MONSON — The Monson Memorial Classic half marathon and 5K race will take place this year on Sunday, Nov. 10, with both races finishing at Memorial Hall on Main Street.
The racing event began 29 years ago in memory of Kathy Waldron Perry and Kelly Waldron, two Monson sisters who died of cancer eight months apart; Kathy of melanoma and Kelly of asymptomatic bone, breast and liver cancer, race Director Lee Williams told Reminder Publishing.
As Kelly’s classmate, Williams explained that she felt she needed to honor the two sisters after their deaths, choosing to host a racing event because “Monson is a great place to have a road race.” A runner herself, Williams organized the first event in 1996 as a 10K. The racing event was later changed to its current setup as a half marathon and a 5K.
Funds raised at this year’s event will partially support Griffin’s Friends, a Springfield-based organization created in honor of Griffin Kelleher, who died from cancer at 14 months. The organization works to support children with cancer and their families through the Baystate Health Foundation Griffin’s Friends Children’s Cancer Fund.
The racing event has supported Griffin’s Friends for more than 10 years, Williams said. Other previously supported organizations include the American Cancer Society in Massachusetts, the American Lung Association, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, and Quaboag Valley VNA and Hospice.
Williams noted that the Nov. 10 event is expected to raise “at least $3,000.” The event is supported by ticket sales and individual donations as well as by sponsors from local businesses and the town of Monson.
Check-in for the half marathon will run from 11-11:45 a.m. with the race officially beginning at noon near the intersection of Green and Main streets and ending at the flagpole at Memorial Hall. All runners who finish the race will be given a finisher medal, according to the Monson Memorial Classic race info. This race is certified at 13.1 miles as of 2015.
Top half marathon race winners will also be awarded prize money in accordance with their age group and place in the race, Williams said. These are for both the male and female race winners. Both first place winners will be awarded $400 with second place winning $300, third winning $200, fourth winning $100 and fifth place winning $75.
Each first place male and female winner in the age groups of 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80+ will win $50 as well. The age groups of 0-14 and 15-19 in addition to any college students in the 20-29 age group will win a trophy and bonus prize rather than money, Williams stated. The first male and female Monson winners will also win $100 each and a gift card to The Better Bean.
Check-in for the 5K race will take place between 11 a.m. and noon with the race starting at 12:15 p.m. near the intersection of Bliss Street, Main Street and Reynolds Avenue and ending at Memorial Hall, Williams stated. After the races conclude, food catered by Nosh Cafè and Restaurant in Springfield and live music by Waterford, Connecticut-based musician Steve Cleary will be offered.
Those looking to participate in one of the races can purchase tickets online at runsignup.com/Race/MA/Monson/MonsonMemorialClassicHalfMarathon5K. Tickets are $90 per person for the half marathon and $50 each for the 5K race and can be purchased online or in-person at the day of the Nov. 10 event. Full maps of the race routes are also available on this page.
For more information on the event, visit facebook.com/MonsonMemorialClassic.
