You don’t have to have a particularly keen eye to notice the simple stone pillar by the side of the road on Water Street. Affixed to the top is a plaque that reads: “Starting Line. In memory of the race founder Robert ‘Bob’ Gardner.”
On July 4, 1971, a group of 15 boys and men gathered at Point Connett. Maurice “Mudgy” Tavares, then a janitor at Old Rochester Regional, had volunteered the use of a cannon he owned to kick off the first annual Mattapoisett Road Race.
Three volunteers with stopwatches waited at the wharf at the end of the Town Beach, straining their ears. Then, a distant boom. The timers were started and the runners were off. Richard Reilly, a resident of Mattapoisett, claimed first place that day, but the true victory was found in the race itself, though at that point, no one knew just how far it would go.
Everything in between that day and the 50th running of the 5-mile race (delayed two years by the COVID-19 pandemic but scheduled for Monday, July 4, at 9:00 am at Church and Barstow Streets) is a rich history of volunteerism tracing back to the inaugural event.
In 1972, girls were allowed to participate, correcting the previous error and allowing for exponential growth in participation and popularity. Additional award categories were added over time, including one for women over age 25.
Before long, the race had become a town tradition. It even got its own merchandise: T-shirts were being made by a group of dedicated volunteers, a different color every year, eventually turning them into a visual timeline for the race’s illustrious history.
Caty Fuerman, a Mattapoisett resident and one of the many talented individuals that help produce the T-shirts, walked through the design process, noting the importance of things like color choice and fabric. Too dark and the runners risk heatstroke. Fuerman wryly recalled a year the T-shirts were black, stating that almost no one had worn them, and those that did had ended the race drenched in sweat. Even the thickness of the printed design is considered in order to reduce chafing.
Fuerman is not the only resident helping out. The race has truly become a town-wide event with town-wide participation. Whether it’s the Mattapoisett Fire Department making sure there aren’t too many stragglers, those manning water stations or the volunteers directing traffic and guarding cones to make sure the runners are moving in the right direction, there is truly an endless stream of people making sure the race goes off without a hitch.
Of course, the stars of the show are the runners themselves. From the original 15, the race has expanded to well over a thousand participants, all willing to show up to Shipyard Park at 9:00 am, stretched and sun-screened and undertake a 5-mile run in the midmorning heat.
It’s not just for fun or bragging rights either. Funds from the race are used for scholarships, given to senior athletes graduating from Old Rochester Regional High School. As of 2022, over $150,000 has been raised for those setting off on the marathon journey that is college.
Danny White took over organizing the race from Bob Gardner in 1998, before passing the torch on to Bill Tilden in 2010, though White remains an active participant and helps in any way he can.
White’s ongoing volunteerism included figuring out alternative formats for the race in the past two years. In 2020, rather than call it off entirely, the Mattapoisett Road Race was a virtual event. Competitors ran it wherever they wanted to and sent in their times. White’s own daughter, a resident of Seattle, ran 5 miles and received a T-shirt without setting foot outside of Washington. The 2021 race took the form of a paired down 5k.
This year, the five miler is back, not exactly in its original form, as the route has changed since 1971, but in all its original glory.
In honor of the return and the 50th running, this year‘s T-shirts have been given extra attention. Not only are they tie-dyed, for the first time ever, their unique design comes with an added challenge. Amongst the lighthouse, waves and fireworks are hidden initials, much like The Wanderer’s hidden aardvark. There is a hint to their existence at the bottom left of the image: a small “BG~5”, “BG” meaning Bob Gardner, the race’s founder, and “5” letting you know how many there are to find.
When speaking to residents of Mattapoisett about 4th of July celebrations before the race’s inception, they think long and hard before shrugging or shaking their heads. Families have celebrated Independence Day in their own ways for as long as it’s been a holiday, but town-wide celebrations on the 4th were lacking until the road race stepped up to the starting line.
Generations of Mattapoisett residents take part, whether it’s the latest batch of high school athletes being cheered on by their grandparents, or cone-monitoring families that have passed down their duty from parent to child.
Gardner passed away in 2018. A group of volunteers with the race dedicated the plaque to him in 2020, marking the start and finish line of the race in Shipyard Park. Those looking to participate in the 2022 race can register online at mattapoisettroadrace.com until July 2. Online registration costs $25. There will be additional opportunity to sign up in person (for $35, cash or check only) on July 3 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm and on the morning of the race at 7:30 am.
By Jack MC Staier