Over the weekend of September 9-10, more than 1,000 runners toured South Boston, Massachusetts to support the South Boston Neighborhood House and its mission of meeting the diverse needs of the community’s residents. By participating in the 66th running of the Ollie Road Race Classic (a 5-miler) on September 9, as well as the ever-growing Youth Races and Carnival the next day, the record field helped the South Boston Neighborhood House to continue to provide childcare, family literacy programs, adolescent programs, volunteer services, family services, elder services and technology programs.
The 5-miler on Saturday once again served as the New England championship for the distance. Koichiro Nagata, a member of a visiting Japanese ekiden (relay) team won the men’s race in 24:04 over Irish Olympian Mark Carroll, who ran 24:28. A local runner, Emily Raymond of Medford, won the women’s race in 28:47 over Tammie Robie, of New Hampshire, who ran 29:16. Uta placed fourth in her age group, and then enjoyed spending time talking with her fellow runners and Ollie supporters. All of the finishers received a book, evidence of the strong role the Neighborhood House plays in supporting literacy in the community.
At most events, the children’s runs are held soon before or after the main race. The Ollie youth races have become such a phenomenon that in recent years they’ve been given their own day. Runners were as young as one—participants in “the diaper dash,” in Uta’s words—on up to 14, with the teens covering 1.2 miles. They, too, each received a different book at the finish.
“I love the children and to be with them,” Uta said about her role as starter for all of the youth races. “It’s a special morning there with the children—talking to them about running, passing the torch to the next group of runners. It’s also nice when some of the parents ask me about training for kids. I think they can feel my joy of running.”
For more information about the South Boston Neighborhood House, including how to make a contribution, visit the Ollie Road Race Web site.
