NAHANT ― A local road race originating in 1978 has been absent from the town for more than 33 years ― until now.
The resurrection is the work of Bobbie-Jo Blair, who has taken action to bring the long-lost HOOMPA Nickel Road Race back on Oct. 30.
The day will consist of two races and an after-race party featuring music, food, and drinks;
“This race symbolizes a time of great community support. I cannot help but think we could do this once again,” she said. “For the past year and a half, traditions have been postponed, adjusted, or even broken. Why not resurrect an old tradition during a time where quite the opposite is being done?”
According to Blair, the original road race was initiated by a group of locals and only featured 40 runners in 1978. By 1988, its last year, the event boasted about 600 runners. This year’s race will be sponsored by the American Legion Post 215 and will honor Nahant resident and WWII Veteran Francis “Cully ” Cullinan, who passed away in April 2020.
One of the race’s original organizers, Wayne Noonan, had a number of fond memories from the first race.
“I remember John Collins and Wayne Papagelis coming down to build the finish line chutes for us, then running inside the Legion Hall to pay entry fees, and running to the start line at Mitchell’s corner to run in the race,” he said. “It seems to me that we had a small field in the beginning, maybe only 40-50 runners, but that grew to well over 600 runners over the years”.
There will be two races on the day, both starting at the American Legion post at the Nahant Life Saving Station. The main event is a five-mile course that winds around the whole coast of Nahant. It begins at 2 p.m and costs $35. The other race, the Fun Run/Walk, is one mile long, begins at 1:30 p.m, and costs $25.
All proceeds of the races will benefit the Nahant American Legion Welfare Committee, whose mission is to support veterans and families during illnesses and other challenges.
Blair will not only be organizing the race but also running in it with her son.
“Whether you choose to register to run, donate to its cause, volunteer your time, or even place a lawn chair on the sidewalk to cheer on the runners, come to race day,” she said. “We welcome you!”
Residents will be able to donate and runners can sign up for the race ahead of time on the race’s official website www.hoompanickelroadrace.com.
Hannah Chadwick can be reached at [email protected].
