Last Sunday morning—a cool, breezy, mid-September day—at the picturesque Chestnut Hill Reservoir, which abuts Boston College’s main campus on one side and Cleveland Circle, Brighton, on the other, small groups of people—who weren’t running—dotted the 1.56-mile loop at large intervals.
These were musicians from the Brookline Symphony Orchestra adding cheer and classical music to the routes of those running in the inaugural BSO 5K Fun Run and those just out for a Sunday jog. The fundraising race was held to support the BSO’s operations—concerts that edify by producing great music, but also serve to tie the community together—as board member (and race emcee) Greg Gordon told me after the approximately hour-long event.
Directly across the street from Boston College athletic fields, a string quartet was in the midst of a Beethoven piece about fifteen minutes after the race began at 10 a.m. Walking further around the course, I passed a clarinet duo whose dulcet tones brightened the day even more than the late-morning, partially cloud-obscured sun.
Approaching the finish area, I could hear Mr. Gordon commentating and encouraging race participants as they finished their two-loop 5K.
As the last runners turned into picnic area, populated during the race by a Friendly’s Express booth (store located in Coolidge Corner) giving out ice cream and toppings and organizers handing out gift bags from Boston’s Marathon Sports (which has a location in Washington Square), runners, musicians, and supporters mingled.
It was soon announced that Chris Richard, at 16 minutes, 57 seconds, had won the men’s field with a 5- minute, 28-second mile-pace, and Gretchen Holoubek the women’s, with a 21-minute, 24-second time and a 6-minute, 54-second mile-pace. Two other runners in each field were read off and prizes, including gift certificates to Marathon Sports and two tickets for each BSO concert this season, were given to these top three men and women.
So, with the first concert of 2011-12 tentatively scheduled for Sunday, November 6th, featuring Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 and works by Stravinsky and Vaughan Williams, there is plenty of time and reason to work it into your Fall plans. Doing so supports the orchestra that supports Brookline and provides the listener—whether jogging at a charity road race or sitting in a seat at a concert—with an enriching experience.
Check out photo highlights of the race.
by Andrew Palmacci
