Now this is how your organize a wholly successful, albeit unpronounceable, 5K…read more I'm always in awe of how community-building these races are, even as they slowly drive local business owners to suicide, what with the gazillions of runners flocking through and using the bathroom pre-race. Somerville does an excellent job, however, of completely blocking off the streets and organizing a gaggle of people through the start without much delay. The finish line got a little hairy, as we all slowly walked over the barrier, mentally screaming to our little bib chips "WHATEVER MY TIME MINUS A MINUTE, DAMMIT!", but given that there was live Irish music accompanying us to the end, it was kind of a nice way to finish a race. The course is the same as the Gobble x 3, except minus a mile, so a few hills that are pleasantly resolved in downhills, with the finish line just up the bike path. They unfortunately ran out of swag, but I also callously went to pick up my race pack at 10:45am for an 11am start time, so I can shoulder the blame for that one. The tee-shirt, from what I saw, was cotton, brimming with sponsors, and a lovely shade o'purple. The later start time allows for some pre-St. Patty's Day debauchery the night before, and the post-race craic is a sea of green beer, lovingly supplied by Somerville's finest Irish establishments. Like all BA events, it sells out fast, so sign up early and sport your sweaty shamrock with pride.

Ras na h'Eireann is probably one of my favorite annual 5K's in the Boston area. If you plan on…read moreparticipating, make sure you sign up early since the bib numbers tend to go quickly and the price only goes up as the race date creeps up. This year, 5,500 raced, and as you can imagine, Davis Square was absolutely taken over before, during, and after the event. Before race day they offer several opportunities all around the Boston area to pick up your race number and free t-shirt, but in reality, it was simple to pick it up right down the street on race day. The organizers did a good job marking off starting areas for runners based off of their average pace, which is something that not many races tend to do. Since there are so many people packed onto Elm/Holland Street, the start of the race was a massive jam of people just trying to get started. Thankfully they track your time with a chip in your race bib. After the event I was emailed my overall time (with traffic jam included) as well as my actual race time from crossing the starting line through the finish line. Throughout the race there are photographers stationed taking pictures which they will inevitably try to sell you through a bunch of promotional emails, but that happens at all of these types of things. After the race they had water for competitors as well as a medal. Bars all over Somerville and Cambridge we offering free beer to people with race bibs, and though I did not go to any, I heard it was a blast. I will have to do that next year. I really like the timing of this 5K because it lines up with the warming weather and tells me to get off my ass and get back into my normal running routine. I use this race as my beginning of the season gage and run a few more over the spring and summer to see how I am progressing. Even if you aren't a runner, this is a great event because of all the support and camaraderie everyone has. Don't worry about all the hills!

This is such a great group! It was one of my favorite parts about living in Lowell. It's a…read morebeautiful 5k down by the water followed by an after party! Who does love that?!?! Best part are the PR medals. Each week you are judged against yourself and only yourself. If your time is a PERSONAL RECORD (PR) you get recognized at the after party and given a rubber Miely award. These awards mean so much to me because it's more than participation, it's pushing yourself and proof you're improving as a runner. These were such good inspiration when you're only half a mile out and feel the tank on empty, knowing you just need to shave off 5 secs from your previous best. I recommend this group to all ages and abilities. It won't disappoint.

On Tuesday evenings at 7pm from April through June, runners compete in 5k road races in downtown…read moreLowell. There are ten races in this Springtime running Series, and runners may sign up online or at the beginning of the race. The Good Times 5K Running Series runs every Tuesday night at 7:00 from at the Hookslide Kelly's located at 19 Merrimack Street, in downtown Lowell, MA. All races begin on French Street near Lowell High School (just 1/10th of a mile from the Hookslides) and ends near the beautiful Boarding House Park. The ten week series will feature a different "theme" each week. Runners compete for weekly prizes based on the theme that evening. Runners will also be competing for weekly points that will be counted towards overall series awards (see series scoring). An awards ceremony will be held each week starting at 8:00 PM at Hookslides.

Predatory refund policies (in EXTREMELY fine print in a two page waiver). Beware. Will cancel your…read morerace MONTHS in advance for non-COVID reasons and not fully refund or give a complimentary entry to another race.

