By Anna Skinner
After receiving positive feedback from the inaugural year of the Melt the Trail 5k run and walk held in February of last year, the second year of the winter race will be held Feb. 6 at Grand Park.
Westfield Parks and Rec Community Event Manager Emily Clark said that although the race is returning, there will be a handful of changes.
“The route is different, we updated it because it’s a little more of a scenic route around a body of water and over a quaint bridge and things like that for different scenery,” Clark said. “Secondly, we took it to a different side of Grand Park because there was a lot of wind on the soccer side last year, so we are looking forward to a little more protection for the runners, too.”
An indoor conference room near the finish line will be available for family and friends of the participants who would like to watch their loved ones compete but who do not wish to stand out in the cold.
There will be prizes available for the top finishers in different categories. For those wishing to add a little flair to their outfit, Clark said there is a costume contest with a Valentine’s Day theme.
“Last year we saw people come out with red tutus on top of their running gear, red heart shirts on, and moms can decorate their jogging stroller and be a part of competition as well and matching costumes with family and couples,” she said.
One of the reasons the event is held in the midst of winter is to highlight that Grand Park’s 10 miles of trails are cleaned and salted to remain open during the winter season.
A face painter will be available at the race for those who want to paint up in a Valentine’s Day fashion.
Pricing and registration can be found at enjoywestfieldevents.com.
