New Running Series Coming To Waltham

Waltham runners will now have a few more reasons to break out their running shoes soon.

A new series of road races is coming to Waltham this year.

The new Race Around Waltham series starts this spring, which includes several existing Waltham road races and two new races.  All proceeds will go to several different charities, according to series organizer Tim Irving. Runners are also encouraged to donate a can of non-perishable food to pantries, which they can bring to any race.

The series is not only intended to give runners an outlet for their passion, but to also give families an activity to do with their children, according to Irving.

“We’re trying to promote fitness and volunteering and community involvement,” Irving told Waltham Patch. “We are looking to make them family-oriented events.

The races are open to individual walkers and teams of all ages. The race is also looking for volunteers.

The six races will include: the Moody Street 5k, the Shifter’s 5k, the Tailgate Trot (4 miles, new race), JB Blastoff 5k, Race Around The Reservoir For Open Space and Piggy’s Run (new race). The shifter’s race starts the series on March 31, with events continuing into November. See below for details on the other races.

Waltham’s history as a community for runners gave rise to the new series, Irving said. Irving said he came started the series after running in other races in New England, but wanted to have a series closer to home.

“We wanted to try to increase the participation of all the races,” Irving said.

Irving said he is aiming to have at least 25 people run in all six races, and have at least 125 run in all of them combined.

Funding for the series is coming from several sources, including Old Colony Running Events, a non-profit group that organizes races, according to Irving. Irving said he hopes to make the series an annual event.

“We are getting a lot of momentum,” Irving said.

Race Details (source: RAW press release):

• Shifter’s 5K, March 31, starting at The Wave Sports Pub on Waverly Oaks Road and benefitting the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge.
• Moody Street 5K, May 6, starting at the Skellig and benefitting the McDevitt Middle School/Kennedy Middle School/Waltham High School PTOs
• Tailgate Trot 4 Mile, June 4, starting at The Wave Sports Pub on Waverly Oaks Road and benefitting the Michael A. Martin Memorial Scholarship.
• JB Blastoff 5K, September 7, starting at The Wave Sports Pub and benefitting the American Brain Tumor Association
• Race Around the Reservoir for Open Space, October 20, starting at Waltham Woods Office Park on Winter Street and benefitting the Waltham Land Trust and the RAW Series in October.
• Piggy’s Run, November 17, starting at Leary Field and benefitting a scholarship and an enrichment program fund in memory Paul J. Logue.

To sign up, visit the series Facebook page.