Bridge of Flowers in Bloom for a Spectacular USATF-NE GP Race in Shelburne Falls
Start of the 41st Annual Bridge of Flowers 8K on the Iron Bridge connecting Shelburne Falls with Buckland. All Photos by FitzFoto/NERunner
Nestled in the foothills of the Berkshires along the Mohawk Trail in Western Mass. is a very unique race in a very unique place.
Ha! That’s how we started the review of the 40th Annual Bridge of Flowers 8K in the Sept/Oct 2018 issue of NER.
We will wax on regarding this spectacular race in a spectacular place during the 41st edition of the event (and the second as an 8K) but down the road, not now, there are too many funky gastro pubs in Western Mass and it’s too late on a Sunday night to tarry (yup, we stayed two nights). So, as a picture is worth a thousand words….
The chase pack – The BAA’s Eric Ashe (6th), Whirlaway’s Ruben Sanca (4th) Tracksmith Hare’s Patrick Gregory (2nd) and defending champion Amos Sang of the Western Mass Distance project (8th).
Last we talked to Western Mass distance ace Jenna Gigliotti she’d won the Monson Memorial Half Marathon. Tres hilly but even Jenna found Crittendon Hill, “Sooo long and sooo steep.” Straight behind Jenna is CMS strongman David Principe (3rd M50) and just peaking over Dave’s head is fromer US World Mtn. team member Kim Nedeau.
Gearing up for NYC, Tracksmith Hare’s Louis Serafini opened up with a 4:45 mile and never looked back. His time of 24:26 eclipsed the course record of 25:13 run by Amos Sang last year. Photo by FitzFoto/NERunner
Nutmeggers in town for the festivities, Will Sanders would place 3rd overall in 25:18 while Sybil Shapiro was 2nd F40 in 30:44.
This year’s awards moved from Salmon Falls, seen across the Deerfield River in Shelburne Falls, to the Blue Rock restaurant and Pub in Buckland.
The women’s podium: Jenna Gigliotti (2nd) and race winner Kim Nedeau, both of the WMass Distance Project, and bronze medalist Hannah Rowe of the BAA.
The Mighty Men of the Western Mass Distance Project on Bridge St., (L-R): defending champion Amos Sang (8th), Ben Groleau (5th), Dan Smith (3rd M40) and Bronson Venable (10th). Photo by FitzFoto/NERunner