WESTFIELD-With the thought of new year’s resolutions only weeks away, city residents are encouraged to consider adding one special goal – participating in the 2019 Westfield 350th Race Series.
“As the new year approaches, we often make resolutions and set personal goals,” said Vanessa Diana, who is a member of the race series organizing committee and serves as race director for Run Stanley. “Having a fitness goal is a great motivator to challenge yourself to establish new habits and push yourself.”
Run Westfield is part of the 2019 Westfield 350th Race Series. (Submitted photo)
As plans for the city’s 350th celebration also accelerate with the new year, race organizers are confident that a record number of runners and walkers will want to participate in the once-in-a-lifetime unique series.
“Participating in group activities increases that motivation and the likelihood we’ll stick with our training plans because we have fun and get encouragement from other participants,” said Diana. “We hope the series will convince individuals, families, and groups of friends to pursue a goal together.”
Diana is joined on the race committee by Mike Sheldon, race director for both Gordy’s First Race and the Westfield Half Marathon, both benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield, and Mike Tierney and Kevin Matys, race directors for Run Westfield.
“We have also reached out to the organizers of the other races in the series to include all running events held in Westfield,” said Diana, adding she has been working with Westfield State University officials to establish a new event for 2019.
“The Indoor Track All-Comers Meet on Feb. 10 will be fun and family friendly,” said Diana. “What I relish about this collaboration is that everyone involved shares a passion for running and a love of Westfield, and it is exciting to work together to offer the community this unique way to challenge themselves for the new year, reach new fitness goals, have fun together, and win a commemorative jacket to mark their achievement.”
Sheldon echoed those sentiments.
“Every article I’ve read has agreed that running and walking are great ways to increase overall health,” said Sheldon, who started running during his lunch hour in his mid-30’s to “relieve job stress and get healthier.”
Sheldon added he soon found he enjoyed both training and racing.
“I gradually increased distances until I ran my first marathon in 1993,” said Sheldon. “After retiring from marathons in 2010, I had run 34 marathons including 14 Boston Marathons. Two memorable runs were the original marathon course from Marathon to Athens, Greece, and the 54-mile Comrades Marathon in South Africa.”
As race director for Gordy’s First Race, Sheldon’s involvement is particularly personal.
“Gordon Bates was a friend who passed away unexpectedly,” said Sheldon. “He started the race many years ago but had abandoned the race for financial reasons. I resurrected the race in 2009 to help Gordon’s family and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield.”
Both Diana and Sheldon agree that either walking or running any – or all – of the races next year will be fun and rewarding.
“One of my favorite duties as race director is watching and encouraging runners and walkers, especially first timers, and seeing their excitement crossing the finish line,” said Sheldon. “For some it is a life-changing experience.”
Diana concurred.
“If you can walk 3.1 miles, you can complete this series by participating as a walker in the 5K distance at five of the events,” said Diana, who has been a runner for eight years and has completed 15 marathons.
Participants who take part in five of the seven races will earn a jacket embroidered with the Westfield 350th logo. Awardees will be recognized at Run Stanley in October.
The race series, sponsored by Baystate Noble Hospital, includes:
- Jan. 1, Gordy’s First Race 5K or 10K from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield. Email Sheldon at [email protected] for details or visit https://www.bgcwestfield.org/gordy.
- Feb. 10, Indoor Track All-Comers Meet at Westfield State University. Details at westfield350.org/raceseries.
- April 23-Aug. 26, Stanley Park 3-Mile Cross Country Races on Monday nights, hosted by the Empire One Running Club (maximum of two). For details, visit http://www.empireonerunningclub.org/eorc_web_003.htm.
- May 16, Old Colony Marathon and Half Marathon at Stanley Park. For details, visit https://www.newenglandchallenge.org/old-colony-marathon.
- May 18, Run Westfield Fast Flat 5K, South Lot, Westfield State. For details, visit http://runwestfield.com.
- June 22, Westfield Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K, from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield. For details, visit https://www.bgcwestfield.org/westfieldhalf.
- Oct. 6, Run Stanley 5K Trail Race at Stanley Park. For details, https://www.stanleypark.org/event-full/events/run-stanley-5k-munchkin-run-k9-run-and-walk-70.html.
For more information on the races, visit westfield350.org/raceseries or contact Diana at [email protected]; Sheldon at [email protected]; Matys at [email protected], or Tierney at [email protected].
“The race series offers a long-term goal to keep you motivated,” said Sheldon. “We also encourage people to give race entries as Christmas gifts to family members and friends. Lastly, a nice jacket with the 350th logo will be a keepsake of your participation in Westfield’s 350th celebration.”
