The Apple Harvest Ramble half-marathon and 5K races took place Sunday morning, Sept. 28, at 9 and 9:15 a.m., respectively. The fifth annual run through the south side of town near Bare Hill Pond attracted over 150 people from in and out of Harvard to take in the scenic roadways and changing leaves on a beautifully mild autumn morning.
Chris Candon (above) and Sarah Nelson (below), first male and female half-marathon finishers from Harvard.(Photos by Jen Manell)
The half-marathon began on Warren Avenue near the intersection with Pond Road, and ended at the Bromfield School. Traveling around the pond and looping Prospect Hill and Still River, racers were treated to approximately 800 feet of elevation gain (similar to climbing Mount Wachusett). The sun shone, the wind blew moderately, and vehicle traffic was minimal along the way. The 5K race began and ended at Bromfield, heading down Warren and looping back via Tahanto Trail.
The male and female winners of the half-marathon were a husband and wife duo from Boston. Nick Hall and Nora Blodgett may not have crossed the finish line together, but they weren’t far apart. Hall completed the 13.1 miles in 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 8 seconds. Blodgett finished in 1:28:13.
“The course was amazing,” said Blodgett. “It was really hilly and hard, but so scenic. The views right around the fifth mile (Prospect Hill) were really beautiful, and the leaves were colorful. The race was very well organized. I was very appreciative that there were signs at every turn and people telling us which way to go.”
“I don’t think we’ve ever been to Harvard, but it’s really nice,” said Hall. “It’s got that classic small-town New England feel that we really like. And
I love the prize. Apple cider
is perfect at the end of a half.”
The first male Harvard finisher was Chris Candon, who has run the race every year since it began in 2019 (there was no race in 2020 due to the pandemic). Candon completed the course in 1:28:03.
“It’s a tough course,” said Candon. “Uphill, both ways. It defies gravity. Today was hot and windy, making it a little bit harder than normal.”
The first female Harvard finisher, Sarah Nelson, was unavailable for comment, but representing the women from town was Charlotte Vallaeys, who crossed the finish line at 1:50:53. This was a “comeback” race for Vallaeys, who took a break from distance running for a few years. “I just wanted to finish in under two hours,” she said. “I would have been happy with that, and it turns out that I ran an 8-minute, 30-second mile pace, which is what I used to do.”
It was a family affair for Vallaeys, whose husband, Will Kemeza, served as race director, and sons, Liam and Kai, volunteered at water stations along the way with their fellow Bromfield cross-country team members.
“My favorite part of the race was seeing the cross-country kids along the way,” said Vallaeys. “I know those kids, and my own. I cheer them on when I go to their meets so for them to cheer me on just felt special. The race is so well organized thanks to the volunteers, especially Will. It’s a huge job to coordinate everything, and he does it because he believes in the value of community events like this.”
The first Harvard resident to cross the 5K finish line was Nicholas Temps, a third-grader at the Hildreth Elementary School. Temps came in 15th overall, completing the course in 25:27. He ran with his father, John, and was cheered on by his sister, a Bromfield cross-country team member, and mom, Jenny. The first female Harvard finisher was Molly Vaughn, crossing the finish line at 27:09.
The half-marathon
95 participants, 15 from Harvard
- First-place male: Nick Hall of Boston, 1:22:08 (age group 19-29)
- First-place female: Nora Blodgett of Boston, 1:28:13 (age group 19-29)
- Harvard top 2 males: Chris Candon, 1:28:03 (sixth overall); Julien Bradley, 1:47:48 (12th overall)
- Harvard top 2 females: Sarah Nelson, 1:44:44 (28th overall); Julie Gowel, 1:47:48 (32nd overall)
The 5K run
69 participants, 13 from Harvard
- First-place male: Chris Gibson of Framingham, 18:54 (age group 30-39)
- First-place female: Madeline Warren of Bolton, 21:55 (age group under 18)
- Harvard top 2 males: Nicholas Temps, 25:27 (15th overall); John Temps, 25:27 (16th overall)
- Harvard top 2 females: Molly Vaughn, 27:09 (24th overall); Jessica Pizzo-Brix, 30:05 (40th overall)
