Following the Wineglass Marathon in 2010, local leaders and organizers Chris Sharkey and Sheila Sutton knew there was room for improvement. “The race was a gem—with much more potential,” recalls Sheila, now WGM race director. The race had a big impact on businesses.

Chris notes, “If the race faded away, it would affect the community.” And not in a good way. So, there were things that had to change. Law enforcement, fire/EMT, and volunteers from several organizations were winging how they made assignments, and management across the groups wasn’t coordinated. In 2011 WGM was refreshed. It became a separate 501(c)(3) with Chris as board chair. She says their plan was to, “up the ante as an economic driver and the very best running experience”—a vision that would benefit everyone. Guthrie signed on as title sponsor in 2017, with 2018 being the first year of the official name change to Guthrie Wineglass Marathon.

The greatest benefit extended to the volunteers. Organizers were there for all the support people—briefing them beforehand and thanking them afterwards. A safety committee coordinated traffic and fire/EMT. “Captains” became the go-to people for the hundreds of volunteers interacting with the runners. The spirit of the race became infectious for runners and support people. Volunteers made the water stops into carnivals with signs, music, and costumes.

“We had to waitlist organizations who wanted to join in the fun,” says Sheila.

Sharing in the fun were people who now have supported the race for a decade or more. Impressed with everyone’s “positive energy,” Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard meets the runners minutes after the start, sweeping away their jitters by telling them, “You’re almost there” and giving them high-fives just before the halfway point at Savona. When she ran the race, Corning-Painted Post School Superintendent Michelle Caulfield was amazed at the support people “who wanted to be there,” and decided to volunteer at the start, adding that volunteer students and staff are inspired by the runners who “conquer something that’s not easy” and pay volunteers back with their own infectious energy.

Speaking of paying back, Chris recalls, “We were going to give back to our volunteers.” One fire company received funding for a four-wheeler to support runners on roadless sections. By using the online runsignup.com, runners directly donated to four charities, including scholarships for local track athletes and other students who were key race volunteers.

These changes made WGM run full circle, reaching across the community. Chris quantifies the impact: Over $1 million in donations since 2011 going to fifty nonprofits who help with the race; more than $7 million in spending by 6,500 runners and their 15,000 friends/families during the marathon weekend in 2024.

Last year, six women from the 2024 USRowing Olympic roster ran the half-marathon, reuniting two months after the Olympics.

“The Wineglass half-marathon for me was an opportunity to celebrate our team, the small moments, and the shared love,” says Jessica Thoennes, who finished fourth in Paris in the women’s pair. “It’s a gift in this lifetime to find friends who will get up at 3 a.m. to go compete for fun. The fact that the entire town of Corning celebrated with us is joy beyond words for me.”

The race starts at 8:15 a.m. in Bath on October 5 and ends on Market Street in Corning. Visit wineglassmarathon.com for more information.