Even though I am an early bird and usually wake up before 5AM each day, there is something about a road race in the evening that I do quite enjoy. It doesn’t need to be a pitch-black run like the Medway Police Chase 5K but a race kicking off in the evening has a unique charm to it be it the Narragansett Summer Nights 5K or one of the weekly Colonial Road Runner races in Raynham.
Yesterday, Mrs. Running Griffin and I made our way to Somerset, Massachusetts for the Shirley May France 10K. We received a flyer for the race while running the Mattapoisett Road Race on the 4th of July and never have run the race so it sounded like a great opportunity to tackle a new to us road race.
The race kicked off at 5PM and we were both nursing a couple of aches so decided we’d run together to help support each other on the race and push each other along. The temperature was right around 60 degrees and a hint of fall could certainly be felt in the air. What really stood out for this race was the course; it was awesome! The race took runners along a closed down street that brought out residents along the course to cheer runners along. There was a 5K option that broke off from the 10K course and we were certainly happy we chose the 10K option as the course was a real gem.
The course took runners along the Taunton River which leads out to the Atlantic on the South Coast of Massachusetts. There were some nice rollers in the first stretch of the race and right before the halfway point runners ran through a small park to add on some distance and then up a good sized hill directly in front of a local church. This nice hill right around the halfway mark definitely stressed the legs and given it was an out-and-back at this point running both up and down the hill was required.
A great group of volunteers helped to control each side street leading into the main road where the running took place and the closed course running was a nice treat. The Somerset Police Department patrolled the course in cars and on motorcycles and bicycles.
We finished up the Sally May France 10K with a time of 1:05:26, good for 10:31/miles. Would highly recommend you adding this race to your radar for 2027!
Proceeds from the Shirley May France 10K benefits the Somerset Chapter of The Cure Starts Now, a charitable organization dedicated to funding research and providing support to children and families battling pediatric brain cancer. The chapter was founded by Somerset residents Ken and Michelle Oheman in loving memory of their daughter, Selina.
Born and raised in Somerset, Massachusetts, Shirley May France developed a deep love for the water that would shape the course of her life. As a teenager, she emerged as one of the most accomplished and promising long-distance swimmers of her era, earning national recognition for her remarkable endurance and determination.
Among her many achievements, Shirley became the first woman to swim across Lake George in the prestigious Lake George Marathon, setting women’s world records at both the two-mile and five-mile marks. Her success in open-water swimming quickly established her as a rising star in the sport and captured the attention of audiences across the country.
Chasing the English Channel
Shirley’s greatest challenge was the legendary English Channel. At a young age, she became the youngest woman to attempt the crossing, taking on one of the world’s most demanding endurance feats. Between 1949 and 1950, she made multiple attempts to conquer the Channel, facing powerful tides, frigid temperatures, and unpredictable weather conditions.
While the Channel ultimately proved unforgiving, Shirley’s perseverance won the admiration of countless supporters. Newspapers closely followed her training and progress, while the people of Somerset rallied behind their hometown hero. She became more than an athlete—she became a symbol of courage, determination, and the willingness to pursue extraordinary goals.
