A herd of runners started running the Old Colony Marathon at 5 a.m. on Friday. (Photo submitted by Bob McKean, Executive Director Stanley Park)
SOUTHWICK – The Old Colony Marathon kicked off at 5 a.m. on Friday morning. In its fourth year at Stanley Park, participants from across the country run 26.2 miles within the confines of the park. Participants are from all six New England states, but also come from states like Florida, Mississippi, Texas, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Minnesota.
The Old Colony Marathon is the fifth race of six races, which is part of the New England Challenge. According to New England Challenge Race Director Chuck Savage, the challenge consists of six marathons in six days.
The marathon began on May 15, with the Pine Tree Marathon in Portland, ME, followed on the next day by the Granite State Marathon in Mine Falls Park in Nashua, N.H. Day three featured the Red Island Marathon in Warwick, R.I., followed by the Nutmeg State Marathon in Hartford, Conn. Savage said that a sixth marathon was added this year; the Maple Leaf Marathon in Fairlee, VT, which will be run around Lake Morey.
Being the fourth consecutive time that the New England Challenge has included Stanley Park, there’s a clear reason why the organization and the runners continue to return.
“It’s a very beautiful park,” Savage said when discussing the scenery. “Everybody likes this course, it’s pretty flat, there’s no significant hills at all,” said Savage.
Originally scheduled to start at 6 a.m., Stanley Park Director Bob McKean said the race started at 5 a.m., due to the extremely hot temperatures. Around 100 runners participated in the run at Stanley Park. For all six races, there is also an option for a half marathon, which is 13.1 miles.
McKean has staff, volunteers, and members of the Stanley Park Board of Directors who have assisted him with the event. Members of Stanley Park are certainly more than pleased with hosting the New England Challenge.
“We’re just privileged and honored and proud of the comments they (New England Challenge) have given us for how great this park is,” said McKean. “As a director, I certainly feel extremely proud to just be part of this.”
Savage mentioned that there are a number of runners who are as dedicated as they come to running marathons. Around 8 people will participate in all six races this week.
Putting mileage into the most extreme perspective, a couple of the participants have logged the type of mileage that you would only expect from your motor vehicle.
Henry Hueden, has finished 1,228 marathons, and has never started one that he didn’t finish. Frank Bartocci, has the high hopes of completing 900 marathons just this year, as he is currently at 843.
For more information on the New England Challenge and any of the six marathon races, visit the New England Challenge website.
