Most road races have a memorable part of the course. For the Friends of the Belgrade Public Library 5K Road Race, it’s the straight-away from Hammond Lumber to the Belgrade Post Office.

“It seems to go on forever,” race director John House said.

House brings some expertise to his analysis. He and his son, Sam, have run in the Old Hallowell Day 5K, the Friends on the 4th 5K in Winthrop, and the Beach to Beacon. So when he says there’s nothing like the Second Street hill on this course, people who have run the Old Hallowell Day 5K will give a knowing smile or grimace.

This is a relatively flat course and it’s to raise funds for the upkeep of the Belgrade Public Library and its property. The race is at 8 a.m., Saturday, and begins and ends at the Belgrade Central School. House said there were about 90 runners last year. One of this year’s sponsors is Camp Runoia, an overnight camp for girls in Belgrade, so 10 girls from the camp will take part in Saturday’s race.

“It’s just another opportunity for runners to get out and have some exercise,” House said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of great races in the area.”

This is the fourth year of the race and House said he suggested the idea. He added that Marty Thornton — who still does the timing for the race — and others gave him a hand.

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“People were very forthcoming with information and guidance to help us organize this race,” House said.

There are awards for the top male and female finishers, as well as medals for the first two males and females in nine different age categories. You can register online until 5 p.m., today at http://RunReg.com for $15, or the day of the race on site beginning at 7 a.m. for $20.

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It was probably inevitable that Meneah Haworth would organize a 5K involving the Richmond Area Health Center. She’s an avid runner with several marathons on her r sum , and she’s a provider at the health center.

Haworth is, in fact, the race director for the annual Richmond Area Health Center 5K, which goes off for the third time at 8:30 a.m., Saturday.

“I started working at the health center as a nurse practitioner close to three years ago,” Haworth said. “It’s a good way to promote our healthy way of living.”

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Haworth said there were between 50 and 75 runners at the first race two years ago and that went up to 102 last summer. Haworth thinks the race’s popularity is partly promotion and partly because the race fills a void of road races in Richmond.

David Mann on Bowdoinham finished first by more than three minutes last year, with a time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds. Jessica Viselli was tops on the women’s side, coming in at 22:05. Haworth herself was ninth among female entrants.

The course itself runs through the heart of Richmond (it was down Maine Street the first year, but that caused traffic problems). It also kicks off Richmond Days and runners can enjoy the parade, which begins at 10 a.m.

Haworth said the providers have also been suggesting patients to try out the 1-mile walk, which is not timed. The 1-mile race goes on a separate course, although both races begin and end at the health center.

Online registration is open until 4 p.m., Friday at http://runningforfree.com/RaceDetails.aspx?raceid=130. Same-day registration begins at 7 a.m., Saturday. Fees for either the 5K or mile are $25 ahead of time and $20 same-day if you want a race T-shirt, or $20 ahead of time and $15 same-day without a T-shirt.

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If you don’t mind a drive, there are a couple other races worth noting this weekend. The Nicole’s 5K Run/Walk is Saturday at Lord’s Point on Kennebunk Beach. The race is in memory of Nicole Oliver, who was killed by her estranged husband at age 24 in 2007. Her husband then killed himself. Oliver had two young children at the time. All proceeds go to Caring Unlimited’s victim support services. To register, go to http://www.nicolesrun.org. . . . The Margaret Murphy Center for Children (MMCC) 5K Trot for Autism is also Saturday, at the Geiger Elementary School in Lewiston. The MMCC serves children with autism and other developmental disabilities, and the money raised goes to building recreation equipment for the children. To register, go to http://runningforfree.com/RaceDetails.aspx?raceid=188.

Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243

mdifilippo@mainetoday.com

 Editor’s note: This story was edited at 11:22 a.m. Wednesday, July 24 to correct the date of the Richmond Area Health Center 5K.



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