The Canton Fall Classic: 25th Year and Running Strong

The Canton Fall Classic, a scenic and challenging country course, is celebrating its 25th year this fall. This year’s race is October 27th starting at 10:00AM. The race has been hailed as one of the South Shore's finest races, tough but beautiful that offers a course for everyone. There is the challenging 10K that engages the competitive as well as the recreational runner who is looking to be pushed.  Not quite up for a full 10K, the Canton Fall Classic, also offers a 5K, a competitive alternative for those interested in a shorter and faster race. Both courses are accurate, wheel measured with split time and water stations. Plus, there is a place for the littlest of runners in our Kids Fun Run.

Twenty-five years ago this October, The Canton Fall Classic started as a fundraiser for Temple Beth Abraham in Canton. In the beginning, the race was a 10K attracting 125 runners in its first year.  Since then, we have seen the race continually grow and become more popular to where last year we had a record 885 runners register.  We are proud to say that we able to make a donation of a portion of our profits to the Canton Food Panty.

After ten years into the race, we saw a change in demographics and how people work out.  All of a sudden cross training had become popular and the need for a shorter distance, a 5K helped to propel the race numbers to 500 plus runners.  The fitness movement changed from solely thinking running to incorporating running into an entire fitness routine.  We appreciate how the Town of Canton has always supported the race well and people through word of mouth have brought along friends and family to run with them.  It has become very common to see a household of people including children in the fun run sign up for the race.  It is also has been fun to see past fun run participants grown to come back to run in the 5K or 10K where their first exposure to racing began.  Temple Beth Abraham takes great pride in hosting a fun event that people in the community look forward to annually. The race has gone from a small fundraiser and blossomed into a large community event for runners and spectators both. Our race provides a challenging terrain that runners encounter as they wind through the streets of Canton at a beautiful time of year with the changing fall colors, surely earning its name, The Canton Fall Classic.

Race founders Rich Zides and Harvey Blonder are still at the helm of the race along with more recent committee chair Melissa Mayer.  The race has been hailed as a premier race in the South Shore because of the organization, the course and its famed long sleeve t-shirts. The Hockomock Swamp Rat running magazine has hailed the race as one of the top 20 toughest New England road races. The Canton Fall Classic is honored to be included in the Hockomock Swamp Rat Grand Prix series. This series awards points to runners for their attendance at specific regional races with the ultimate goal of scoring the most points to be awarded the cherished annual Rat award.  In addition we have been recognized by many runners like Stephen Warren who recently posted on our Facebook page, “Have run 22 missed 2 because of injury, a great course, well organized and run by great people.” Overall, feedback from running media, runners, themselves and other race organizers is very positive pointing to the race as a well-run and organized event.

The experiences that Rich, Harvey and Melissa bring to the race are a lifetime of road racing and understanding what runners look for in a race.  Rich has completed fourteen marathons and many novelty races like the Mt. Washington and Plymouth to Provincetown relay.  Harvey has finished twelve Boston Marathons with a best of 2:36.  While competing in the National Masters Track Championships, Harvey has earned two bronze medals.  He is currently the Stoughton High School Cross Country and Track coach.  Melissa has had her share of experience as well and represents the modern fitness person, combining running, Pilates, yoga, and cross-fit training.  Collectively, they have run hundreds of races including marathons, half marathons, 10Ks and 5Ks.  They have taken back the best of what they have seen to make the organization of this race the best it can be.  

Runners say the course is what makes it so special.  The Canton Fall Classic typically draws runners all six New England states.  We are proud to say we operate with a huge repeat runner base. Runners know when they show up they are in for a tough workout and do not expect to break their own personal best times.

The 10K course starts at Temple Beth Abraham and for the first mile it is downhill and fast.  It lulls the runner into thinking they are on a record pace.  The second mile is relatively flat until it climbs out of the Ponkapoag neighborhood up Hemlock Hill to by the Hoosic golf course at mile three.  The course turns to Elm Street with rolling hills, pastures and even cows and horses.  At mile four is another steep hill just past a cow pasture and continues with the roads and pretty neighborhood until the sharp and steep turn onto Dedham Street until it finishes back at the Temple.  The middle three miles are as challenging as any runner will experience.  The course record holder is Dave Dunham with a 1991 record of 30:12.  Even with a $500 award to break the record, people have come close, but the record still stands. 

The races start of together and split at the one-mile mark at Wentworth St, near St. Gerard’s.  The runners experience the same fast start down Washington St. until they start to climb goes though Tilden to Randolph Street and past the Mass Hospital School.  In its own rights the 5K is a pretty challenging course.  At this point we have to give credit to the Canton police as they stay with us along route and do a tremendous job assuring safety.  It gets pretty wild with over 800 people heading down Washington St., splitting off and eventually racing to the same finish line.

Our sponsors have allowed us to continue the race with upfront expense money, prizes and food donations. Upon reaching the finish line, our sponsors have always made sure that our runners get re-hydrated and are provided energy restoring refreshments.  Our longest tenured sponsors of over twenty years have been Sheldon Cohen Insurance (a charter sponsor), Independent Pipe of Canton, the Canton Police Association and Rodman Ford.  We appreciate their long running dedication to the Canton Fall Classic and the generous support of our more recent sponsors. Over the past few years, the number of sponsors has grown to the point that the finish has started to resemble a fair where aside from refreshments, local and national businesses have set up booths, greeted runners and supplied various treats and trinkets.

The Canton Fall Classic continues to be proud of sponsoring an event that has been well supported by the community. Our aim for this 25th year is to have the most runners ever.  The first 600 runners that register are guaranteed a long sleeve T-Shirt.  Plus, we have exciting prizes to the winners that come in the form of cash and merchandise from local vendors. We randomly draw raffles prizes too.  Registration is open on our website, www.cantonfallclassic.com, and we look forward to exceeding last year’s registrations with the runners who return year after year, and for those joining us for the first time.  In closing, we would like to offer the following tips in preparing for the race and hope you can join us this year.

Some things to keep in mind when training for your first 5K:

• Start with good running shoes – buy them at a running specialty store such as Charles River Sports in Norwood or Marathon Sports (multiple locations). It is the most important running related investment you will make.
• Keep your initial goals modest. Aim for four days maximum per week and do not settle for less than 3 days per week. The impact of running on the joints/ muscles has a cumulative effect. Often new runners attempt to run every day. Eventually fatigue sets in and runs are no longer enjoyable. At worst injury occurs. Rest days allow time for the body to recover and the mind to rejuvenate.

• Measure your progress by time not distance. Start with something that’s do-able. During your first week attempt to run 8 minutes continuous each time you run. If you can’t run that long – try for 4 minutes and then walk until you can run an additional four minutes. Each week add 4 minutes to the total of your running workouts. If you need to take a break during the time interval – time that and try to keep it to 1 minute or less.
• Tell all your friends and family that you are planning on running a 5K on a specific date. It will motivate you to prove to them you can do it.  It will also invest them in your efforts.

Rich Zides

Harvey Blonder

Melissa Mayer