As announced earlier this month, the first-ever Weston Police Relief Association 5K run/walk will take place on the morning of Saturday, October 15, just before the WCCA’s mini-marathon and concurrent with the Fire Department’s Open House. It’s another mega-weekend at Weston Town Green, which is currently the Town Brown.

In a fun twist completely made up by the Owl who is a former high school cross-country runner, the Police department has challenged the Fire Department for the first-annual Knox Cup. The Knox Cup is named for the fastest runner in Weston, K9 Knox, as well as a General guy who dragged a bunch of cannons through town without even a reward medal or free banana at the end.

As in typical timed 5K races, the first five runners each from Weston Police and Weston Fire count towards the win. The team with the lowest combined time of the five runners gets the large and entirely imaginary (at this point) Cup, and bragging rights for at least ten minutes until all our public safety folks continue to work together for our community. Yay, teams! With luck, the Owl will convince certain retired math teachers to be the race judges. Stay tuned.

The schedule for the morning includes events run by the fantastic Weston Community Children’s Association. The preliminary agenda looks like this:

• WPRA Race Day October 15
  • 8:30 a.m.- 9:45 a.m.- Bib pick-up and same day registration 
  • 10:00 a.m.- Start of the 5K
  • 11:00 am.- 5K Awards Presentation
  • 11:15 a.m.- Toddler Trot 
  • 11:30 a.m.- Kid’s 1/2 Mile Run around the Town Green
    • All kids events will be put on by The Weston Community Children’s Association (WCCA)
  • After the 5K enjoy the afternoon on the Town Green with food trucks, music, and entertainment

Note that the Weston Fire Department Open House starts at 10 am.

Registration for the race is now open at https://tinyurl.com/WPRA5K. The course, for those Weston 5K aficionados, follows the “Love Lane” racecourse around Town Hall, including Concord Road, Merriam Street, Sunset Road and Conant Road. It is USATF certified and will have official run timing. You can find out more here: https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Weston/WestonPoliceReliefAssociation5K. Not a runner? You can walk the course as well–strollers and dogs welcome.

All monies raised at the 5K will benefit the Weston Police Relief Association a nonprofit corporation that has the sole purpose of providing Weston Police Officers and their families with financial assistance in the event of an illness, injury, or death. The Weston Police Relief Association was started in 1950 and since then it has been funded by generous donors.  You can read more about the Association here: https://westonpolicerelief.org/.