When you grow up in a city that was once called Ireland Parish it is sort of a given that each and every St. Patrick’s Day weekend you need to get your way back home to an old-mill city called Holyoke, Massachusetts to take part in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Road Race.

The 10K (6.2 mile) course races throughout a city that once housed Irish immigrants who made the paper mills of Holyoke the center of their lives. Runners head out of the downtown area of Holyoke, a section of town slowly going through an urban revitalization, and head up toward the Ward 5 section of town which is home to Holyoke Community College. After climbing hills for the first 4 miles, some quite difficult in nature, runners are graced with a huge downhill 4th mile as they make their way down past Holyoke Soldiers Home and toward Holyoke High School. The last mile mile has a quick little uphill past the newly constructed Senior Center and then heads downhill again toward the 6 mile marker. The last .2 of the race is a mad dash to the finish line as literally thousands of people are along the road standing rows deep cheering you into the finish line.

This year’s race was incredibly well-organized and seemed to go off without a hitch. The only part missing was a flyover from either a fighter jet or Mass. State Police helicopter which has taken place in the past.

Kudos to the crowds for coming out in force yesterday, as well. There were fans all along the race course but some key spots were packed with supporters which always makes putting one foot in front of the other a bit easier. A brass band at mile 3 was a nice touch to the race and a bagpiper just shy of the 4 mile marker never disappoints. There was a ton of groups handing out water and Gatorade along the course, and of course if you needed some extra carbs, a beer could also be easily handed to a runner.

The elite runners were back out in force this year amongst the 7000 runners and Olympians Alistair Craig and Amy Hastings took home first place in the men’s and women’s category respectively.

For me, I was able to shave about 20 seconds off my time from last year, always a good thing, and finished the race with a time of 50:17 which is good for 8:06/miles.

Be sure to mark your calendar for next year’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend and I will plan on seeing you in Holyoke!