The victories of Margot Appleton and Trevor Wysong in the 50th running of Mattapoisett’s 4th of July Five-Mile Road Race were accomplished amidst a lurking heat but one that could not overtake the milestone event that had been delayed two years and anticipated by an entire community.

            Flags lined the streets of Mattapoisett as crowds, mindful of their own need to stay hydrated, gathered. Patriotic top-40 hits played from the speakers set up in the gazebo next to a donated spread of fruit. Nearby, a group of runners with their numbers already pinned to their shirts, waiting for the race to start, had taken up a game of corn hole, complete with star-spangled beanbags.

            As far as the eye could see were people with smiling faces, dogs with wagging tails, accompanied by cheery voices and sporadic laughter. It was shaping up to be a beautiful day for a race.

            By the starting line was a table set up for the timekeepers. A large clock displaying all zeros would be used to show the runners’ times while the keepers double-checked with stopwatches and logged the numbers into their laptops.

            The running crowd appeared mostly as a sea of tie-dye blue, dotted throughout with red and white. Emblazoned on many a chest was a spray of yellow fireworks framing Ned’s Point Lighthouse, the design for this year’s official race T-shirt. Some of those not wearing the shirts tucked them into waistbands or hung them around their necks to be used as in-race towels.

            One runner threaded theirs through the back of their red, white and blue sports bra as an impromptu cape, making sure the design was visible. Among those not wearing the T-shirt was a runner in a Wonder Woman outfit, albeit with the red boots swapped out for more sensible sneakers. Some of the spectators came dressed to impress as well, including a goatee-less Uncle Sam, bringing star spangled style from toe to tip.

            The speakers crackled, drawing the gathered citizens’ attention before the national anthem played, and a hush fell over the crowd. As the last notes died out, the runners took their marks.

            An announcement was made, welcoming everyone and giving a few notable shoutouts to certain participants. The first was to Richard Reilly, the winner of the first-ever Mattapoisett Road Race in 1971. The second was to Dan Briand, who not only ran alongside Reilly in the inaugural race but also has continued to run in every Mattapoisett Road Race since. This year, the number pinned to his shirt was, appropriately, 50.

            The applause died down. Then, the blast of an air horn, and they were off! The closely packed crowd trotted off down Water Street, beginning to disperse with the competitive racers edging to the front, while the less-pressed, fun-runners kept pace at the rear.

            As soon as the last of them was out of sight, volunteers sprang into action, clambering up ladders to hang the large “FINISH” banner across Water Street. Approximately 50 yards down the course, more volunteers stacked crates of water, ready to distribute them to the victorious racers. In between, a hose set to mist, offering a quick cool-off for those that wanted to run through it.

            Behind the rope, a young boy waited with a bubble blaster, intent on welcoming the racers back in his own, effervescent manner, his white T-shirt read “Future Runner in the Mattapoisett Road Race,” matching that of his younger sibling.

            From the distance came the sound of cheering. Those lining Water Street up to Oakland Street were cheering the first runners to finish. Flying down the pavement was Wysong, the 24-year-old from Taunton who recently concluded his track-and-field career at Bridgewater State University. Wysong was running for his third year and snagging a hat trick by finishing first yet again, finishing the five miler in 25:18. He took water gratefully, hair plastered with sweat as he smiled in thanks to those congratulating him.

            Alex Craig, 19, an incoming sophomore at Dartmouth College, this year had signed up to race for the first time ever, managed to snag second place in 26:20. Before the applause for him could die down, another runner, Colin Rooney, sprinted under the banner, snagging third place in 26:59.

Appleton’s time of 28:37 was sixth overall and over a minute faster than runner-up Kim Bolick of Watertown (29:43).

            The 19-year-old Appleton, a Mattapoisett resident, attended Portsmouth Abbey prep school in Rhode Island, where she was the 2019 Gatorade State Cross Country Player of the Year and a 2019 Footlocker finalist. As a freshman at the University of Virginia, Appleton was a 2022 All-American and All-Atlantic Coast Conference in the mile and distance-medley relay.

            The runners crossing the finish line multiplied, some in dedicated pairs, and a few even pushing strollers. Some ran through the misting hose with abandon, others took the more conservative route of bottled water. With just under 1,000 participants raising money for Old Rochester Regional student scholarships, it was certain, though perhaps cliche, to say that everyone was a winner.

            Briand, reflecting on his past races, noted how much the crowd had changed. “When I first started running in high school and college, when you’d go to a race, the only people there were people who ran for a high school or college team. There really weren’t fitness runners … and no one over 30.”

He laughed at such an unimaginable scenario, gesturing fondly at the other runners nearby. “Now it’s the whole town, it’s a community event. You see people running with their sons and daughters, maybe even grandchildren.”

            Of course, not all years are as picturesque as this one.

            “We ran in some deluge — downpours some (years,)” Briand recalls. “We ran on a lot of hot days too.” One July in particular, the temperatures had climbed to the high 90s Fahrenheit. “When everybody finished they went right down,” he turned and pointed to the nearby pier, “and dove into the water.”

            Thankfully, this year saw no such heat, and other than a few overexerted runners who made quick use of the expertly placed trash cans after crossing the finish line, the race went smoothly.

            None of this would be possible without the team of dedicated volunteers who take care of everything from T-shirts to traffic cones, and of course, the race’s founder, Bob Gardner, who passed away in 2018. A plaque dedicated to him marks the start and finish line of the race.

            When asked if he would run again next year, Briand answered instantly, with the breezy confidence of a skilled veteran. “Oh yeah. I’m 65 so I’m hoping I’ve got another 10 in me.”

By Jack MC Staier