There’s never been a better time to be a runner.
With basketball hoops cut down, tennis courts closed and golf courses in the state shut down for the time being, the original solitary activity has once again moved to the forefront of society. People throughout Franklin County have ramped up their mileage, finding solace in the fact that running can distract, and enhance their day to day lives — even in the darkest hours.
You’ve no doubt seen countless runners moving throughout your neighborhood over the past few weeks, their shoes pounding against the pavement. Maybe you’ve decided this was the perfect time to rediscover your love/hate relationship with the sport, and you’re back finding your way.
I’ve tried to increase my running regime over the past few weeks, using the chance to get outside and motor throughout my neighborhood as an ample excuse to take a break from working each afternoon. For many, it’s the best (and sometimes only) chance to get outside and exercise.
Franklin County is home to an impressive number of runners, whether it be folks who belong to running clubs, compete in races throughout the year, or just do it for themselves. They all have stories about running: about why they started, why they do it, what it means to their day to day lives, particularly under current circumstances.
We’ve decided to tell some of those stories. It’s a little series we’re calling, ‘Running Club Franklin County.’ Over the course of the next few weeks, maybe months, we’re looking to tell the stories of runners, of what running means to them. It’s our own little virtual running club, as we practice social distancing and encourage one another to keep going — now more than ever.
Do you have anyone that should be featured here? Know of any good running stories, best trails and routes? Heck, even worst running stories are things we can all sympathize with and commiserate over. If you think you’ve got something we should write about, send us an email at sports@recorder.com and tell us about it. We’re listening.
Here’s our first in line, Franklin County’s “celebrity runner” himself…
It’s fitting that April 1 was Ray Willis’ 91st birthday.
He’s been fooling mileage for years.
That’s to say the Charlemont resident has had the upper hand on this whole running thing for a long time now.
Willis was a teacher, track coach and athletic director at Franklin Tech from the day it opened in 1976 until he retired in 1993. Despite retiring some 27 years ago, he’s still staying active, as much as he can these days. For his 91st birthday, he went out and ran a mile. Less than a month ago, he ran the 27th Annual WAMDA 5K at Look Park.
Makes you feel a little lazy yourself today, doesn’t it?
Willis’ granddaughter Allison Weeden, who he adopted when she was 8 years old, said she’s gotten into running over the years thanks in large part to the guy she and everyone else calls, ‘Coach.’
“It’s his church,” began Weeden of her grandfather. “Him going on a run is his church. That’s his stress reliever. He really believes it’s good for your body, mind and soul.”
Willis is a member of the Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club, and he’s still a fixture at the organization’s 5K series each year. He’s basically re-written the record books there, setting 11 marks — just about everything in the 75-and-up categories.
“He’s been at it for a long time,” offered Don Grant, who organizes the SMAC 5K cross country races with his wife Sue. “One of the most remarkable things is how steady he is. He takes on challenges at a late age. We used to have races on the track, he was a really good short-distance runner as well. He was fast there and he made himself into a good long-distance runner, too.”
Running has certainly helped Weeden, who graduated from Mohawk Trail Regional in 2009, stay connected to Willis. When she ran her first marathon last year in Westfield, she made sure to wear her lucky red running bib. It’s a particularly meaningful artifact that she wears during races, as it was passed down from her grandfather and dates back to before she was even born.
“It’s been sewn about 50 times by my grandmother but I still wear it,” she said with a laugh. “Running that marathon, that was something I did for him. He loved it.”
For his part, Willis said he’s doing his best to keep those feet moving despite climbing into his 90’s.
“Running has slowed down a bit, unfortunately,” he said. “I’m not where I used to be. That part is tough but I’m still going out.”
Weeden said that being involved in the running community is still important to her grandfather.
“I know he’s still very passionate about it,” she gushed. “He likes to go down to the Northampton races, every Tuesday night. That’s something I know he always looks forward to. He’s still very competitive.”
Grant said Willis, who has been a longtime member of the Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club, is a crowd favorite during the racing series.
“Everybody waits for him, gives him a rousing cheer when he crosses the finish line,” Grant said.
The running club has changed the date of its next race, tentatively moving it to May 5 at the Community Gardens in Northampton.
Whenever the races start back up, people down there will once again be keeping their eyes peeled for Willis.