32nd Annual Bridge of Flowers Road Race

The Event Was A Success

(8/16/10) The  Shelburne Falls Business Association's 32nd running of the Bridge of Flowers foot races were a huge success on Saturday by almost every measure. This year the planning committee and the manifold race day volunteers were honored for the 4th time as the New England 10k Championship race, a highly sought after distinction which was won with a bidding process followed by voting in November 2009.

The weather was incredible. The races themselves were exciting and safe, and the party afterward, was fulfilling. It was a high pleasure to see folks from age 8 to 80 mount the podiums at the awards ceremony. The race was a true spectacle for the eye and garnered a full top half of the centerfold of the Recorder sports page today, and nearly the same in the Springfield Sunday paper. Both huge pictures were full color, and with step by step accounts of the races included. Channel 22 had a beautiful segment http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/franklin/32nd-bridge-of-flowers-10k-classic and all of this supported a pricipal goal of the event which is to cast Shelburne Falls in a very positive light. More than half the 1,000 entrants are from beyond the Pioneer valley! The Recorder alone had at least three stories the week of the race which reminds people that the village is a fun, active, and interesting community worth taking a visit to (soon!).  The Shelburne Falls and West County Independent's 8 page program was as beautiful and professional as could be imagined and honored the numerous sponsors of the day. The program adds another measure of status to this classy regional running event.Three local charities participated and are highly motivated to expand their involvement in 2011. Our budgeting was right on target, and planning has begun for 2011.