Published: 11/23/2021 10:01:51 AM
CHESTERFIELD – The Gorge après Gorge 5k trail run and family walk will be returning to in-person form this Sunday, albeit with COVID-19 precautions.
The run at the Chesterfield Gorge is currently a fundraiser for the Land Trust, and Carr said that last year it raised about $2,000. However, it originally started independent of the nonprofit.
“It’s just a really fun community event,” said Katie Carr, engagement manager for the Hilltown Land Trust. “It was started by two women who live in the Hilltowns.”
Leslie Charles and Tanya Rapinchuk began the event in 2005, and at that time it was only a walk. Later, the pair added the 5k run element as well, and in 2015, it became affiliated with the Hilltown Land Trust.
Since that time, the founders have stepped back from the event and it is now put on through a partnership between the Land Trust and Beast Coast Trail Running.
Carr said that the event is in line with the trust’s goals of connecting people to the outdoors and getting people outside and exploring year-round.
She said the race has a number of features that she hasn’t seen in other races, such as homemade hats being given out as prizes and cookie medals. Before the pandemic, there also was a potluck after the race.
“We hope to bring that back when that feels like a more safe, responsible thing to do,” Carr said.
Last year’s race was run virtually due to the pandemic, a first for the event, Carr said. While this year’s race is back on in person, COVID-19 precautions like having all staff masked and participants masked when unable to socially distance is in effect, though runners won’t have to wear a mask while running. There will also be ample hand sanitizer available.
Runners and walkers can sign up at www.runreg.com/gorge-apres-gorge. Registering for the walk is free, while pre-registering for the run is $20 for individuals, $15 for current members of Hilltown Land Trust or The Trustees, free for children 9 and under, and $60 for families – which is defined as up to four people from the same household. Registration is $25 on the day of the race.
The route of the walk and run has remained the same and goes along the Westfield River.
“It is a nationally designated wild and scenic river,” said Sarah Welch, the Community Engagement Coordinator for the land trust through TerraCorps.
The Westfield Wild & Scenic River Committee helps to maintain the trail, and it has run an event, “Tidying the East Branch Trail” for several years, although the organization is not doing so this year because it’s in a strategic planning mode.
Meredyth Babcock, of the Westfield Wild & Scenic River Committee, said that if anyone is inspired to join the group on its cleanups they can send an email to westfieldriver@gmail.com.
“We love having people come out,” Babcock said.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.
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