Rich on Running: List of March races includes 5K Recovery Run in Lynn

Thursday is the first day of March, and one highlight of the month every year is St. Patrick’s Day. In Lynn, the holiday has a running-related connection thanks to the Ancient Order of Hibernians.The 5K “Recovery Run,” organized by the Lynn Hibernians, will take place for the third consecutive year in West Lynn. Having run in last year’s race, I can say that both completing the course and the post-race festivities at Hibernian Hall were enjoyable.This year’s race is actually a week and a day after St. Patrick’s, on Sunday, March 25, at 11 a.m. at Hibernian Hall on 105 Federal St. in Lynn. Mike Mannion, a member of the race committee, said the race usually takes place on the Sunday after St. Patrick’s. However, this year, the holiday falls on a Saturday, and he said Hibernian Hall already had other activities planned that weekend.Last year, the race drew a healthy crowd of both runners and spectators on a crisp morning in West Lynn. Runners got tested early on when they had to go up Tower Hill (I believe I may have walked it) and Mannion said the race will feature the same hill and same course this year, which he described as “a big loop of West Lynn.””It has only one hill, and that’s Tower Hill,” he said. “It’s a decent-size hill. After that, it’s flat most of the way.”Even though I got a little winded near the end, it felt good to cross the finish line, where my girlfriend Laura was there to greet me. Then it was time to congratulate the winners at the post-race party, as well as enjoy an early lunch and bring home a long-sleeve race shirt.Mannion said the festivities included a 2-man Irish band last year, and he said, “We use the whole hall, right after the race. There are people all over.”The race began as an idea three years ago, thanks to Mannion’s cousin Karyn Coulon, a former president of the Ladies Hibernians in Lynn.Mannion said that the race committee envisioned the event as a way to create more races in Lynn, and added that since the Recovery Run was established, two other races have joined the city’s list of running events: the Breed 5K and the Lynn YMCA 5K.The majority of proceeds from the Recovery Run benefit Hibernians scholarships, Mannion said, including four $1,000 scholarships awarded last year that could either be used for college or a Catholic high school. He added that proceeds from last year’s race also helped purchase clothing donated to veterans’ housing.As of Monday afternoon, almost 200 people had registered for this year’s race (the total stood at 175). The cost is $20 by March 7, $25 afterward. You can register online (at active.com or coolrunning.com), or you can complete a paper registration form at Hibernian Hall.The race committee consists of Coulon, who is the race director; Mannion, his wife Margaret Mannion and his sister Ann Mannion; Emily O’Brien; Stacy O’Hare; Mike Cross and his wife Emily Cross; Ann McLaughlin; Dick Wall; Mary Chalmers; and Michelle Calnan.Mike Mannion said that on race day, “if people can’t run or walk, they may make a donation, or volunteer to help that day.”Rich Tenorio can be reached at [email protected].