Eddie O's races are the best. Most of the races take place in Cambridge, hence the name of the…read moreorganization. However, in recent years he has started adding some creative races in the Greater Boston area that are quite fun as well. His website gives a great preview to all the fun that takes place at the races. You can sign up through the website using Race Menu. A few days before the race, you pick up your bib number and t-shirt. I can't remember a time where I've picked up a bib number and not seen Eddie there greeting people and getting to know race participants. The t-shirts are fantastic, super soft and end up being a part of my summer casual wardrobe. Race day is well organized, especially as he has a few races under his belt. All the necessary items for a successful race are there: 1. Bag check - still recommend packing light and running with keys, license, etc. There are plenty of volunteers helping with bag check station before and after the race. 2. Water stops along the way and snacks at the end. Eddie has done a good job creating sponsorship opportunities and getting water, bananas, and energy bars in the hands of runners. Usually he has some pizza show up as well. 3. Volunteers along the race route provided encouragement and directions at major intersections. The roads of Cambridge are blocked off, so you can run freely and safely. 4. Dance-off (how many other races have a dance-off)....which is influenced by the most important thing..... 5. And that is the BEER. Eddie has brought in wonderful local craft brewers who keep the beer flowing for hours. Cambridge Brewing Company, Night Shift, Notch, Slumbrew, and Pretty Things are all regular contributors to the imbibing. I've been running these races since the first Oktoberfest a few years ago and they've only gotten better over the years. As of now he has the following races scheduled: 1. Freedom Run - near Galleria around Memorial Day 2. Sasquatch Trail Run at Middlesex Fells/Stone Zoo in July 3. Big Bad Wolf - 5 mile race in Ipswich 4. Oktoberfest - Cambridge Brewing Company in Kendall Sq. in early October 5. Yulefest - Harvard Sq race in early December The race themes usually lead to some inventive costumes from race participants. Overall, it's a great race experience and if you are looking for some fun 5Ks to run during the year, look no further.

Chalk another one up for the Somerville Road Runners, a non-profit (maybe?) that consistently…read moreprovides us novice runners with opportunities to shed our Nike Plus and strut our new tech shirts. The Gobble x 3, or the "Turkey Trot" for those in the in, is the annual Thanksgiving morning 4-mile race, a.k.a. an excuse to load up on mashed potatoes and pie without guilt. The course is great--the largest hill is at the front end, all the better to warm up fast and glide through the cold air, and every subsequent hill is rewarded with a downhill slope, including a final glorious descent to the finish line. It's understandably not as costumed as the Halloween Superhero 5K, but everyone loves a little whimsy, so throw on that turkey hat with pride. Register early, as it sells out quick (2500 person limit); the $25 registration fee will include a warm long-sleeved tee-shirt that, when worn, will cement your status as a Somerville elite. P.S. Go easy on those Starbucks employees. They're not nearly as grumbly as they have reason to be, considering that they have to work on Thanksgiving amidst 2500 stretching runners. Tip generously, even if you're just in there to use the bathroom.

One of my favorite races! The Somerville Road Runners do a bang up job with this one. It's…read moresupremely well-organized. I recommend picking up your race packet the day before at Marathon Sports, but even if you do it race day at Harvard Pilgrim in Davis, it won't be a problem. The results are posted almost immediately at the race itself and online shortly after. The Gobble x 3's got an interesting, challenging course with a downhill finish, and I appreciate the digital race clocks at each mile marker. The race is fully chip timed. This year, they moved to the timing strips in the bib, which was so convenient and easy (nothing to return!). My only suggestion for improvement would be to charge a bit more for the race entry fee so they can provide tech shirts. I do like my long sleeved Gobble tees, but any serious runner is going to avoid an all cotton top for running. I'd love to have a souvenir to inspire me on my training runs for next year.

The Boston Athletic Association has added a 10k race to its competition offerings. The Inaugural…read moreBAA 10k was staged with the professionalism and precision you would expect from the group that organizes one of the most famous marathons in the world. While the weather was lousy (95% humidity!), the race was excellent. The Course: The course begins on Charles Street between the Public Garden and the Common (if you've run the Tufts 10k, it's the same start/finish). The course goes out to BU on Commonwealth Ave. and Bay State Road, then features a hairpin turn at the 5k mark to return via Comm Ave. I never realized until I ran this race, but Comm Ave is pretty dang hilly along the BU campus. They have a timing mat in advance of the finish line that allows the emcee to announce runners as they cross--pretty cool. I don't know if they announced me because I was too busy looking for a place to lay down and die (see: 95% humidity). The course also featured a few hallmarks of what I consider a well-organized race. Every mile was marked and featured a digital clock with the gun time. Water stations were plentiful and increased in frequency toward the end of the race. The race was completely chip timed. And they staggered the start beautifully to prevent course over-crowding. People self-selected into gates by anticipated pace, then the gates were released in three waves four minutes apart. This is the first race I've run with a hairpin where I did not have to walk the turn due to crowding. The Extras: If there's one place where the BAA 10k loses points, it's the post-race festivities. They did have bagels, bananas, and other snacks for runners, but on the whole there wasn't much to see and do after the race. In fairness, the reason to race is not to get a bunch of free crap from advertisers afterward, so I won't knock stars for that. I will say I wish water were available closer to the finish line, especially given the weather. The t-shirt, on the other hand, is fabulous. It's an Adidas performance shirt that has the texture of a Smartwool. Love it. The $40 entry fee was worth it just for this t-shirt.

