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Half a Century of Running: Wyoming Valley Striders Turns 50 image
Races & Walks
January 10, 2025
Half a Century of Running: Wyoming Valley Striders Turns 50
Kick off the Wyoming Valley Striders’ 50th anniversary year at the 44th Annual Winter’s End 4.5 Mile Run on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. The race marks the first leg of the Vince Wojnar Triple Crown series for the group.
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Striders Launch Anniversary Year with the Annual Winter’s End 4.5 Mile Run

The Wyoming Valley Striders, one of the region’s premier running clubs, is excited to announce the first race of our 50th anniversary year! Our 44th Annual Winter’s End 4.5 Mile Run is set to take place at Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus in Dallas on Sunday, March 23 starting at 11:00 am.

With over four decades of race tradition, the Winter’s End 4.5 Mile Run has become a signature event in the local running community. When the race first began and for the first eight years, two separate races were held—one for males and another for females. True to its name, “Winter’s End” offers unpredictable weather, so participants might experience crisp winter air or a warm spring breeze as they navigate the scenic rolling hills course in the Lehman area near Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

In a black and white photo from 1983, a group of women are running down a road surrounded by trees.
Female athletes running in their separate race in 1983.

Vince Wojnar Triple Crown Returns

This race marks the first leg of the 6th Annual Vince Wojnar Triple Crown. The series includes our Cherry Blossom 5 Mile Run on April 27 at Kirby Park and the 20K Run on November 9 at the Susquehanna Warrior Trail in Shickshinny. Cash prizes and participation rewards will be awarded. Any runner who competes in and finishes all three races will qualify for this year’s exclusive Triple Crown commemorative gift (details to be announced). The series honors our co-founder, Vince Wojnar, who passed away in 2018.

Four women, each wearing green shirts and race bibs, pose and smile for the camera following the 2024 Vince Woynar Triple Crown race with the Wyoming Valley Striders.
These fabulous ladies completed the 2024 Vince Wojnar Triple Crown!

Standing Course Records

WVS Winter’s End 4.5 Mile Run
1987: Randy Haas – 22:44
2016: Marina Martino – 25:43

A large group of runners, almost all wearing green shirts for St. Patrick's Day, gather around a Penn State Nittany Lion statue for a post-race photo.
Runners enjoy a photo op after the 2024 race, which happened to fall on St. Patrick’s Day!

Registration is Now Open

Don’t miss our Winter’s End! The Wyoming Valley Striders offer an affordable entry fee of just $25, and WVS members receive a $5 discount when using a special discount code. Note: Prices will increase on March 1st, so be sure to register early and save! We invite runners of all skill levels to join us as we celebrate the end of winter, look forward to the spring season, and mark our 50th anniversary in this milestone year.

Learn more about our other races by visiting our website.