Registration underway for 13th Barney’s Run for Warriors

ALBANY – During the 12 years of Barney’s Run for Warriors, 24 highly-trained service dogs have been matched with veterans in a show of community love and respect for veterans who have served their country and come home forever changed by the experience and rescued animals that have been trained to serve these warriors.

The 13th Barney’s Run for Warriors is scheduled Nov. 15, with 13.1-mile (half-marathon), 10K, 5K and one-mile races set to start at 8:30 a.m. behind Phoebe Northwest in the Merry Acres neighborhood. And if helping some of America’s heroes adjust to post-war complications isn’t enough of an incentive for area runners, there’s the added bonus this year of cash rewards for the first time.

“We’re adding cash prizes this year,” race co-chair Lois Hunkele (along with Anna Hendley) said. “Except for the mile run, cash will go to the top male and female finishers in each race.

The top half-marathon finishers will receive $500 prizes, while the cash award in the 10K is $250 and the 5K, $100.

Money raised at Barney’s Run is used to match veterans who’ve developed hardships (typically PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder) since coming home from military service with animals trained by the Canines for Warriors nonprofit in Ponte Vedra, Fla. The animals, 95% of which are rescues from animal shelters, are supplied at no cost to the veteran.

“They do an amazing job of training the dogs to adapt to any situation they might encounter when matched with a veteran,” Hunkele said. “The training is intense; it takes several months. The dogs are introduced to any situation the veteran they’re paired with might encounter: from shopping to dining at a restaurant to going to a movie.

“Once the animals are sufficiently trained and paired with a veteran, the veteran comes to the facility for a three-week period, where they learn how to work with the animal. So there is intense training, and it’s pretty costly. When the veteran comes for their ‘training,’ they’re set up in their own private room and go through things that they’ll go through at their home.”

Runners can sign up for Barney’s Run at runsignup.com. Hunkele said those who do not sign up ahead of time can do so on the day of the race.

“I’ll be there at ‘dark o’clock’, so runners can sign up on race day,” she said. “But the best way is through runsignup.com or anyone can use the QR Code that’s on our posters.”

The half-marathon run starts at 8:30 a.m., the 5K and 10K runs at 8:45, and the mile run at 9. Except for the half-marathon, runners may have their dogs with them during their runs.

“Anna (Hendley) and I love animals; we have that animal/human connection,” Hunkele, who is a veterinarian at Westover Animal Hospital, said. “Also, both of our dads are veterans, and I have a son and two son-in-laws who are veterans. So this is an event that’s really close to our hearts.

“I love the slogan for the run: ‘Saving Two Lives at Both Ends of the Leash.’”

Golden Triangle is the event’s title sponsor.