Runners run a patriotic race with a whole lot of sole

MATTAPOISETT — When a thunderstorm came through the Tri-town around 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, the future of the annual Mattapoisett Road Race looked uncertain to some.

“I made the mistake of saying, ‘Well, this has been one of the smoothest years so far,” race director Bill Tilden said. “I will never, ever say that again because then all of a sudden we had this freak storm come in.”

A tree had fallen on the front of a U-Haul truck that contained much of the race day essentials, including participants' racing bibs, and the porta potties set up for the runners at Shipyard Park had slid across the parking lot.

“We were replacing soaking wet toilet paper,” Tilden said.

But by 9 a.m. Friday, July 4, over 1,300 runners crossed the starting line of the 53rd annual Fourth of July race.

Runners started the four-mile run at Shipyard Park, winding through Mattapoisett and around Ned’s Point Lighthouse.

Westport resident Naomi Cass, who placed second in the female 19-29 age group with a time of 24:16, said it was a “beautiful day” for a race, noting that the course was shady and there was a breeze in the air.

Cass has run the Mattapoisett Road Race four times and said she “loves road races because everyone’s there to support everyone.”

Ana Imrie, who ran the road race for the first time this year, said spectators along the course had music playing and kids cheered the runners on.

“We’ll see people out there that we don’t even know about that are out there with sprinklers or cups and just so many people all over the place just cheering people on all over the course,” Tilden said.

Along Ned’s Point Road runners also ran by each other, which Imrie said gave the run “such a fun vibe.”

“I was able to see some of my friends and cheer for each other,” she said.

Dressed in festive colors, Imrie also noted that she “always loves races where everyone gets to dress up.”

Among those who dressed up for the occasion were Donna Simmons and Tara Greaves, dressed in red, white and blue all the way down to their running shoes.

Simmons, who has been running the road race since 2007, dressed as Wonder Woman, wearing a cape and patches of the Wonder Woman logo attached to her shoes, and even registered for the race under the name “Wonder Woman.”

“I do every year — they know that,” she said, explaining she tries to be festive for every road race she races.

Simmons, who lives in Carver, said she meets up with friends weekly to run part of the race’s course and noted that it’s a good route and a beautiful area.

She added that the race “makes you feel like you’re part of a community.”

TIlden said the event is successful because it’s something the town gets behind.

“It’s a townwide thing. You see clotheslines with 20 years of shirts hanging up,” he said.

He explained that it takes over 100 volunteers to make the event happen, with volunteers needed to hand out water along the course, others needed to distribute shirts and bibs and others to ensure cars stay off the course.

“Every year it’s amazing how many people come out of the woodwork and say, ‘Hey, how can I help?’” Tilden said. “It just makes you feel good.”

He added, “It’s not just about the people that are out here running, it’s about the whole community.”