A Three Generation Road Race

Three members of the Zaccaro family – Michael, Mike and Louis – completed the New Haven 5K Road Race on September 5. Michael, 12, and his dad, Mike, live on Butterfield Road. This marked the second road race for Michael in three weeks, having run his first race in the Falmouth, Massachusetts seven-mile road race in mid-August. It also marked the first time he was able to run with his grandfather,  Louis, 73, who resides in nearby Seymour and returned to the roads after a two year layoff following a lengthy battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Prior to undergoing stem-cell replacement surgery in 2003, Louis ran in several road races over a twelve year period. The opportunity to run with his son and his grandson encouraged him to return to New Haven in a race that he had run over half a dozen times previously. Mike and Michael completed the course in just over 24 minutes, finishing in the top 25% of runners participating. They then waited near the end of the race course to cheer on Louis as he crossed the finish line.  The three Zaccaros are already planning the next road race together later this fall.