Arthritis Foundation event heads to Worcester as runners get into the holiday spirit with these local road races
As with most times of last year, the December holiday running events were erased from the schedule because of the pandemic, so naturally, the return of those activities are most welcome.
And officials from a couple of those events couldn’t be more excited to be back offering in-person holiday cheer to the running community. They’re both 5Ks on consecutive days, so there also is no reason those interested can’t take part in both.
Now entering its second decade of celebrating the holidays, the Jingle Jaunt 5K returns as a live event in Sutton on Dec. 11. And on the very next day, the Arthritis Foundation is “Back to Jingling,” as it exclaims on the website, but instead of starting and finishing at Boston Common, the organization’s Jingle Bell Run has headed to Worcester. The run goes off at 10 a.m. on Sunday the 12th.
“There’s been a lot going on in Worcester in the last 10 years,” said Erica D’Agostino, the Arthritis Foundation’s senior executive director for New England. “We felt like we were doing too many things in Boston, and we wanted to spread things out.”
Over the past couple of decades, the foundation has held a charity walk in Lake Park in Worcester and a Jingle Run on Boston Common. The feeling was both events had pretty much plateaued in popularity, so the event committees from both joined forces on this new event in Worcester.
“The response has been fantastic,” said D’Agostino, who last week with her family moved to Upton from Framingham. “We had contacted the city early, and they were super excited and on board.
“Things have really shifted a lot, and that’s a credit to the city.”
As last year’s live event in Boston was wiped out by COVID, the foundation committed the Jingle Bell Run’s move to Worcester in November 2020. Permits were secured in July and August, and details were finalized in the fall with Baystate Brewing Company, the new headquarters for the event at the Worcester Ice Center complex at 112 Harding Street.
“People are cautiously excited, yet we feel very comfortable with the protocols we have in place,” said D’Agostino, who noted that in the area of 600 to 650 annually participated in the event when it was in Boston.
There will be a staggered start to minimize contact, and race officials are asking that participants are adequately masked and encouraging basic social distancing. The event is monitoring updates on CDC guidelines and following Commonwealth protocols for public spaces. Hand-sanitizing stations will be available inside the Baystate Brewing Company.
All money raised via sponsors covers event expenses, and all entry fee proceeds goes to research and outreach for the foundation’s mission, to cure America’s No. 1 cause of disability. No longer just a concern of older people, D’Agostino notes more than 300,000 children are affected by arthritis.
Teams are registering for the event, including the Clark University X-C Fun Team, doing its part to fundraise. As of last week, the event already had raised just under $38,000, exceeding its $35,000 goal.
The entry fee now is $40 now, $45 race day, but for those who go online on Giving Tuesday and use to promo code “GIVE,” there is a discounted fee of $35.
Among items in swag bag provided by sponsors includes T-shirt, decals and, of course, jingle bells to attach to the running shoes.
For more details and to register, visit www.jbr.org/centralma.
Holiday tradition continues in Sutton
Road-racing veteran Howie Bottomly also is enthusiastic about returning his traditional holiday event, the Jingle Jaunt 5K. And tradition always is a key word when attending this race in Sutton. Start time at the First Congregational Church at the Town Common (307 Boston Road) is 10:30 a.m. on the 11th.
“It’s an old-fashioned race, tag timed,” he said. “And we get the people to understand that it’s indeed a race, not just a fun run.”
The event has yet to be postponed by foul weather, and the race has thrived with the volunteers who have helped make it a smooth-running success.
“I’ve got a great crew,” Bottomly said. “No matter what the weather, they’re there, and it happens, and that’s important.”
This event can get competitive, as Bottomly is quick to note the men’s and women’s course record-holders are Paul and Stephanie Reilly of Northbridge, he of cross-country fame at Providence, she of Olympic fame while representing Ireland, and parents of national freshman mile champion and high school state cross-country runner-up Marcus Reilly.
Of course, there’s still plenty of fun for all at this event, which was held virtually last year, with about 50 people participating.
Each runner will receive a Santa hat.
“At the beginning, we got lots of dwarves and elves, and we still do,” Bottomly said. “It’s a nice event, and we try to make it fun. If we get 75, we have a great time.”
Post-race snacks include soup, pizza, hot chocolate and bananas, and the entry fee is $20, maintaining that the runner is the event’s priority.
Entry-fee proceeds go to operation of the race, while money raised by sponsors is donated to the First Congregational Church.
To register, visit event.racereach.com/jingle-jaunt-5k/ — and for more information, contact Bottomly at howie189@verizon.net or (508) 865-0198, or Marie at fccs@suttonfirstchurch.net.
Last of the year
Alas, this is the last Running column of 2021, but we're still interested in story ideas over the winter about those who hit the roads.
Feel free to email at the address below — and we'll catch up in the spring.
—Contact John Conceison at john.conceison@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @ConceisonJohn.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Arthritis Foundation event heads to Worcester as runners get into the holiday spirit with these local road races
