Ready, Set, Run a 5K in West Hartford on Sunday

Runners from all over the area are prepping for the Celebrate West Hartford 5K road race, scheduled for Sunday, June 8 at 9:30 a.m. (rain or shine). The annual race is directed by the Hartford Track Club, sanctioned by the RRCA and certified by the SATF. 

The 5K course begins at Whole Foods Market (50 Raymond Road) and ends on Burr Street. A new feature this year is the addition of an electronic start line system, which will ensure the most accurate running times for the thousand-plus runners expected to participate.

The race is sponsored by gold sponsor Whole Foods Market; silver sponsors Fleet Feet Sports and Village Vitality; and bronze sponsors All Waste Inc., Bank of America, Hartford Hospital Rehabilitation Network, Select Physical Therapy, and the West Hartford Police Officers Association.

The race offers competitive divisions for males and females ranging from ages 10 & under to over 70 and a wheelchair division. Non-competitive divisions are for walkers and runners, and for walkers or runners with baby joggers.

Prizes will be awarded immediately after the race in the Whole Foods Market parking lot. A $100 gift certificate will go to the first place overall male and female winners. The first place winner overall will also receive the Sherman Malley Memorial trophy. The Fleet Feet Sports Trophy will go to the first place female. The Don Lloyd trophy will be awarded to the first place winner aged 65 and over. Gift certificates valued at $50 will go to the first place overall West Hartford male and West Hartford female runners. The top three finishers in each competitive division will be awarded gift certificates valued at $30, $25 and $20. All registrants have a chance to win, however, because ten gift certificates valued at $25 or more will be awarded by random drawing.

Pre-race packages can be picked up on Saturday, June 7 from 9 a.m. to noon at Fleet Feet Sports, 1003 Farmington Avenue.  Registrations will also be accepted (cash or check only). According to Road Race Committee Chairman Mike Alquist, “We encourage runners to take advantage of this option, as it will make race day morning run more efficiently for everyone involved.”

Registrations for all divisions will be accepted on Sunday morning from 8 to 9 a.m. at the registration tent (cash or check only) in the Whole Foods Market parking lot. Free parking for runners is available in the Isham Street Garage.

Proceeds from the race will benefit West Hartford's Leisure Services Scholarship Fund, which subsidizes summer camp tuition, swimming lessons and other year-round recreational programs for children in need.

Kids Fun Run through Blue Back Square

Now in its sixth year, the Kids Fun Run will take place on Sunday, June 8 at 8:30 a.m., with kids ages 10 and under dashing through Blue Back Square. According to the race coordinator Marisa Mascolo Halm, "The course measures about a half mile, and every runner receives a medal for completing the course."

Parents may accompany their young children, if necessary, but most participants run the course on their own. Each finisher receives a medal. Whole Foods Market has a special reception for the children in their parking lot after the Fun Run.  

Parents can register their children the morning of the Fun Run at Whole Foods Market beginning at 8 a.m.  The fee is $5 per child.

Visit www.celebratewesthartford.com for additional information. Like Celebrate West Hartford on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/celebratewesthartford) and follow the event on Twitter (@CelebrateWH) for updates all weekend long!