Runners and walkers fill Memorial Park for Reading Lions Club 5k
(3-minute read)
The Reading Lions Club held its annual 5k road race and 1-mile walk on the evening of Thursday, July 16, sending participants off shortly after 6:30 pm from Memorial Park. The event is the club’s largest fundraiser of the year and is being held in partnership with Friends of Reading Recreation.
A cool evening for a run through town
Volunteers in Race Staff shirts check in runners at the registration tables beneath the Reading Lions Club tents ahead of the Journey for Sight 5k. Photo by Taylor Gregory.
The timing could not have been better. After a hot afternoon, the wind picked up and cooled the area down, setting up near-perfect conditions for an evening run and walk. A brief sprinkle of rain passed through, and the rest of the evening stayed clear and cool.
The 5k started on Harrison Street and proceeded up Pearl Street, Wakefield Street, Tamarack Road, and Timberneck Drive before heading down Charles Street and finishing with a final loop around Memorial Park. Walkers taking on the 1-mile route followed Belmont Street and Orange Street before completing the same closing loop. Check-in tents were packed with volunteers getting participants signed in as a DJ played music for the crowd, and Second Wind Timing was on hand to record official times, with the finish line marked by the timer rather than the usual arch, which was not set up for this year’s race.
A field of all ages
The race drew a wide range of ages, from youngsters in strollers to kids in elementary, middle, and high school, and adults of every age. Runners turned out in shirts from a variety of organizations, including RMHS Cross Country and Track & Field, the Mystic Valley Running Club, collegiate cross country and track programs, several Reading youth programs, and Stoneham Track & Field. A few dogs joined the walk, and at least one participant took to the course dressed as a hot dog.
Brian Ronayne crosses the line as the first male to finish the race, as spectators look on at the Journey for Sight 5K. Photo by Taylor Gregory.
Tom Clough, co-director of the road race and a member of the Reading Lions Club, welcomed participants and thanked Friends of Reading Recreation for partnering on the event. He expressed gratitude for the support for the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year, walked the crowd through the route and the volunteers stationed along the course, and thanked the RMHS girls’ track team for their help during the event. Adam Hogan, who is involved in several RMHS singing groups, performed the National Anthem before the start.
After the race
Once runners crossed the line, pizza, water, fruit, and chips were available, followed by a raffle for participants. Awards were presented to winners across various gender and age groups, with pint glasses for participants 15 and older and medals for those under 15. Brian Ronayne was the first male to finish, and Kristen Ryan was the first female to finish.
Clough closed out the evening alongside co-director Joe Madden and Lions Club president Desirée Zicko, thanking participants, volunteers, and partners for making the race a success.
