The 62nd annual Hingham July 4th Road Race

June 24, 2021, Submitted by Thomas E. Belyea (photos courtesy of Hingham Recreation)

Runners of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in the 62nd annual Hingham July 4^th Road Race.

For the first time in road race history since 1959, the event was cancelled last year along with all 2020 July 4^th activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The event, organized by the Hingham Recreation Commission, is a 4.47 mile run/walk following historic Main Street through town, with an exceptional spectator-lined finish, under the giant flag hanging across the square at Hingham Institution for Savings.

A traditional Independence Day favorite, the race starts off the July 4^th activities, followed by a pancake breakfast, and capped by the Town’s legendary parade. The event is one of the region’s oldest continuously run footraces, and is well known for its unique, runner friendly, downhill dipped course.

Proceeds financially support affordable Recreation Department programs, special events, equipment, supplies, and field improvements, provided at no cost to the taxpayer. Road race revenues also fund scholarships, based on financial need, for up to 32 children to attend the popular Summer Playground Program.

Scholarships are in, runner registration signups are underway, and T-shirts are being printed. This year, dri tech moisture wick resistant shirts will be distributed to all participants. Best Chevrolet will be back as the Corporate Sponsor. New this year, as part of our efforts to provide as many scholarships as needed this Summer, we’ve teamed up with BEST Chevrolet to offer a Covid-relief option at Race Registration. If you add a “Covid-Relief Fund $50” donation at check out, the Hingham Rec / BEST Chevrolet team will match an additional $50 to help children get to camp in a year when many are struggling. Many local sponsors are returning, and new ones are always welcome to start their new traditions. There is no shortage of generosity shown by the business community, individual families, friends, neighborhoods, and there is always room for more.

An event this size requires the help from Summer Playground staff and community volunteers, including water station families and friends. Public Works, Police, and the Fire Department Emergency Medical Services with an ambulance and mountain bike Police and Paramedics, are also coordinated in order to move 1800 plus runners down Main Street to the finish line. Rec Commission Chair Vicki Donlan sees this as a big community effort for the 90 minute event. “We appreciate the commitment, cooperation, and support, with everyone doing their part to make this event a success.”

Runners will receive automatic texts or emails of their individual race times after the race. Results are posted online at Race Wire. All runners will receive a link to a photo of themselves crossing the finish line. A split point timing clock will be placed at the halfway point for runners to check and true up their per mile splits for the final legs of the event.

Strider Stewardship Legacy

Today’s race is significantly different from the early years and humble beginnings, but the small town charm and spirit of the race have not changed. In 1980, the Hingham Striders, a grass roots group of runners who ran for fun, took over stewardship from the Town and reshaped the event into how we know it today. The strider innovation and integration of timekeeping technology, the cultivation of a growing race, creating a fundraising legacy, and dedication to race stewardship have provided new underpinnings that we are the beneficiaries of today, and will be for years to come.

Before online registration, processing pre-race runner information was sorted by hand, with color coding, and registration forms divided into age and gender categories. Processing runners at the finish line was no less easier. As the race size became manually uncountable, the Striders innovated with numbered tongue depressors and a master board to track race data. In 1986 the Striders introduced us to Spitler Race Systems, the timekeeper that compiled and posted our race results online at Coolrunning for 32 years.

Reasons to Run

The 62 year old event is packed with new competition, returning rivalries, college and high school track program champs and hopefuls, distance runners “passing through” between prize money events, personal best athletes, runners for others, family traditions, home-comers to Hingham, fun runners, “last minute” daredevils, and those looking for a great morning workout with family and friends. Some are not runners, but athletes who stay in shape with low impact exercise, and participate in a well-rounded menu of activities. Many walk-run the event on this typically humid morning, with cool temps in the low 70’s. Of the 1838 participants who completed the event in 2019, under 200 were competitors for the top three spots in 22 age and gender categories.

A Community Race

Unlike celebrity races that recruit elite runners with prize money and restrict entry with qualifying times and fundraising quotas, the July 4^th Road Race is Hingham’s community race brand, which promotes inclusiveness, participation, and generosity in giving to community. The event celebrates the empowerment and victory of the human spirit, expressed through firsts and bests, fun and fulfillment, wellness and longevity, overcoming and giving back.

Prize money, endorsements, and licensing agreements with race participants are not part of the community race brand recipe. Professional athletes and organizations with their own endorsements, and individuals or groups running for others are welcome to participate. The event honors both personal achievement and causes for others, thus enriching a broad and diverse understanding of community purpose.

History

The race has a long history of victories and inspirations, going back to the first “Hingham Marathon” in 1959. That race started at 12 noon at Queen Anne’s Corner on Route 228 and ended at the High School flagpole on Pleasant Street. “Our misnamed marathon was actually a four mile footrace’, writes Max Ricketts, 1959 winner, whose May 2008 article was featured in The Hingham Journal. The event has been continuously run, rain or shine since then, including during a 1978 nor’easter that set a runner participation record. As the race has grown, new finish lines were established to handle increasing numbers. From 1962 to 1973, the event ended at Michaelson Field with a lap around the High School track. Finally in 1974, the finish area was moved to the majestic Hingham Square in order to accommodate more participants and spectators.

Women were first recorded in 1972, and the first separate female category was established in 1977. Of the 1951 runner completions last year, women comprised 43% of registrants, and that number is growing. Top times for women are the best in the region and attract top amateur competitors, logging in a top time of 26:45 for first female on the 4.47 mile course in 2017.

The Start Area

Participants are encouraged to arrive early at the Hingham Middle School start area to hydrate and warmup. Traffic delays are expected. Race Day registration will be open from 5:30-6:30 AM. Bathrooms are available at the Start Area only. Contact the Hingham Rec Department for registration details.

Race start is at 7AM sharp. Runners will be sorted into three color coded groups based upon how fast they run the event(minutes per mile split times), and will be brought out to the start line on Route 228. For race safety, fastest will be assigned first in front, and slowest will be last in back. After the “ National Anthem” , the “Gun Start” will commence with the black powder musketry of the Hingham Militia. Runner MyLapse Bibchip personal times will be activated by crossing the start mat and passing through the transponder magnetic field.

The Finish Area

A single lane chute is provided to funnel runners across a thirteen foot wide mat to transmit runner time and identity to the timekeeper. When crossing the magnetic field, Bibchips on clearly displayed runner bib numbers will be deactivated. Runners without T-shirts or with bibchips partially displayed may risk going undetected and unrecorded. In case of electronic or electrical failure, the entire timekeeping system is backed up manually.

In past years, multiple chutes at the finish line were used to collect bib number tags for timekeeper recording, and functioned as a braking device to disburse runners. Our timekeeper considers this no longer necessary due to chip recording technology.

This year, only the top winners will be announced at the Finish Area, in order to prepare for the July 4^th Parade, which accommodates over 30,000 spectators. Runners can pick up their overall or age group medals at the Rec Center on Monday July 5, and the week after. Call first at: 1.781.741.1464.

To sign up, visit this website.

Thomas E. Belyea is a former Recreation Commissioner, and is the July 4^th Road Race Historian.