MRC Racing Series

We had a good turn out at the Yankee Homecoming races in Newburyport on August 2nd.

I thought we were just going to run a race and come home, but turns out there was a band in the park entertaining a thousand people. The race takes place in the middle of Newbury Homecoming Days, a big annual celebration.

On August 10th we have the Stride 5K at Lake Q sponsored by MelroseWakefield Hospital and The Melrose Running Club. Please join us to support this vital institution in our community and have some fun with all of your friends.

Sarah and Jeff received Boston Marathon bibs from the hospital and have been working hard to generate a good turn out at this race.

The link on the MRC website doesn’t seem to be working so here it is: https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Wakefield/StrideforHealthyCommunities

On September 5th we have the Irish American 5K & 10K Road Race. This is one of the original road race events in our area and always has a good turn out. Leave the keys at home and enjoy live music, cold beer and hanging with the gang after the race.

The link on the MRC website doesn’t seem to be working so here it is: https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Malden/IrishAmerican510kRoadRace

For October we were going to do a virtual race that raises funds to support victims of domestic violence. The event is sponsored by Runforpurpose.com. When I went to their web site, I did not see a race supporting this issue listed.

We may go with the Melrose YMCA Spooky Sprint for October and revisit a race promoted by Runforapurpose.com.

For November we have the DAV 5K in Boston which raises money to help our veterans and in December we have the Bill Rodgers Jingle Bell Run.

Make sure to enter your race results on the MRC web page.

Run well my Friends,

Andy

2017 was a bit of a test run for the MRC Racing Series. Many clubs have a Grand Prix or race series and many have had them for years. 2017 was our first year with an organized race series.

Some clubs have complex point systems and requirements that need to be met in order for your running to count.

Our series is designed to give everyone an equal chance to win the top prize. And we encourage our newest members to participate and enjoy the running experience.

Melrose Racing Series Awards

Any member of the Melrose Running Club can run one of our races and get a point. You do not need to be in a photo or even wear a club shirt.

We strongly encourage you to wear a club shirt and hope to get everyone one in the group photo at the very least.

Our point system is very simple also: run a race, get a point. No multipliers or bonus points. You can come in last and get as many points as someone who places first overall.

This gives each club member an equal chance to win an award. We hope this simple and fair system encourages all of our new club members to participate in the series.

Often you can get a ride from another club member and all you have to do is run your race.

2017 Melrose Racing Series Awards

Stephanie Koh earned the most points in 2017. She ran a total of 6 out of 11 races. Her prize for 2017 is a free one-year club membership.

We had four people run five races and come in second place:

Derm Cahill
Stephanie Lawson
Andy Brown
Thuy Dang

They will get a club t-shirt.

I will update this post with more details soon.

2018 Melrose Racing Series Awards

The top prize for 2018 is a Melrose Running Club jacket. If you have seen these jackets you know that they are very nice, quality jackets.

To add a bit of a challenge to winning a jacket you have to do more than run more races than anyone else.

For 2018 there will be 14 races. There were just too many for me to keep it to twelve.

To win a jacket you must run 12 of the 14 races.

I know this is a challenge. I organized the races last year and even I couldn’t run them all.

Second place will be a club t-shirt and we still need to work on a 3rd place prize.

Last year the Twin Lights Half was cancelled, but we had two races in October so we still had twelve races.

If one of our scheduled races is cancelled I will add another race later in the year to make up for it.

Race Discounts

Occasionally I am able to get a discount for club members. Currently the Howling Wolf Half is only $40. I do not know how much longer this discount will be available, but for a half marathon this is a bargain.

When I get a discount I will post the code for you on the Melrose Running Club web site.

I hope everyone had fun last year and I hope to see you out there in 2018!

Run well my Friends!

Andy