Registration open for Big Cheese 5K, a River Rat Weekend tradition

ATHOL – Registration is still open for runners interested in joining this year’s Big Cheese 5K, a tradition since becoming a part of River Rat Weekend in 2010.

The race is sanctioned by USA Track & Field, according to Elizabeth Day, race coordinator and healthy living director for the Athol Area YMCA, the sponsor of the event.

The closure of the Crescent Street Bridge last year led to a bit of confusion for runners, but Day said there will be more volunteers this year to ensure competitors stay on the course.

Day said she has been running the Big Cheese since 2011, but this is her first year – as it is for YMCA Healthy Living Coordinator Zach Lucas – overseeing the event.

“It’s actually an honor for me to have taken over this race, because I’ve been a runner since my first race on Sept. 11, 2010. It was a 10K,” Day said. “This was one of my first 5Ks.”

Lucas said the YMCA oversees a three-race series each year.

“There’s the Big Cheese in April, the Summer Trail series (which consists of a 5K and a 10K) in June, and the Turkey Trot in November,” he said. “Right after that, we start planning for the Big Cheese. We rely on sponsorship dollars because it does cost us to put on the race. We hit the community, we have a spreadsheet we work off with sponsors we’ve worked with in the past, and we reach out to the community through letters and phone calls.”

Lucas said sponsors giving out prizes this year include “Smith’s Country Cheese donating cheese prizes, of course, we have Timber Fire Pizza donating, Starbucks will do a coffee station. Athol Savings Bank is our main sponsor and we have a lot of local companies on board.”

Scotty’s Potties is donating comfort stations, he added, and Lyman Signs is donating the banner. Dunphy Realty is also a major sponsor.

This year’s full list of sponsors includes Cornerstone Insurance, EH Phillips American Legion Post 102, Goodnow Law Office, Kimball Law Office, Kessler Investments, L.S. Starrett, Market Basket, Noel’s Nursery, Orange Oil, Pete’s Tire Barn,Witty’s Funeral Home, Ron’s Fuel, Prescott Oil, Orange Police Dept, Adams Farm, Chase Hill, Athol Credit Union and Athol Orange Rotary Club/Bill Kessler.

The Big Cheese 5K begins at the School Street starting line at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 11. Registration is $40 per entry, and day-of-race registration is $50.

“This year, all of the sponsorship dollars and registration fees for the event – 100% – all go to upgrading the two gyms in Athol and Orange,” Lucas said.

Day said currently the event is “running behind on sign-ups, so we want people to sign up to do the race. I guess because this race holds a special place in my heart, it feels like it could be so much bigger. We’ve had people from Maine win this, so I know people are coming here for the race. We’re hoping people come here to run the race and then watch the River Rat. We’re hoping for a minimum of 300 this year.”

She added that costumes are not only welcome, but encouraged.

Current record holders for the race are Paul Noone in the men’s division, who ran the course in 16:20 in 2013. Jessie Cardin holds the record for the women’s division, finishing at 16:53 in 2022. Times are recorded by Second Wind Race Timing.

Day added that the YMCA’s new CEO, Jim Scherer, is backing the Big Cheese “enthusiastically. He said, ‘Let’s have fun doing this because this is a great day for Athol.’”

The race course is tough, Day said.

“You’ve got Exchange Street hill, you end up on Wallingford, running that hill,” Day said. “The hill doesn’t end there; you still go up Pierce Street until you finally hit Orange and you’re either gassed or, if you know what you’re doing, you can let loose.”