The Pete Holowka Memorial Foundation and Nut-Ridge Classic 5k were created to honor and celebrate WNY’s biggest fan of running, Mr. Peter Holowka. Holowka grew up and lived in Orchard Park where he became a great runner, an accomplished coach, and an incredible friend of many. Some of his accomplishments include running for Villanova University in the graduating class of 1987, and then going on to coach and mentor countless other athletes over the past thirty years or so. His athletes have won countless NYSPHSAA Section VI titles, posted a copious amount of school records at their respective high schools, been competitive on the state and national levels, and gone on to compete at a high level in college.

        For many previous summers, Pete would host post-run cookouts at his house which was minutes away from Chestnut Ridge Park. Every Wednesday night from the end of June to the beginning of August, Pete would administer workouts to anyone willing to show up to Chestnut Ridge. This group included many local high school cross country stars doing hill workouts or mile repeats, and the local University at Buffalo Cross Country runners doing their midweek long run on the trails. Afterwards, the group would travel down the road to Pete’s for burgers, chicken, pasta, Gatorade, and plenty of desserts to refuel from their workouts. To commemorate these efforts, the top three male and female 5k finishers will receive grill spatulas. These gatherings brought together a community of athletes from all over Western New York, making such a difficult sport an enjoyable experience for many, which will never be forgotten. Along with his Wednesday night ‘Grillins’, Pete was head of a Monday night frisbee league, a member of a Tuesday night trivia team, and would spend his Thursdays playing in an organized scrabble league. The Pete Holowka foundation was created in his honor, which will fund the Nut-Ridge Classic 5k and more. Click the link below to access the Pete Holowka Foundation website for more information.

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        All proceeds will go towards the Pete Holowka Memorial Foundation, which funds the Pete Holowka Memorial Nut-Ridge Classic 5k, The Pete Holowka Memorial Scholarship, and a memorial bench in Chestnut Ridge County Park.