ELIZABETHTOWN — Drizzle cleared, leaving sun to cast a rainbow through the clouds on Wednesday as kids carried a single flame along a road through mountains.
The Olympic torch, called from retirement to herald the Empire State Winter Games, was passed from one student's hand to another as they ran toward the Olympic Center in Lake Placid.
It represents a promise, the youths said, and the spirit of athletic competition.
The games officially kick off today, but not before many more miles are covered by students entrusted with the torch — by the time it reaches its goal, nearly 200 kids from some eight local communities will have taken their turns escorting it there.
SPIRIT OF NYS
Lit in Elizabethtown, the Essex County seat, the torch moved down Route 9 with runners who set off from Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School at about 9 in the morning. By 11 a.m., they had covered 14 miles up long, winding hills and down again.
"I did it to see if I could," said Louis Scaglione, an ELCS senior.
"The Empire State Games are a big part of the state as a whole. It's a nice chance to represent the spirit of the state."
Running with him, Julia Cox agreed.
ELCS Athletic Director Paul Buehler helped coordinate the first leg of the Torch Run with Saranac Lake Village Clerk Kareen Tyler, who initiated the event last year.
Both remained hopeful that this flame conveys resilience in keeping athletic dreams alive.
ESSENCE OF CHARACTER
The Empire State Winter Games were eliminated from state spending two years ago, but the program was rebuilt by cooperation among Adirondack communities.
"It is so important that people push themselves physically as well as academically," Buehler said, as he set an even pace running with the kids on Wednesday.
"Athletic challenge helps people learn more about the essence of their character. It teaches people how to work through discomfort and increase their physical potential — athletes push themselves through that."
That lesson might extend to larger economics.
"But as soon as we run out of money, we cut the athletics. I believe athletic training and physical fitness is not 'optional.' In a sense, we're keeping the torch lit here."
PULLED TOGETHER
Students from Jay, Black Brook, AuSable Forks and Wilmington also helped with the Torch Run on Wednesday; contingents from Saranac Lake and Lake Placid were to take over today.
"The Empire State Winter Games wouldn't have survived if these communities didn't pull together," said Tyler, who followed in a car.
"And we did this in honor of all those kids coming to our region of the state to compete in winter sports here."
With the Elizabethtown-Lewis torch contingent, Schroon Lake senior Justin Wachowski ran to help prepare for Winter Games luge competition.
Wachowski, who is in Olympic training, sees this weekend as an important mark in his career.
"It gives us the opportunity to compete against other athletes and see what each brings to the table for talent."
At the end of the 14-mile stretch, his father, Dan Wachowski, stood waiting.
"The games are another level of experience, another time on the luge track, another challenge for him," Mr. Wachowski said.
"I'm just proud of him, proud to be his dad."
'AWESOME TO DO'
After 10 miles and a few hydration breaks, the ELCS runners were joined by second group that had signed up to run the last 4 miles.
Nathan Bessette, a sophomore, said it was a good thing local towns and leaders here reinstated the Winter Games.
"I think this is a good experience for kids."
And his classmate, Hugh Harwood, concurred.
"I wanted to do this with my friends; it's something I've never done before."
Rolling in for the last 150 yards or so, ELCS students Rheannon Martin and Jacob Egglefield took to their wheelchairs, keeping pace, with runners steering from behind.
"It's awesome to do!" Egglefield said with raw optimism.
"Doing this together builds friendships," Martin said.
Helping with wheelchairs, ELCS junior Brody Hooper thought the run was a cool idea.
"And I wanted to get some exercise in," he said.
PACK OF BLUE
Final morning paces were strides downhill.
At the bottom of Spruce Hill, where Route 9 connects with Route 73, a crowd of 34 Keene Central School kids saw the runners coming in a tight pack of blue T-shirts, declaring the Winter Games were about to begin.
The Keene contingent cheered wildly — it was their turn next.
And in this way, from town to town, the fire changed hands and was carried some 60 miles on Wednesday.
Email Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com
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