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As runners gathered at the start line, a vibrant rainbow greeted participants of the fourth annual Belmont Waterdog Race. Volunteers and runners gained a greater sense of community by working to promote education and well-being through this non-profit run.
At 7:15 a.m., the 10 km participants started their run. Fifteen minutes later the 5K took off and the dogs and kids’ 1 mile run followed later that morning. All races started and ended at Twin Pines Park.
Many members of the Belmont community look forward to participating in the race each year.
Samantha Crowther, a rookie on the Carlmont cross country team, has been leading the Waterdog Race since she was in grade six.
“No matter what [the race] for a few years with my father. I thought it was fun. It was a great course, ”said Crowther.
The Kids 1 Mile Run is an opportunity for young members of the community to participate in the Waterdog Run. Calvin Jacobson, 6, participatesd in the 1 mile race this year.
Douglas Kim, former mayor of Belmont and co-founder of the Waterdog Run, believes participants like Crowther and Jacobson are part of what makes the Belmont community different.
“When we started this race four years ago, people told me that no one was running at Belmont. Children don’t run. Their parents don’t run. But I think Belmont is unique. We have a ton of people signing up for this thing, ”Kim said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the 2020 race to go virtual and lose support. Some restaurants could no longer sponsor the Waterdog Run due to financial instability. The race barely raised enough money to cover its production costs. The pandemic continued to pose challenges for the 2021 race.
Stephanie Davies, co-founder and race director of the Waterdog Run, faced the uncertainties of COVID-19 as she planned the race.
“Normally, when we’re not dealing with COVID-19, this race takes about eight to nine months to develop. This year, we have just obtained the agreement of the city to do it in June. So [we’ve] only had four months to put it in place, ”Davies said.
Some of the changes made to accommodate COVID-19 included staggered departure times and a mask warrant for participants under the age of 12. Gift bags filled with snacks, water, and a Waterdog Run sticker have replaced the big breakfast that runners have been waiting for in recent years.
The Waterdog Race uses the money it earns to support well-being in schools, including Carlmont. COVID-19 has also impacted the mental health of many students.
“Wellness is more than just running and bouncing. We want to help schools have programs that help promote fitness, healthy lifestyles and even mental health, ”Kim said.
Volunteer and senior at Carlmont High School, Penelope Heith, noticed the distinctive involvement of Belmont residents in the Waterdog race.
“There are a lot of people signing up for the race, and it’s 6 am. [the day] after a football match; No one has slept, but everyone is happy to come here and work to help the community. It’s really nice to see that, ”said Heith.
Police officers were posted all along the route to guide the runners. Student volunteers stood at the water points to make sure the runners stayed hydrated. Volunteers were also stationed at Twin Pines Park to direct runners to the finish line and distribute medals and snack bags.
Help from volunteers made the Waterdog run possible, but the participation of the Belmont runners made the run a victory for the community.
“Even in these strange times, we have 500 runners. And it’s a great achievement, ”Kim said.
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