NYE 5K Fun Run

I realize New Years Eve feels like ancient history by now, but I've been too busy enjoying my three weeks of R&R to mention it here. In any event, I wanted to report that this year's NYE Midnight 5K Fun Run turned out to be good fun for all who braved it. I realize a 3.2 mile run at 12:02 a.m. in the middle of the winter may not be your idea of 'fun', but it actually is pretty cool. Started three years ago by Greg Saulmon and Mary Franck, of Easthampton, the run kicks off right after the hokey ball drop from the roof of the Brass Cat. The route proceeds down Adams and through the back streets of Easthampton past EastWorks, finishing up with a flourish onto Union to the dark and understated finish line in front of Mt. Tom's on Cottage Street. I know it may not sound like the safest 5K you've ever heard of (hence the emphasis on 'fun run'), but running at midnight, particularly at the very beginning of a shiny new year, is actually surprisingly invigorating. I dare you to join us next year.

The first year of the run had four participants. The second, seven. This year, through the tireless organizing and publicizing efforts of Kris Potasky and a cool donation of t-shirts by Todd Potasky and Valley Kitchens, there were 25 runners. Nice!

And although it's meant to be a run and not a race, we didn't want anyone taking any chances to win a prize (a $25 giftcard for, you guessed it, Mt. Tom's), we did have a winner. Phil Bricker, of Northampton, took home the prize. The rest of us got cool t-shirts. Congrats to Phil and all the other runners. All I know is I didn't even see him after the first turn.

Thanks to all the hearty souls who came out for it. I hope to see y'all again next year, and hopefully an even bigger field. Finally, a giant thanks to Clay Crow for donating his time and creativity to create the great graphics for the T's....

Hope you're having a good New Year so far.