There may never be another year like this in many of our lifetimes, as the Wyoming Valley Striders have grown into one of the region’s most beloved and enduring running clubs. This year, we’re celebrating a remarkable milestone—our 50th anniversary!

The Beginning: 1975

On Sunday, May 4, 1975, fifty entrants participated in the first-ever Cherry Blossom Run, marking the first road race ever held in the Valley. The race started and finished behind the Luzerne County Courthouse and was part of that year’s Cherry Blossom activities. Unfortunately, due to poor weather conditions, all other Cherry Blossom events were postponed to the following weekend. Coordinating the event was George Pawlush, cross country coach at Wilkes College.

Shortly after the race, George teamed up with Vince Wojnar, a former track and cross country coach at GAR who also ran at the University of Pittsburgh, and together, they realized the potential for creating a running club. Owen Costello, Executive Director for the Wilkes-Barre Recreation Board, offered his support for the running club, and the first meeting was held at recreation headquarters. Prior to the meeting, an article placed in the Times Leader attracted others interested in creating what would become the Wyoming Valley Striders. The original board members included: George Pawlush (President), Cliff Robbins Sr. (Vice President), Tom Driscoll (Secretary/Treasurer), Tim Specht, Rick Swoboda, and Vince Wojnar.

50 Years Later: 2025

Fast forward to 2025, and the Wyoming Valley Striders have truly gone the distance in NEPA! What started as a single race has since blossomed into a full series of races and events, with runners of all ages participating year-round. As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we’ve got some exciting things in store!

A Special Gift for Our Past Winners

First, we’re offering free race entries to male and female winners of any of our past races over the last five decades! We’re starting with those who’ve won Winter’s End, the first race of the year, but if you’re an overall male or female winner of any Striders race from the past 50 years, we want to hear from you! Please reach out to us via email or on Facebook, and we’ll register you for the race you conquered. This is a great opportunity to reconnect with the Striders’ history and join us in celebrating everything we’ve achieved over the years.

Anniversary Giveaways & Promotions

In addition to the special perks for winners, we’ll be giving away prizes and holding drawings at each race this year—plus, a chance to claim a one-of-a-kind age-group medal! We’re also bringing back our Refer a First-Time Participant promotion! If you refer someone new to one of our races and they participate, you could win a free Wyoming Valley Striders membership or a membership renewal. What better way to encourage others to experience the joy of running with the Striders!

We’re also excited to partner with Mikayla Klym, D.C. from Cohen & Haydu Chiropractic Clinic in Kingston. Dr. Klym is offering Striders members and 2025 race finishers a range of services and discounted offers, available through January 2026. She’ll be providing injury prevention and treatment at Winter’s End again, so be sure to stop by and see her!

2025 Racing Schedule:
A Year of Celebration and the Return of the Triple Crown

We’ve got an exciting year of races lined up, including:

• March 23 at 11 a.m. – 44th Annual Winter’s End 4.5 Mile Run at Penn State Wilkes-Barre Campus, Dallas.
• April 27 at 9 a.m. – 50th Annual Cherry Blossom 5 Mile Run at Kirby Park, Wilkes-Barre.
• May 18 at 12 p.m. – 33rd Annual Spring Age-Group Graded 5.3 Mile Trail Run / 11th Annual Jen Stec Memorial at Frances Slocum State Park, Wyoming.
• August 30 at 9:30 a.m. – 50th Annual Cliff Robbins Sr. Memorial High School Cross Country Races at Misericordia University, Dallas.
• October 26 at 12 p.m. – 38th Annual Fall Age-Group Graded 5.5 Mile Trail Run, 12pm at Frances Slocum State Park, Wyoming.
• November 9 at 9 a.m. – 12th Annual 20K Run, 9am at Susquehanna Warrior Trail, Shickshinny, followed by the 2nd Annual 5K, 9:10am.

If you compete in all three Triple Crown races (Winter’s End, Cherry Blossom, and 20K), you’ll qualify for division cash and gift card prizes, along with an exclusive commemorative backpack—this year’s special Triple Crown gift!

We’ll wrap up the year with the 50th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, December 6, at King’s College, plus the annual WVC Coaches’ Cross Country All-Stars Awards & Pizza Party in December.

Looking Forward to a Fun, Well-Organized Racing Year

Whether you’ve been a part of the Wyoming Valley Striders from the beginning, for a few years, or you’re just starting your running journey with us, we hope you’ll join us for this special 50th anniversary year. With exciting races, giveaways, and celebrations throughout the year, there’s no better time to be part of the Striders family!

The 44th Annual Winter’s End 4.5 Mile Run is just around the corner on Sunday, March 23! Race registration closes on Friday, March 21 at noon, and unfortunately, late registrations or race day sign-ups cannot be accepted. Be one of the first 200 entrants to qualify for a commemorative Frank Shorter Midweight Reversible Runners’ Hat – 50th Anniversary Edition to receive on race day!

We can’t wait to see you at Winter’s End and all our races this year as we celebrate 50 amazing years of the Wyoming Valley Striders! Let’s make this year one to remember!

Learn more about our other races by visiting our website.