Tom McCoy Family Fun Run Series 2008

Welcome to the 33rd Season of the Tom McCoy Family Fun Run Series!
2008 Weekly RESULTS

Thanks again to the Pleasant View Inn for allowing the Track Club to use the property again this year! The series will run from June 18th to August 20th every Wednesday at 6 P.M. Childrens' Races 1/4 & 1/2 mile, scenic runs of 1, 2 & 3 miles for adults. Courses will remain the same as last year. As always NO ENTRY FEE. A liability waiver is required; one signing covers the whole season.

Click here for Fun Run Photos

Fun Run courses:

Childrens' 1/4 & 3/10 Mile Runs: Collins Ave., left onto Elmwood, go right onto Maplewood pro- ceed to Linwood onto Uzzi Ave., go right back onto Elmwood and then left onto Collins to the finish. Full distance is approximately 1/2 mile. For 3/10 mile follow initial directions to Linwood and then reverse direction back to finish.
1 and 2mile Runs: Start at Elmwood, go right on Maplewood, turn right on Bayberry to Uzzi Ave., then left on St. Clare Way (past St. Clare's Church), turn right at Crandall Ave., right at Atlantic, right on Maplewood then right onto Elmwood to 1 Mile finish. 2 Milers repeat this directive.
3 mile Run: Start at Elmwood, go right on Maplewood, turn right on Bayberry to Uzzi Ave., then left on St. Clare Way (past St. Clare's Church), turn right at Crandall Ave., right at Atlantic, right on Maplewood. Take Maplewood until you go left onto Bayberry follow to Oceanview Hgwy. then go right on Shore Rd. Then a quick right on Kathleen Dr. follow left on Maplewood (Climb Hill) go right onto Shore Road (the 2 mile mark is on Shore road just past Uzzi) then right again on Crandall, right on Atlantic, right onto Maplewood then right at Elmwood to 3 Mile finish.

History of the Fun Runs by Nick Bottone, Jr. (Assistant Coordinator)

In the summer of 1975, several area runners from the Westerly Track Club, as it was formally known, devised a plan for a weekly group run. They took their idea from a highly successful weekly series called "Run for Fun" which was founded by the late Sam Hathaway, a well known area running enthusiast. One of those several runners, was Tom McCoy.

The first Westerly Track Club Fun Runs began at the Weekapaug Breachway in Misquamicut, RI and proceeded through scenic Weekapaug. Distances were 1.5 and 3.5 miles.

20 to 25 runners participated in the inaugural Fun Run which was run on a Tuesday evening, so as not to conflict with the popular Hathaway Runs which took place on Thursdays. Participants enjoyed the initial runs and wondered if there was also another location to stage the distances (the Hathaway Runs were staged at several locations around the region). Once again following Hathaway's lead - McCoy and his colleagues found another venue - Stonington (CT) High School, just over the RI border, and its spacious wooded recreation area. The year was 1975.

From its modest beginning, year 2000 was the "Silver Anniversary Year" of what is now one of New England's oldest and largest continuous family oriented running events. Bearing the name of one of its founders who, through the years, has continued to coordinate the event for the good of the running, jogging and walking public.

Participation in recent seasons has been truly outstanding, eclipsing 200 plus on a weekly basis. Of the 200, as many as 65 are children, much to the delight of McCoy, a cross country coach at Stonington High School.