Great Race With a Few Surprises at This Year’s Bedford Day 5K

Mike Rosenberg’s (blue jacket, far right) “Let’s Go!” set the runners in motion at the Bedford Day 5K race on Saturday, organized by the Bedford Recreation Department. Photo by Rob Ackerman

Submitted by the Bedford Recreation Department

Early on Bedford Day at the John Glenn Middle School, 156 runners prepared to set off on the new-but-not-new Bedford Day 5K.

Following in the footsteps of the Danny Oates Memorial 5K and the Friends for Matty 5K, Bedford Recreation took ownership of the Bedford Day Road Race with almost three decades of precedent to follow and learn from.

Strewn across the course were more than two dozen volunteers, including a healthy representation of Bedford High School cross country runners and Springs Brook Park Director Mary Gallant, with race directors Dan Brosgol and Nikki Taylor making final preparations for the race.

Adding some drama to the event – a transformer on fire at Concord Road and McMahon Road forced a last-minute re-routing of the course. After some quick coordination between Police, Fire, the Race Directors, and volunteers, the route was altered to an out-and-back run from the corner of Winchester Drive and Fern Way to the intersection of Glenridge Drive and Battle Flagg Road.

Undeterred by the change of plans, the runners took off after a dramatic “Let’s Go” exhortation and official start by Mike Rosenberg, scampering off for a tour of West Bedford that ended up being a touch longer than five kilometers.

Craig Wilkinson (left) was the fastest runner on Saturday’s course. Caitlin De Santi (second from left) was the first female finisher in the race directed by Dan Brosgol (third from left) and Nikki Taylor (right). Photos by Rob Ackerman

Race winner Craig Wilkinson cruised home to an overall victory in 18:20. Bedford native and 2006 BAA Hall of Fame inductee Caitlin Hurley De Santi was the first female finisher in 19:46.

A steady stream of runners and walkers continued across the finish line and following a short awards ceremony, everyone was off to the Bedford Day Parade with plenty of time to spare.

And with rain unfortunately canceling the evening fireworks show, participant John Murray said, “the exploding transformer ended up being the only fireworks on Bedford Day!”

Race Director Nikki Taylor was pleased with the morning overall. She said, “It was great to see the community come together to begin Bedford Day with the 5K. I was so happy that everyone stepped up in different ways to make this such a success.”

Race Director Dan Brosgol can’t wait until next year, saying; “In early August, this race wasn’t going to happen. I’m just thrilled that we were able to make this race a reality so quickly and am looking forward to 250 runners out on the course in 2024.”

Here are the top 25 finishers: