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Runners participate in third annual Mass Dash Relay
Aug. 8,
2012 |
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GREATER SPRINGFIELD — Hot weather, lack of sleep and a few mountains couldn't stop participants in the third annual Mass Dash Relay in July.
The Mass Dash is a two-day, 200 mile running relay race all the way across Massachusetts. Teams of six to 12 runners race nonstop through 40 beautiful communities across the state — from the foot of Mount Greylock (Massachusetts' highest point) through some of the state's most scenic parks and towns, then through Boston itself up until the new finish at Carson Beach in Boston Harbor. The race began just after sunrise on July 14, and finished close to dusk on July 15. Runners passed the race baton, from one to the next right through the day, night, and into the next day while taking on some of the most challenging terrain in our state and taking in some of the most breath-taking views.
Geeks N Sneaks won the overall race for the second year in a row, this year in a time of 23:58:10 — that's an average of a 7:12 minute mile on the very challenging 200 mile course. Team SMAC DOWN from Greenfield, was second overall (25:58:00) and Sofia's Cancer Crushers from Agawam, brought in more than $22,000 alone — again winning the Mass Dash fundraising division — and tickets to the Boston Red Sox along the way. Springfield, Wilbraham, South Hadley and Longmeadow were also well represented with at least 10 more teams between them- including division winners for Corporate (Block Party) and Women's (Run Like a Mother). The High School winning team was Best in the West — from Leeds.
"We dreamed of the Mass Dash in early 2008, while our dear friend Neal Webber was in his life-and-death fight with cancer. Neal ultimately lost his fight in the Fall of 2008, but the Mass Dash was born out of Neal's spirit," Bruce Leshine, race director, said. "The race was created to benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute where Neal received treatment. Perhaps unique among these sorts of races, Leshine and his committee do not receive any sort of compensation for the many hours of work spent organizing the race so that the donations to Dana Farber/The Jimmy Fund can be maximized.
Leshine continued, "The 2012 Mass Dash is our third race, and by all accounts, it has been our most successful. A beautiful weekend and an amazing experience for all involved. Our race partners continued in their unending support. Our volunteers demonstrated an unbounded desire to do anything and everything to make the Mass Dash what it has become.
In all, more than 500 runners, volunteers and volunteer race committee members helped raise a record setting $126,000 for The Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber in 2012 — and more than $330,000 over the past three years.
More information about the Mass Dash, including photos and the complete race results for 2012 can be found at www.massdashrelay.org.
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