The only town in the area without a foot race finally has one. The Greenfield Recreation Dept. in conjunction with LOCO running shoes announces a unique foot race that area runners will not want to miss. The event will be held on a weeknight, Wednesday, Sept 21st, and the gun will sound sharply at 6 pm. The venue is an idyllic one: Greenfield’s Oak Park, at the intersection of Rte 136(Peterborough Rd) and Forest Road, directly across from The State Park.

The distance is a dead-on four miles. Beginning at Oak Park on 136, the course is a series of right hand turns. From Peterborough Rd, the course quickly moves to Swamp Road, which is all dirt, then onto Old Bennington Road (a sharp right), and finally right onto Forest Road, where it is all tar for the final 1.8-mile ascent back to Oak Park.

All paid entrants receive a FREE pair of brand spankin’ new running shoes, courtesy of Co-Sponsor LOCO running shoes, a relatively new company which offers high quality footwear at a fraction of the cost of the bigger names in the game.

Hancock Sizzler Director & Founder David Birse figured it was about time a foot contest returned to Greenfield. “Area runners who’ve been around awhile will recall the Oak Park 4-miler, which was a great little event that has been gone for at least 15 years. I figured Oak Park is the perfect place to resurrect a popular race and begin a new tradition. It will also give the town of Greenfield a something it can call its very own,” commented Birse.

For the $35.00 fee, runners can choose from one of four LOCO models that fits their size and need. LOCO offers a racing flat (Bandito) and three types of training shoes (Mojo, Xpresso and Perfecto).

Mike St.Laurent, Co-founder of LOCO, is a respected name in the business, having developed the highly esteemed Pegasus, which was a big winner for Nike. About the only thing missing from LOCO is a high price tag. Now, on Sept 21st, runners can take advantage of the deal of a lifetime. Usually that is a line you’d expecting to see at a traveling carnival. But here it is true.

“These shoes retail from $59.00 to $84.00, but those who pay a mere $35.00 not only get to be part of a new tradition and run a challenging four miler on a scenic route, but they get a fabulous NEW pair of either training or racing shoes as well,” marveled Birse.

He continued, “Most races today are way over-priced. In some instance you can pay 30 dollars for a 5-k race to “Save the Homeless Jackrabbits Foundation” or “Help the Gay Whales” or “Rescue the Handicapped Pigeons Society,” which is absurd. That’s why I started the Sizzlers. Here you pay $35.00 BUT..... the value is twice that! If I am a runner, I am HERE at Oak Park on Wed. Sept 21st”, Birse enthusiastically offered.

Though the race itself commences at 6pm sharp, the registration opens as early as 4 pm, so that runners can pay the fee, and then get fitted for their new sneaks by LOCO king himself, Mike Saint Laurent.

Depending on the interest, there may be a fun run for kids around the horse track, said Birse, who also hinted that there may be some “sizzler- type trappings” to the occasion as well.

“You never know,” remarked Birse,”maybe a few trivia questions will pop up on cardboard signs along Old Bennington and Swamp Roads.A few cheap items at the conclusion of the race may just materialize. I’ll have to see what I have hanging out on the porch. I ‘d like to get rid of the stray cat I’ve been feeding the past year, so it looks like I already have my first raffle item.”

The Greenfield Rec. Dept., headed by Molly Anfuso, has graciously allowed the use of Oak Park for the Autumnal Equinox Classic. It is their hope that a number of local residents take advantage of this opportunity as a springboard to return to an adequate level of fitness.

For more information, access the LOCO web page (www.locorunning.com  to download an application). You may also e-mail Race Director Dave Birse at mistermarathon@juno.com or ring him up at 525-9357.