Hallmark Health Stride for Healthy Communities

This Saturday morning race starts at 9 AM. Registration and bib pick up begins at 8 AM.

With hospitals in Melrose and Medford and out-patient services provided in Reading and Stoneham, Hallmark Health truly serves our Communities.

Proceeds from the Stride for Healthy Communities benefit Hallmark Health family health services such as CPR training for high school students, diabetes education and other initiatives to keep our communities healthy.

This flat course around Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield is very popular because it offers plenty of free parking and a nice flat course.

My First 5K medal, runners medal, hallmark health stride for healthy communities

This child friendly race offers registration for children 12 and under for only $15. Registration includes a “My First 5K” medal for all children under 12.

If you are thinking about running an early fall 5K with your child, this would be a great one. The course is flat and every child 12 and under receives a high quality medal to commemorate their first 5K race.

Teen and adult registration is $25 pre-registered and $30 day of.

If your child is 13 or older, or your running partner is older, My First 5K medals will be available for purchase at the race for $10.00. All proceeds benefit Hallmark Health family health services.

Hallmark Health Stride for Healthy Communities Festivities

After the race there will be music, giveaways and fun for the whole family. Be sure to stick around for the awards ceremony and enjoy a beautiful September morning along the lake.

The Melrose Running Club will also be at the race. Be sure to stop by their tent to learn about the club and their Walk to Run program. The Melrose Running Club Walk to Run program has been helping new runners for over 10 years.

The Melrose Running Club is a community partner with Hallmark Health to bring you and your family a fantastic running experience.

How it feels to get your first 5K Medal

Do you remember how it felt to get your first 5k Medal? Can you still feel the thrill? The excitement?

Do you remember what it felt like to walk around after the race with the medal swinging around your neck?

For the past three years I have been helping to create that feeling for first time racers. Parents from all over the country have ordered My First 5K medals for their child’s First 5k race.

Sometimes I get an email from Mom or Dad about their runner’s experience.

Here is part of an email I recently received from one mother.

I want to personally thank you so much for having the MY First 5K medal. I inspired my 6 year old daughter to train for her first 5K with the promise of a participation medal upon completion of the race.

We trained 2 or 3 times a week running through the neighborhood. At first she really struggled with it, and I reminded her that she was working toward that medal that she wanted so badly.

A few days prior to the run I discovered that the race we had signed up for no longer offered participation medals, and I was at a loss.

That is when I found you. Not only did you have EXACTLY what I needed, but you also went out of your way to make sure that I received it in time.

I can’t say enough how perfect it was to not only share my love of running with her, but also, at the end when she not only completed the race, but RAN the entire 5k, I had a medal in my pocket to commemorate this AMAZING moment. She was so happy, and felt so special, it was AWESOME. Life just doesn’t get much better then that.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
Angela

Angela’s comment captures why I do this. She was proud that her daughter stuck with the training and then ran the entire race.

She was able to share her love of running with her daughter and then show her how proud she was.

As Angela write’s “Life doesn’t get much better than that.”

Just like their first step or first word, your child’s first race only happens once. It is a special moment that should be cherished.

A medal is more than an object, it is a symbol of pride and accomplishment that your child will carry with them for years.

When Angela’s daughter is off to college or making her way in the world, she will always have that medal to remind her that her mother is very proud of her. That her mother loves her and believes that she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to.

Just look at that face.