginning, but by the end it definitely leveled off," Buchanan said. "The rain really had no effect."

The start of the race was actually delayed 30 minutes, in order to give the weather a chance to clear as it was pouring at 6 p.m. Luckily the skies dried up just enough to allow the runners to get through most of course in only a light mist.

"I was a little worried about the rain in the beginning," said women’s winner Hope Kraus, "but it was pretty dry for the whole race."

The rain also failed to lessen the enthusiasm of the spectators, who cheered and clapped as each runner crossed the finish line. Sponsors from all over town came out to support the cause, evidenced by the tents set up in Morse Court to welcome the athletes at the finish line with sandwiches, drinks, and pizza.

"The weather could have been nicer," said Judi Anders, president of Sped*Net New Canaan and one of the organizers of the event, "but it's great when the community comes together for a good cause." Anders was attending the event with her son, who has autism, and cheering on her two teenage children who ran in the event.

Will Buckheimer, a teenager with special needs, ran the course with his father. While they didn't cross the finish line in record time, Will and his father did finish with their hands clasped together, held high in victory. Between bites of pizza Will said that he was very excited for the fitness path slated to be built with the funds raised by the event.

Rosenfeld hopes that the event, which he conceived, will go a long way to building the path, which could cost $35,000.

"We just had a tremendous turnout, especially considering this rain," he said. "We'll definitely be able to get started with the process now, and hopefully get it all together by next year."