The thermometer might not give the impression it’s time to start thinking about lower-temperature running but the calendar certainly does.
That’s because both the Bucks County Roadrunners Club’s Thanksgiving Day 5-Miler and the opening of its annual Winter Series races are rapidly approaching.
It’s just a little over a month to the T-Day event and the 11-race Winter Series at Tyler State Park kicks off on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Registration is open for the Thanksgiving race at www.bcrrclub.com.
Winter Series director John O’Brien said registration for the Winter Series is expected to start at the club website by the end of this month.
The holiday event and the winter races have become a time-honored tradition in Bucks County and beyond. This will be year No. 34 for the Thanksgiving race. The Winter Series started way back in 1979.
The popularity of having competition when the traditional race season is pretty much over helps explain why they are so well-attended.
“I think it’s the camaraderie that’s out there,” O’Brien said in a telephone interview. “It’s a reason to get out and run in the winter but you also end up with your Winter Series friends that you don’t see around anymore.
“People look forward to getting back out running and the Series gets everyone from five-minute milers to 15-minute milers, who are out there just to enjoy the day.”
The Winter Series races draw upwards of 300 runners per week. While the hills in Tyler State Park (Newtown/Richboro) might be challenging, they’re viewed as ideal for off-season training.
The race distances vary. There’s something for everyone, from 5K to half-marathon (13.1 miles).
Winter weather also offers its own challenges. Last season only one race was affected by snow but rain wound up causing some minor flooding of Neshaminy Creek near the start/finish line.
“We had three races that were modified because of flooding,” O’Brien said. “But we had every race.”
For many runners, the Winter Series just provides a break from the daily grind of training. There’s excitement in the air, including a post-race food spread at the dam pavilion area.
“It’s a break from the treadmill running,” O’Brien said. “During the week, you can’t get out in the evening because it’s dark. So it (the Winter Series) is a good reason to get out.
“The other thing is people come out for the food. We have the oatmeal that (club president) Johnny (King-Marino) makes every week. And we have our food co-ordinators who put together a nice spread.”
Here’s the Winter Series schedule (all races are held on Sundays, beginning at 9 a.m. with the exception of the Cham-Pain event which starts at 11 a.m.):
>Dec. 8: Informal.
>Dec. 15: Covered Bridge 5K.
>Dec. 22: Jingle Bell 5.3 miles.
>Jan. 1: Cham-Pain 5K.
>Jan. 5: Tyler Challenge 10K.
>Jan. 12: Wild Card 4-6 miles
>Jan. 19: Polar Bear 8 miles.
>Jan. 26: Honest Abe 4.6 miles.
>Feb. 2: Terrible Tyler 15K.
>Feb. 9: Pick Your Way 5.3 miles.
>Feb. 16: Eenie-Meenie-Minie-Moe 13.1 miles.
>Feb. 23: Staggered Start 4.6 miles.
Last year’s Series winners were (men) Ethan Frank and (women) Morgan Leh.
The Thanksgiving Day race runs partly through Core Creek Park. It starts and ends at the Summit Square Shopping Center in Langhorne.
New this year is a fancy giveaway all-weather jacket to all registered runners.
“It’s a full-zip, light-weight jacket,” O’Brien said. “What we’ve tried to do each year is to keep the giveaway unique. This is a nice shirt to get people to sign up.”
About 1,200 runners take part in the annual race, making it unofficially the largest of its kind in Bucks County.
For more information on the Thanksgiving Day race and the Winter Series, visit www.bcrrclub.com.
>Race calendar
>Saturday
Slay Sarcoma 5K, 8 a.m., Langhorne. Contact www.slaysarcoma.com
Race for Resources/Autism Cares Foundation 5K, 9:30 a.m., Newtown. Contact www.runsignup.com
>Sunday
Black Cat 5K, 9:30 a.m., Chalfont. Contact www.runsignup.com
Rich-boo-ro 4-Miler, 10 a.m., Southampton. Contact www.runsignup.com
