Shamrock Shuffle Races For The Gold In Newtown Borough

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — It was chilly and wet for Saturday’s Shamrock Shuffle, but the weather didn’t dampen the enthusiasm.

In fact, as one runner put it, it was the perfect Irish weather day for a race through the streets of Newtown.

As a hearty crowd cheered, Pennsbury High School sophomore Matthew Kanuk crossed the finish line first beneath a giant green balloon arch framing North State Street. The Yardley resident posted a time of 17:38.

Kathleen McCafferty, left, owner of the ProShop, and Christine Edmonds, right, founder of A Love For Life, congratulate the top male and top female winners of the race, Matthew Kanuk of Yardley and Liz Koloski of Upper Makefield. (photo by Jeff Werner)

“The course was a little slippery, but overall it’s a really fun race with all the people on the sidelines cheering you on. It’s a really nice town to run through,” said Kanuk.

“I love the whole atmosphere and the whole St. Patrick’s Day theme,” he added. “Everyone is dressed up and wearing green. It’s different from an ordinary 5K. And it was for a good cause,” he said.

And speaking of good causes, among the first to congratulate Kanuk was Christine Edmonds, the founder of A Love for Life, the beneficiary of Saturday’s race. The Newtown-based nonprofit raises funds for pancreatic cancer research in hopes of one day finding a cure.

Edmonds founded the organization in memory of her husband, Kevin, who died from the disease in 2012 after a two year battle. She and her organization have raised thousands for the Abramson Cancer Center at The University of Pennsylvania where 100 percent of the money funds cutting edge research.

“It is so emotional to see hundreds of our neighbors and friends line up on State Street for the start of our Shamrock Shuffle 5K,” said Edmonds. “Hundreds of hours of organization go into this fun charity race - Carly Seiler Bovell of Boss Events, who coordinates a thousand details, big
and small, and Heather Lewis, who recruits and dispatches dozens of volunteers.

“There is such a feeling of accomplishment and camaraderie at the end of the race - and a lot of celebrating at the Temperance House afterwards!” she said.

Christine and a group of A Love For Life volunteers, organized by Lewis, presented medals to every runner who crossed the finish line and made sure each received a bottle of water and refreshments. Later they joined them at The Temperance House for a post-event celebration.

With A Love For Life founder Christine Edmonds, right, of Newtown are, from left, Philadelphians Cassie Cook, Sean Edmonds and Christopher John Edmonds. (photo by Jeff Werner)

As a big cheer filled the street, the first female runner - Liz Koloski of Upper Makefield - crossed the finish line out of a field of 383 runners completing her first ever Shamrock Shuffle.

“I did better than expected especially given the conditions,” she said moments later. “I’m training for a marathon right now so it was fun to do something shorter after all the long runs I’ve been doing. I definitely surprised myself.

“I used to run 5Ks a lot more when I was in high school before transitioning to longer distance, but I always loved 5Ks. I love the high I get after. It’s so short and sweet. It’s like a quick burn,” she said.

The weather, however, was crappy, she added. “The rain was in my eyes the whole time and I was trying not to slip as I cut those corners, but it keeps you cool, though.”

Among the other finishers was Newtown Borough’s own mayor, John Burke, who partnered up for the race with Frank Brassell.

The best part about the race was seeing and hearing the support from the community all along the race route, which snaked its way through the borough.

(photo by Jeff Werner)

According to Burke, residents were standing on their porches and in their front yards cheering on the runners. “I though that was cool,” he said.

“People were ringing bells and banging on pots and pans,” added Brassell. “It was a lot of fun. A true community event.”

Having raced in last year’s snow and ice storm, they brushed off any complaints about this year’s damp weather.

“The weather turned out to be good. The rain let up. Nice big crowd. But the key to the whole thing were the residents cheering their support,” said Brassell.

“Saturday morning they probably had other things to do, but there they were banging on pots and pans,” added Burke. “Everyone today had that Irish spirit.”

(photo by Jeff Werner)

The event was organized by Newtown-based Boss Events, which produces quality endurance events that focus on creating a first-class racing experience. This was the event’s seventh year, but the second time the 5K took place only in Newtown Borough with the Temperance House as its festival partner.

“I was a little nervous watching the weather, but I figured we would ride it out," said race director Carly Bovell of this year's Shuffle. "And it wasn’t as bad as last year. So we’re getting better.

“And what a great community,” said Bovell. “I love how everybody got into the spirit wearing their green. It’s really fun. On top of that, all the businesses donate toward the event."

Edmonds added her thanks to Newtown Borough Police Chief James Sabath and the local officers who provided support to the event and secured the safety of the participants.

(photo by Jeff Werner)