On The Run
Jay Kumar
About 1,500 runners gathered in Newburyport on Tuesday to run the 50th annual Yankee Homecoming 10-mile and 5K races. It was a beautiful evening and fortunately not too humid, even though the temperature was in the mid-80s at the start.
Despite the usual sweltering conditions, I run the 10-miler just about every year and the reason isn't so much that I'm a sucker for punishment (although I suppose I am). Rather, it's the way the entire city comes out to cheer on the runners through a particularly arduous event. Folks are out grilling food, setting up sprinklers, handing out water and just lifting the spirits of the race participants.
This is not a role to be taken lightly. Sure, plenty of runners are listening to iPods and couldn't hear a Lear jet if it landed beside them. But most of us appreciate the moral support as we slog along, whether it's cute little kids armed with garden hoses or guys sitting in lawn chairs shouting, "WAY TO GO, RUNNAHS! YOU'RE HALFWAY THEYAH!"
Every little bit helps. It helps even those of us who don't play to the crowd, seeking out high fives and hollering out for more volume. We may run past without acknowledging you, but we definitely appreciate the boost.
Of course, runners may not appreciate it when they've got five miles left to go in a marathon or other long-distance race and somebody says, "You're almost there!" It's well-meaning, but to the runner, it sure doesn't feel like he or she is almost there. And it should go without saying that it's not appreciated when folks dart in front of runners to cross the street. It happens mainly at big marathons like Boston, where there are so many throngs of runners and spectators.
There's nothing worse than when you're dragging your sorry butt up Heartbreak Hill and somebody thinks it's a good idea to step right in front of you. Even if there isn't a collision, just having to break your stride when you're 19 miles into a race and trudging uphill isn't fun.
But these are minor and rare quibbles. Race spectators are as integral to the success of an event as the runners themselves. Running a race with nobody to cheer you on would be a sad task indeed. Thanks!
Starts and stops
Are you a cyclist as well as a runner? You may want to try this weekend's Asbury Grove Duathlon, which consists of a 2.4-mile run, 9.7-mile bike and 2.4-mile run. The event takes place on Saturday at 8 a.m. (registration opens at 7 a.m.). The run is through the streets of Hamilton and Wenham, followed by a bike ride though Hamilton, Topsfield and Ipswich. After the bike, the same run will finish the race. The staging area is the green in front of Asbury Grove. The event is sponsored by the New England Running Company in Beverly and the Ipswich Bicycle Shop. Visit http://stewchase.com/duathlon/dua-app.html for more information.
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There's another 5K coming in September. The Coastal 5K Run for the Beach is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. at Lynch Park in Beverly. The 5K benefits Salem Sound Coastwatch's "Adopt a Beach" program. Register online at Active.com or download entry form at www.salemsound.org.
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On the Run is a biweekly column about the North Shore running scene. Send any questions, comments, or news to jay.kumar@gmail.com.
Upcoming races
TUESDAY, AUG. 3
Lynn Woods 5.75M Trail Race, Lynn Woods Reservation, 6:30 p.m. Contact: Rene Lavoie (North Medford Club) at 1-508-380-6268 or e-mail rainman52@verizon.net.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 4, 11
Danvers 5K Fun Run, Sweet William's Garden Center, 141 Pine St., Danvers, 7 p.m. Free, timed run. All welcome. These events are part of a weekly 52-race series. E-mail adam@danvers5k.com.
40th Annual Lynn Woods Summer Cross Country, Great Woods Road, Lynn, 6:30 p.m. Every Wednesday until Sept. 29. Free. Three races (long, short, kids' 1.59-mile run). Contact: Bill Mullen (Lynn Woods Summer XC) at 1-978-535-3905 or e-mail bill@lwrun.org.
THURSDAY, AUG. 5
43rd annual Beverly YMCA Yankee Homecoming Road Race 5K, Lynch Park, 254 Ober St., Beverly, 6:30 p.m. Kids fun run races start at 5:45 a.m. Register online at www.northshoreymca.org.
Saturday, Aug. 7
Run for KB 10K/1.5-mile walk. Asbury Grove, 1 Pleasant Ave., Hamilton, 9 a.m. Contact: Deb Viggiano (Run for KB) at 1-978-468-7197 or e-mail runforkb@msn.com.
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Sunday, Aug. 8
Historic Salem Second Annual Heritage Days 5K, Salem Maritime National Park Visitors Center, 2 New Liberty St., Salem, 9 a.m. Race benefits Historic Salem, Inc. Contact: Julie Arrison (Historic Salem Inc.) at 1-413-530-0831 or 3-mail juliearrison@gmail.com.
Visit http://coolrunning.com/eventcal/index.php for more race listings.
