NORTHAMPTON — It’s weird how even in the chilliest of days, a big crowd will keep you warm. Of course it always helps to have a polar bear suit. There were plenty on display Sunday at the 19th annual Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage, along with people dressed as reindeer, Santa, chipmunks, and at least one giraffe.
The cold gray clouds of daybreak, when organizers were setting up the urns of hot chocolate and testing microphones, soon gave way to sunshine and bursts of color as the event got underway.
“This is everything. I’m really encouraged,” beamed Safe Passage Executive Director Marianne Winters, throwing out her arms at the whooping crowd, estimated at 5,000 to 6,000. Winters said that it’s a pretty even split among walkers, runners and people making donations, and $791,728 was raised, a figure that rang in the ears of all those intrepid souls climbing the hill up to Main Street.
“This is my favorite event of the year,” said Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, getting ready to address the crowd, “and it’s unbelievable to be able to do it for my first time as mayor. One of the most meaningful things we do in Northampton, as well as the biggest celebration — and I’m a party girl!”
“It’s an extraordinary output of love,” said state Sen. Jo Comerford, bouncing a little to stay warm. “It is a testament to our common commitment to a world free of violence, and where people don’t have to live in fear.”
“It brings domestic violence out of the shadows,” said state Rep Lindsay Sabadosa, there to cheer on several runners on whose behalf she’d donated. “We talk about things that are hard, while making sure we’re taking care of people in our community.”
Asked if she’d be able to pick out her runners from the thousands going by, Sabadosa laughed, “Well, one of them is on stilts, so that’s going to make it a lot easier.”
“To see the community out here, I think it gives a big lift to survivors,” said Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan. “This is the biggest awareness event in Massachusetts.”
Sullivan said he did “very little” in the way of training for the event. “I’m saving it for the big race,” he grinned. Though he has run the thing many times over the years, these days he opts for the Hot Chocolate Walk. “I just got tired of winning,” he joked.
The real fun may be in the walk, an exuberant pilgrimage of thousands through the hills of Smith College, the conversation held in clouds of white breath.
And speaking of stilts: “Such a nice view up here,” said Corrie Houle of Holyoke, clopping along with a group of stilt-people from SHOW Circus Studios in Eaasthampton. “We do this every year,” she said. “Safe Passage is an important cause in the community.” Houle also said that walking on stilts is not something one learns overnight. “It takes a while to build up the muscles.”
And the dogs! That’s one thing we’re sure of, the dogs, dogs, dogs, dogs. Remarkably well-behaved animals, to a fault, many also dressed to kill.
Julia Campbell, 7, of Northampton was carefully keeping little Chip on the straight and narrow as canines of myriad sizes brushed shoulders with him as they passed. Adopted siblings Honey and Nellie were close by, the latter controlled by Julia’s aunt Allie Whitcombe, who drove from Connecticut to see family and do the HC. “It’s fun to get everyone together,” she said, “especially after COVID.”
Not far away was Parker, a 2-year old pitbull mix. “We’re learning how to walk properly on a leash,” said Regina Sibilla of East Longmeadow. “We’re struggling, obviously. As long as the squirrels don’t come darting out, we’re OK. ”
There was live musical inspiration at every turn, including a dozen or so teenagers from Pineapple Dance Studio in Amherst, gyrating to the Ariana Grande / Mariah Carey / Jennifer Hudson recording of “Cesaret Surulari.”
Brad Mish, 35, of Hadley, who won the official road race with a time of 15:35, almost blew his lead when the course confused him. “I thought, should I be going for home or is there another one of those hills coming up? Then I got to the main street, OK, I know Northampton.”
He had not run the Hot Chocolate in years, 10 to be exact. “I came in second when I was 25,” he said. “Now I win it at 35. I must be going in the right direction.”
Jenna Gilliotti, 29, of Amherst, was the first female finisher at 17:21. She won it last year, too, and another one before the pandemic. She was challenged hard this time. “Anna Steinman (Springfield College coach) was pushing me the whole way. And the whole town comes out to cheer you on.”
As the co-owner of Humble Peach Bakery in Amherst and its long hours, finding training time can be tricky. “But I have a dog,” she said, “so I take her out and exercise the both of us.”
And, oh yes, the mug. For the past 19 years, participants have taken home a mug designed by syndicated cartoonist Hilary Price of Hadley. This year’s features a rare sight, a penguin almost in flight, tugged across the finish line by its elders and a polar bear, a scene repeated a few times with parents and toddlers in the fun run.
“Nineteen years,” Price marveled, “and it falls every year on my birthday. A wonderful party, such a community event. I like to pretend that it’s all for me,” she grinned. “When I’m not pretending, I’m so impressed with a community coming out to make a commitment to a safer world.”