Commodore Hull 5K race will be run for 12th year through Shelton, Derby

Group visits U.S.S. Constitution

Aboard 'Old Ironsides' in Boston.  / Contributed photo

The Commodore Hull Thanksgiving Day Committee traveled to the deck of the U.S.S. Constitution in Boston recently to officially announce the Commodore Hull Thanksgiving Day 5K Road Race will be held for the 12th straight year on Thanksgiving morning. 
 Members were given a private tour of the ship.

The Committee thought it appropriate to visit “Old Ironsides” for the announcement because Commodore Hull, for whom the race is named, was the captain of the Constitution during the War of 1812.

 He won one of the most famous battles in U.S. history over the British frigate Guerriere and catapulted the U.S. Navy into the ranks of a world naval power.

In making the announcement that the popular race will once again be run through the downtown streets of Derby and Shelton, the Committee also announced that Greco & Haines will be back as the main sponsor as they have been every year since the race started in 2002. 

Speaking on behalf of the Committee, Glenn Gaetano said, "We are absolutely thrilled that Greco & Haines is once again supporting our efforts for the great community event at the same time that they are celebrating their 50th year in business. The commitment as the very first race sponsor back in 2002 made the race possible, and their continuing support has allowed us to grow this into a community institution that has raised over $100,000 to support the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley."

Jeanne Connors, President of Greco & Haines, said “Helping children is the primary reason for our participation. Children are our future and they must receive all the support we can give them to achieve their goals in life. The Boys & Girls Club is a stellar example of an organization committed to providing that support.”
         The Committee also announced the field for this year’s race is being expanded to 750. They noted that back in 2002 they were hoping for 200 runners, but had over 300. Ever since then, they have increased the number slowly to make sure that the quality of the race is not diminished. 

Two things that have made the expansion possible are the building of the pavilion by the City of Shelton and the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club which accommodates more runners than the tents used earlier, and the use of FastTrack Timing to handle the timing.

Registration for the race will not begin until September.
            For information about the race, visit the website at http://electronicvalley.org/derby/HullRace.
 
This post is taken from a press release from committee member Jack Walsh of Derby.