With the Warwick Historical Society gearing up for the 6th Annual George Washington 5K & Fun Run on Saturday, July 18, journalist Jennifer O’Connor reached out to participants to share their perspectives and excitement on the only race that takes place on the streets of the Village of Warwick.
First she spoke with Jack Ellis, a former WHS Board member.
G.W. DAY 5K Q&A
By Jennifer O’Connor
Jack Ellis has been an active runner for 42 years.
Jennifer: As one of the main organizers of this event, you’ve seen the GW 5K evolve over the years since its inception in 2020. A few years ago the course received USA Track & Field certification by Road Running Technical Council. What is the significance of this?
Jack Ellis : I arranged to have the course certified through Mark of Fast Finishers Timing a couple of years ago. A number of runners compete in several 5K runs during the year. Many are trying to improve their times after each run. If the course is certified, they can be confident that the certified courses have been measured by the same standards as the other certified courses they have run. It adds legitimacy to their finishing time when comparing their finishing time to other runs. Some serious runners will not run a 5K course unless it is certified.
There are first, second and third placements in nine age catagories!
Jennifer: Having run in hundreds of races over the years, what makes this one different from others?
Jack : I started running when I was 35 years old. I am now 77. I always enjoy the challenge of running and this form of exercise. What makes this run special is I get to run in the Village I have lived in for over 50 years on a course I helped to design. I also enjoy working on the Lions Club 5K on Labor Day, but that one is in the town by Warwick Valley High school.
Jennifer: It is really special that you are running on a course that you helped to design. What was that process like and how involved was it?
Jack : I worked with Ken Lukas and his partner in designing the course. I had some experience in the past having designed a 5K course for Burke Catholic H.S. in Goshen in 2000. I was chairman of their 5K run for their school for seven years as a fundraiser. The process involves using a car's odometer or a bike starting with a proposed start line. You travel the road or streets you would like to run to note certain markings and get an estimate of 3.1 miles. Then, you go back and mark the 1, 2, 3-mile marks and the finish line. A trained certifier like Mark will use a GPS or other device to go over the course measurements and a precomputer printout of the course which he submits to the USA Track and Field organization who provides the certification which is good for five years unless the course is changed.
Next Jennifer caught up with Warwick residents, Masha Portiansky and Benjamin Nilsestuen, who are running this race as a family with their son, Axel.
Masha picking up her medal at 2025’s race.
Jennifer: The race is a celebration of George and Martha Washington’s visit to Warwick. What does George and Masha Washington’s visit mean to you?
Ben : It’s fascinating to me that George and Martha visited Warwick. I assume that is the revolutionary war equivalent of having Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce come apple picking.
Masha : I spent my teen years in the Boston area and my commute to high school followed the ride of Paul Revere. The Revolutionary War is a big part of education in New England. The fact that General Washington stayed in Warwick with his troops, and Martha stayed right here at Baird’s Tavern is pretty exciting.
Ben with his trophy at the G.W. DAY 5K 2025.
Jennifer: How many races have you participated in as a family?
Masha: This will be our third race as a family. Our son is 7. He ran the Lions Club 5K here in Warwick with me last Fall, and enjoyed it so much, we signed up and ran a Halloween race the following month. He has cheered for us in the Washington Day 5K since its inception, and it passes close to our home, so it will be fun to run the course together.
Jennifer: Ben, last year you won the race, how often do you train and what does your training entail?
Ben : These days I have to squeeze training in between work and childcare, so I’m lucky to get out about four times a week. I generally get out for a few short runs during the week and one long run on the weekend. I typically use the GWD 5k as a jumping off point to train for a longer race in the fall.
Jennifer: What makes the GW 5K special to the both of you?
Masha : I am a transplant to Warwick, but Ben’s family goes back many generations, his mother’s side of the family settled here in 1720. I enjoy learning about local history, and this race is a great way to support the Historical Society while participating in a sport I enjoy.
Ben : GWD is special for me because I fell in love with running on the roads of Warwick and, like every 4th grader in Warwick, I visited all of the historic buildings in town and got to learn about Warwick’s connection to history. Having that tangible link to what we were reading in class made the lessons come to life and that made a big impression on me.
Jennifer: As a native Staten Islander, how did you find out about Warwick’s race?
Mark : I found out about the race online when I looked up New York State 5K road races to find a race not too far from Staten Island. There is only one 5K race in July on Staten Island and I was looking for additional races to attend due to my passion for running.
Jennifer: How long have you been running and participating in road races?
Mark : I started to run in September 2025 on the treadmill at a gym near where I live. I joined the gym because I’m a few years away from retirement and was encouraged by my wife, Renata, to workout in order to be healthy for my retirement years. I enjoyed running on the treadmill tremendously and decided to start running outside. I commenced my first three mile run at the “New Year’s Day Sober up Run” organized by the Staten Island Athletic Running Club and became hooked ever since. I participated in various fun runs and ran in six 5Ks since April of this year.
While the GW 5K is well-known to Warwick residents, it also caught the attention of Staten Islander, Mark Zink, 59, a Social Worker with the New York City Department of Education.
Zink stumbled upon the G.W. DAY 5K while looking for N.Y. State 5K road races.
Jennifer: You seem to really have grown to enjoy running in races, what does running do for you?
Mark : Running 5K’s give you a sense of accomplishment because I find them to be doable and challenging at the same time. It’s a great feeling finishing a challenging race and achieving a good time, especially when you achieve a personal best. Since I’ve been running regularly on my own and in races, I’ve lost weight, gained muscle mass, and feel great.
Jennifer: What are you most looking forward to on race day?
Mark : I’m looking forward to the George Washington 5K because I absolutely love the Town of Warwick where my sister resides with her family. This race will give me the opportunity to do something I love - running, spending time with family, enjoying the day in Warwick, and help to raise money for the Warwick Historical Society, which is a fantastic organization. I’m also looking forward to talking to and networking with runners in Warwick. I now have many running friends which continues to increase.
For those of you who want to get in on the fun, you can register prior to or on the day of the race which starts at 8:30 a.m. in Veterans Memorial Park. For details visit the calendar page of warwickhistory.org or click the below.
Second Wind Timing is the official time keeper for this year’s 5K.
Jennifer O'Connor is a journalist and longtime Warwick resident, where she lives with her family. She also currently serves as the Second Vice President of the Warwick Historical Society.