The BAA 10k is a fun run around Boston. It starts in between…read morethe public garden and Boston Common, just like the BAA 5k. It runs all the way down to Boston University, makes a u-turn and runs back to the start. THE DEAL: if you sign up for the BAA 5k, 10k and half marathon, they give you a special Distance Medley medal and bibs for each race.

Overall, this is a fun race. I would especially recommend it for beginning runners; the course is…read moreslightly (but not too) challenging, and like all Harpoon events, there's a spirit of fun and camaraderie. ANTICIPATION: I appreciated multiple options for packet pickup before the race; I got mine at City Sports in Back Bay earlier in the week. T-shirts were meh: Typical gray jersey with a printed logo. Getting to Harpoon on race day turned out to be a bit of a challenge since most runners had the same idea I did (take the T), so make sure to leave plenty of travel time. THE RACE: The course is a 5 mile loop that begins and ends at Harpoon and circles the reservoir. I thought running through the dry docks area was especially cool, with warehouses rising tall on both sides of the road. There are some gradual but long hills in the first few miles of the course that present a mild challenge, but bear in mind, you'll get to run DOWN those hills on your way to the finish. Water stops at about 2 and 3 miles will help tired runners. One criticism: The 2 mile marker was definitely in the wrong place for the race (I'd estimate at the 1.75 mile point). THE PARTY: The best part! Harpoon has two beer tents, a food tent, and a number of vendors giving away free swag (Clif bars, PowerAde, City Sports). Food this year included sausages from the Sausage Guy and pasta and salad from Bertucci's. It was really hard to eat while holding a beer, and there were no tables, so my suggestion is that Bertucci's provide pizza next year for easier eating. Runners who are Friends of Harpoon received 3 beer tickets in their race pack, with additional available for $5 each. For some reason, the awesomest available beer, the 100 barrel rye IPA, always had the shortest line. Your loss, fellow runners. THE VERDICT: I'll be back.

After yesterday's overcast yet humid 9th annual 5-miler to benefit the Angel Fund ($80,000 raised),…read moreI quickly realized that beer isn't the best motivation for completing the race. "Just one more mile for ice cold beer, runners!" Yells the volunteers who watch on as sweat pours down my face. Each sign I pass has a beer image representing the number of miles run; 1 beer at mile one, 4 beers at mile four. All I want is more ice cold water! I mistakenly did not train for this one but manage to pull off a sub 50-min 5-miles. As a friend of Harpoon, you arrive to pick up your race bag containing extra drink ticket. We snagged four, to be exact. The race started just near Nagle Fish Co. behind the brewery. The run is flat with multiple road stretches broken up by 6 of 7 turns. It's not a scenic run until you reach the south Boston causeway at mile 3 and til you take the last hump of Summer Street at the race's last mile with a view of Boston. Whew! 5-miles isn't too bad. And upon the sweaty completion, the rewards started coming in. Two tents each with a minimum of 5 lines of beer taps. One tent with buffet of ziti and tomato sauce, and sausage sandwiches. Vendors, including Zipcar, Puma, City Sports, Cliff, Scion, Vitamin Water, Cape Cod Chips, offer raffle prizes and a lot of free shite. The lines for brew was long at first but after about an hour and two strong beers and of course a buzz, the lines really broke up in plenty of time for Harpoon's follow up festival: Summer Session. Watch out for heat, sun, and dehydration!

Boston Road Runners is a great organization. This group always hosts runs and it doesn't matter…read morewhat pace you run at, they're welcoming of all. This group is super friendly and so much fun to run with. Highly recommend to anyone that is looking for a fun and solid running group!

BRR puts on great affordable races and has awesome community outreach initiatives such as their…read morefree weekly run clubs. BRR welcomes both novices and veterans alike with runners of all paces showing up to their runs and races. If you're looking for a friendly club to join, definitely check out their runs (Tuesdays at 5:45 pm, Wednesdays at 5:45 am, and Saturdays at 7:45 am)!

The BAA 5K is a fun run of 3.1 miles on Boston Marathon weekend. Its an easy shakeout run…read moreopportunity before tackling the 26.2 miles on marathon Monday. With 10,000 runners it's important to be on your computer the moment it opens up for reservations as it fills quickly. You can also run it for a charity cause for a small amount which is what I did - Special Olympics Massachusetts. It was a beautiful morning the day I ran and was a terrific way to get the blood flowing, while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow runners many who also ran the marathon a few days later. I felt it was well organized and easy to get to. Plus, the charity I ran for had a special tent set up with food, drinks, swag, and a photo opportunity for after completing the race. Also, we ran over the finish line of the Boston Marathon was was pretty cool.

The BAA 5K race is 3.2 miles long, running through the heart…read moreof Boston's Back Bay. It's a short, fun run for friends, families charities, and work groups to do together. Everyone who finishes gets a medal too. THE DEAL: There are photographers set up all along the course. So, SMILE PRETTY whenever you see one on either side... cause they're taking your photo either way! (I've got a LOT of pics of me grimmicing, LOL)