Thank you to all the runners and sponsors for your continued support
On Saturday, October 26th the Melrose Family YMCA hosted its 10th Annual Spooky Sprint 5k road race. On a beautiful Fall morning, 700+ runners came out to support the Y’s cause and run for the Melrose community. The aptly named ‘Spooky Sprint’ is typically held the Saturday before Halloween each year and runners are encouraged to come out dressed in their best costumes for a chance to win a special prize! The 5k begins and ends on E. Foster street, next to the Melrose Family YMCA. The course takes runners down Lebanon Street and through Pine Banks Park before circling back to Main Street.
The Melrose Family YMCA Spooky Sprint 5k raises funds for the Y’s Annual Campaign scholarship fund, which ensures no one is turned away for inability to pay. This year’s Spooky Sprint 5k raised over $20,000 for the Y’s scholarship fund. Thanks to the support of runners and generous sponsors, the Y is able to provide youth the opportunity to take lifesaving swim lessons, attend day camp, and access to healthy living programs at the Y! Special thank you to this year’s Monster Sponsor, Evolved Mechanical, for their support of the Spooky Sprint.
“It’s our favorite event of the year!”, explained Health and Wellness Director Bernadette Farrell,” Seeing people of all ages from our community come out to support the Y, and have fun doing it, makes all the hard work putting the race together worthwhile.” It should be noted that Bernadette was dressed as the Spooky Sprint logo at this year’s 5k in honor of the 10 year anniversary of the race.
Melrose Family YMCA Executive Director, Katelyn Papadopoulos, described the atmosphere of the race, “Runners, walkers, and even spectators all had smiles on their faces! We couldn’t have asked for a better morning or turnout from the community.” The 10th Annual Spooky Sprint was Katelyn’s 5th year helping organize the race as Executive Director of the YMCA.
Prizes were awarded to the top overall male and female finishers as well as the top three finishers, male and female, in each age group. Congratulations to Michael Sikkema of Melrose for taking home the prize or top male finisher and to Jenny Leonardi of Melrose for being the female winner! The prize for ‘Best Costume’ went to the Maguire family of Melrose, who showed up sporting outfits from the Nickelodeons’s popular 90’s family game show: Double Dare! For a full list of participant times and age group winners you can view our race results.
The Spooky Sprint 5k is the final race in the YMCA of Metro North’s annual road race series. The YMCA of Metro North Road Race Series brings together seven different communities to run for our cause. These unique races are featured across our communities to motivate, inspire and promote the YMCA’s mission of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Registration for next year’s series will open in January 2020! The 2020 road race series consists of the Saugus Family YMCA’s ‘Not a Walk in the Park 5k’ on April 25th, the Lynn YMCA’s ‘Stride Along the Tide 5k’ on May 30th, the Torigian Family YMCA’s ‘Beat the Heat 5k’ on July 9th, and the Melrose Family YMCA’s ‘Spooky Sprint 5k’ on October 31st.
On the horizon for the YMCA of Metro North is the Torigian Family YMCA’s annual LiveSTRONG for the YMCA Half Marathon, which will take place on November 23, 2019 at 9:00am. The only half marathon in Peabody, this race starts at Lt. Ross Park and proceeds north on the Independence Parkway into West Peabody, winding through local neighborhoods before ultimately finishing back at Lt. Ross Park. A two-person relay option is also offered for runners who want to increase distance but aren’t ready to run a full half. The YMCA Half Marathon supports LiveSTRONG at the Y, a program where local cancer survivors participate in a 12-week specialized exercise program to gain strength in body, mind and spirit after treatments. Registration is open online through November 21st! If you are interested in learning more about the Half Marathon please contact race director, Chris Rollins, at crollins@metronorthymca.org.
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