The Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club will host its 35th annual 5k cross-country race series starting on Tuesday, April 5. The open 5k race is available to runners of all ages for a five dollar entry fee (runners who are younger than 18 can run for free). The races will start at 6:30 every Tuesday evening, and the course is near the Northampton Community Gardens and the dog park on Burt Pits Road.
“It’s kind of a rugged course, and there’s quite a lot of turns, but we’ve marked every single one of the turns with a bright yellow arrow,” co-race director Sue Grant said of the course.
The races happen every week, rain or shine, barring any kind of extreme weather that would put runners safety at risk. Runners of all ages are encouraged to come, and the races average approximately 79 finishers each week. Racers can earn ‘Race Bucks’ each week, which allow a runner to compete for free at one of the upcoming races, for finishing top in their age group or for correctly predicting their finish time (or getting the closest) before the race.
“We welcome all runners and we really have a good time, it’s a fun event,” Grant said.
To learn more about the Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club, you can visit its website at www.sugarloafmountainathletic.org. For any further questions about this race series, you can contact Don Grant, the race’s director, at (413) 584-7725.