Race officials expect more than 6,000 runners, including South Hadley native Zach Hine, who ran in the marathon at the U.S. Olympic Trials in January.
Zach Hine, who placed 31st in the marathon at the U.O. Olympic Trials in January, has registered for the 2012 Holyoke St. Patrick's Road RaceHOLYOKE – Western Massachusetts will be putting its best running foot forward Saturday in Holyoke . . . in more ways than one.
Everything is shaping up beautifully for the 2012 Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race, which is set for its traditional 1 p.m. start on Maple Street. Take into account the following:
- this year’s 10K race is on St. Patrick’s Day.
- as of Tuesday night, 5,500 runners had already pre-registered.
- the inaugural fun walk has more than 400 people registered.
- all post-race festivities have been centralized to the new race headquarters on 143 Maple Street.
- the extended forecast is calling for temperatures in the upper-60s.
And since, after all, this is a race, it’s important to note that the region’s best runner has already registered. South Hadley native Zach Hine, who placed 31st in the marathon at the U.S. Olympic Trials in January, will be on the starting line Saturday.
“It looks like we’re going to reach 6,000,” said Mike Zwirko, who serves as race co-director with Mike Tierney.
“We’ll have our typical Ethiopians and Kenyans, and we have Zach Hine coming. I spoke to him Tuesday and he’s psyched. I told him it would be nice to have a local guy win this thing, and he is psyched. He said he’s been running well and is in really good shape.”
A local male runner hasn’t won the race in decades.
The race committee made some nice changes for this year’s event, and the walk now gives the race something for everyone.
“Frankly, it’s probably the best thing we have done in a long time,” Tierney said. “I’m so excited about the walk. It adds a whole new dimension to what we’re trying to accomplish here.”
The race committee made the walk a charitable event, as all proceeds will go toward women’s health at the Holyoke Medical Center.
“People said we’ll only get 50 walkers this year, but the walk is a hot item right now,” Zwirko said. “People are saying, ‘My husband runs so I might as well do the walk’. They don’t want to be on the sidelines. They’ll have the ambiance of the road race because it’s a similar route.”
And speaking of ambiance, leave it to someone from Holyoke to figure out how to have a party before a party. Runners will be able to pick up their registration packet or register to participate Friday from noon-7 p.m. at race headquarters. The Friday pick-up was offered last year, but not for nearly as long.
And in classic Holyoke fashion, there will be music, food and beverages available, with a huge tent covering the entire parking lot already in place.
“We did that last year and it really helped,” Zwirko said. “We heard from people that if we had it a little earlier on Friday, that would be good because they have plans in the evening. And, people coming in from Boston or New York have said they’ll be able to make it by 7 p.m., so that’s great.”
Online registration closed Wednesday. Along with the Friday timeframe, people can register or pick-up their packet Saturday 9 a.m.-12:30.
Sections of High Street and Maple Street will once again be closed Saturday, meaning revelers will have the chance to enjoy a block party before, during and after the race.
“The weather is going to cooperate again, and the City of Holyoke is behind the race,” Tierney said. “We’re going to have another block party. Our race headquarters has put its hat in the ring in terms of a place to be and a place to go. There will definitely be more people than last year. There will enough bar business and food business for everyone to make money.”