Harwood XC puts the ‘fun’ in Fun Run
Aug. 5, 2022 | By John Kerrigan 
It is said that a good laugh and a long run are the best two cures for anything.
There was a lot of laughing, chatting, reminiscing taking place at the second Harwood XC Fun Run of the season this past Monday.
Harwood XC alum (1998) Caitlin Compton Gregg a former Olympian (2010 Vancouver) brought her Team Birkie Athletes to the Harwood trails on Monday night.
“I wanted them to experience the beauty of Vermont. We have been running up mountains, jumping off rocks in the swimming holes, eating maple creemees and hiking through the cool forest,” she said. “I wanted to share with them all the things I loved about growing up in this Valley. Running Cross Country for Kerrigan was part of that experience.”
The Midwesterners were impressed by the challenging hills that seemed to lurk around every bend of the trail. “This is great training terrain. We don’t have this in Minnesota,” said Matt Clarke, an assistant with Team Birkie, an elite Nordic team from Minneapolis.
After their training session several of the “Birkies” remained to participate in the Fun Run.
Several youngsters showed up for the Kids Race. The Kirpan family was hosting a family reunion at their home in Moretown. Three year-old Sylvester Kirpan got the party started with his exciting reverse course finish! His cousins Griffin Bordeau of Barre and Jacob Kirpan of Hilliard, Ohio, supported Sylvester. Three-year-old Jackson Migonis of Waterbury won the Kids race.
Five year-old Chase Debrowski of Waterbury Center won the 3K race in an impressive time of 23:11. This coach will be well into his 80s by the time Chase gets to high school -- I may have to stick around.
Noah Rivera of Waterbury won the 5K (20:25) with his friend Avery Smart of Montpelier running closely with him.
Still quite competitive, Caitlin Gregg of Minneapolis was the top female finisher in 22:23.
Heather (Cutler) Lessor of Moretown placed first in the stroller category. She pushed her one-year-old son, Maverick, through the 5K trail. This time last year, she ran while pregnant with Maverick pushing her older son Ryder in a stroller when he was 2. Two generations of Cutlers have run XC for Harwood and a third isn’t far behind.
Maverick was a winner of the under age 1 division in 2021; he won the 1-year-old category on Monday. That record may never be broken.
Harwood Fun Runs take place every Monday evening all summer on the Harwood XC course. Registration is at 6 p.m. with the Kids race commencing at 6:30 p.m., followed by the adult races.
There is a $5 entry fee for the 3k and 5K. Kids participate for free. Proceeds support the high school team’s travels to out-of-state competitions in the fall.
Come on out next Monday. Run and laugh.
John Kerrigan is head coach of Harwood Union High School Cross Country.