PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Morgan Windram-Geddes said she was going to spend much of the holiday making food to bring to her brother’s house to celebrate Thanksgiving with family.
Her extended family got to eat with the fastest woman at the eighth annual Thankful 5K.
Windram-Geddes of Glendale, Mass., was the 10th racer overall to cross the finish line at Berkshire Community College among the hundreds of runners and walkers to set off on West Street at 9 a.m. Thursday morning.
The event, sponsored by MountainOne and organized by the Berkshire Running Center, helped more than 400 participants work up an appetite and helped raise money and generate non-perishable food donations for local food pantries.
“It’s really important to be able to give back to the community financially and to be out here and raise awareness for food insecurity,” Windram-Geddes said. “And to be able to bring some contributions.”
She covered the 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) course in 19 minutes, 11.12 seconds.
The day’s fastest runner was Luke Consolati of Plymouth, Mass, who crossed the line in 17:02.59, nearly a minute ahead of runner-up John Romano of Chatham, N.J., (17:54.52).
“I was trying to break 17 [minutes] actually, so a little bit short of that, but I was just coming out here to have a good time mostly,” Consolati said.
“I just thought I’d come out here and try to stay with the top people. That’s what I did. Unfortunately, the other guy took a wrong turn over there, so I got the win. … But I’ll take it.”
Consolati said it was his first time competing in the race. Many more, like Windram-Geddes, who was the second female runner in 2022, were regular participants.
Dozens wore the event’s signature knit hats with the word “Thankful” stitched in the front. And several ran the event wearing some version of a turkey costume.
While, of course, there were times kept and places awarded, mostly it was a day for fun and fellowship among runners and generosity and gratitude for all who attended.
“I’m just thankful to be around family and friends and to have a good Thanksgiving meal later today,” Consolati said. “I’m happy for that.”
“I’m thankful for my family,” Windram-Geddes echoed. “They were all here today running as well, participating.
“And I’m thankful for Berkshire Running Center putting on these events because, without them, we wouldn’t have an opportunity to race and compete and have fun together.”
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Moses Leads Force to Win in World Series Opener
FLORENCE, Ala. – Gianna Moses went 2-for-3 with a double and drove in a run on Friday to lead the Berkshire Force 12-and-under travel softball team to a 7-3 win over Davidson, N.C., at the Babe Ruth World Series.
The Force got just one other hit, a single from Cassidy Flynn, who finished with a pair of RBIs, on a day when it took advantage of five Davidson errors.
Berkshire jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, when Moses doubled and scored a run.
The Force led, 7-0, going to the bottom of the fifth before Davidson was able to put three runs across. The game ended after five due to the tournament’s time constraints.
Flynn and Olivia Archambault split time in the circle for the Force, combining to strike out seven, walk three and allow two earned runs.
The Force starts pool play with a record of 1-0 and continues on Saturday morning against the squad from Mexico. Berkshire wraps up pool play on Sunday with a double-header.
The Select Board expressed its support in continuing to research the prospect of installing level three electric vehicle fast charging stations in town. click for more
Warren said equitable access to health care also helps economically, as more people can work to support themselves, help their own families, and manage themselves and others.
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The committee will be examining all the options for a new police station or combined public safety facility. The goal is to have a recommendation for the Select Board by a year from December.
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