Great races. Great causes.

Runners and walkers are gearing up for the first annual triple challenge of 5K benefit road races on the streets of Geneseo as The Genesee Valley Conservancy, SUNY Geneseo Track & Field, and The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming prepare to join their signature running events as "The Geneseo Trio."

Registration is underway for the Trio, which begins Sunday, September 6, with the Oak Tree 5K Run/Walk to benefit the Conservancy and the Geneseo Central School Cross Country Team. The Genesee Valley Conservancy is a non-profit land trust with a mission to protect the habitat, open space, and farmland of the Genesee Valley region.

Subsequent events in The Geneseo Trio include the Friday Knight 5K Race/Walk, September 25, to benefit SUNY Geneseo Track & Field and SUNY Geneseo Cross Country, and the Ramon Rocha 5K Run/Walk, Saturday, October 3, for The Livingston-Wyoming Arc Foundation. The Arc Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation whose purpose is to solicit and distribute funds for the support of services that maintain and enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families.

While the three events have separately been Geneseo mainstays in recent years, 2009 marks their first association under the combined "Geneseo Trio" banner.

"Combining the events was a natural fit," says Martin Miskell, Chief Financial Officer and Associate Executive Director for The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming. "There is a lot of commonality in the goals of the organizations and races involved. The Geneseo Trio is a fun and healthy way to present a unified commitment to the people and resources of our community." Miskell is Treasurer of the Genesee Valley Conservancy and a 1986 graduate of SUNY Geneseo.

Each event is unique and features a different course through the Village of Geneseo. The Oak Tree 5K Run/Walk includes live music, food, commemorative t-shirts, unique local prizes, and a Kids Fun Run. The Oak Tree also includes a half marathon course (13.1 miles) that is not part of the Geneseo Trio. The Friday Knight 5K Race/Walk features food, t-shirts, and post race entertainment. Highlights of the Ramon Rocha 5K Run Walk are electronic timing by PCR Timing, t-shirts, cash prizes, door prizes, live music, and lunch.

The Geneseo Trio is sponsored by Sundance Books, 106 Main Street in Geneseo. Walkers and runners of all levels are welcome at each event, and may participate in the Trio as a whole, or in any individual event. Participants who complete all three will be eligible for the Geneseo Trio Awards. Trio awards include Sundance gift certificates for Fastest Male and Fastest Female (lowest combined time from all three events), as well as participant prizes to be given to random Trio participants, not based on time.

To take part in the Geneseo Trio, simply register and participate in each of the participating 5Ks. Event organizers will keep track of participants in all three and will give out Geneseo Trio awards at the final event.

To register for The Oak Tree 5K Run/Walk, visit www.geneseevalleyconservancy.org; to take part in the Friday Knight 5K Race/Walk, go to www.geneseo5k.com; and for the Ramon Rocha 5K Run/Walk, visit www.lwarc.org/runwalk.htm. Please refer to each organization’s Web site for details on registration costs, times, course maps, and highlights of their individual event.