We’d like to offer our thanks and congratulations to the Chelsea400 committee and the folks from Chelsea Recreation and Cultural Affairs who organized a superb 5K road race through the streets of the city on a perfect late-summer morning this past Sunday.
The success of the race could not have been possible without the efforts of a huge number of volunteers and others, including Bea Cravatta and Jason Seigal from Chelsea Recreation; race-day coordinators Eduardo Rodriguez and Adam Edgett; and the officers of the Chelsea Police and Fire Departments who ensured a smooth and safe run for all of the participants.
In addition, the entertainment provided by the DJ, who kept everyone pumped up all morning; local rap recording artist Joe Rez, who got the runners fired-up at the start of the race with an outstanding performance; and the dancers at the conclusion of the race all made for an enjoyable experience.
We’d also like to thank State Rep. Judith Garcia for lending her always-effervescent and energetic presence to the festivities with the presentation of the awards to the top competitors.
We here at the Record know what a large undertaking it can be to sponsor a road race. We held the Chelsea Record Road Race back in the late 1970s that featured legendary Chelsea High track stars such as Bobby Goss and Eddie Richard and attracted world-class runners such as Alberto Salazar, so we know how much planning and effort that a road race requires.
All in all, it was a great day for our city, both for the 400 competitors (many of whom came from throughout the Greater Boston area) and for all of the residents who cheered them along the race course.