The running community is special.
They’re fit, but friendly. They’re competitive, but close. They run for various reasons — to win a race, do their personal best, or simply finish — and at various paces, but they all love to run.
And they don’t get a lot of publicity.
Unless you’re near Compo, Burying Hill Beach or Longshore on a Saturday morning, you don’t know the long-running (ho ho) series even exists.
The series of 10 races — each longer than the week before — culminates in a 10-miler the Saturday before Labor Day.
Road Runners was one of the only such events when it began in the 1960s. The Labor Day race was particularly popular, attracting some of the top athletes in the Northeast.
Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department has sponsored Road Runners since its inception. Co-sponsors now include Pequot Runners and Fleet Feet. The selectwoman’s office and Police Department offer important assistance.
And they’re off! The start of a Westport Road Runner race.
But the man making it work for nearly all that time — all but 3 of its 62 years — is Laddie Lawrence.
A star runner in Staples High School’s Class of 1964 — and now, for well over 50 years — the Wreckers’ cross country, indoor and outdoor track coach — he does it all.
He sets up the course, oversees every aspect of each race, then cleans up. There would be no Road Runners without Laddie Lawrence.
He just finished his 59th year as Road Runners director. If that sounds like a long time: It is.
Lawrence was recently recognized as the longest-serving race director in the world by Road Race Management Inc.
Laddie Lawrence, at a Road Runner race finish.
Of course, he cannot do it all himself.
Regulars who have served for years include Jim Gerweck, Charlie Wolgast, Ray Prezkop, Dave Parise, Anne Parise and Mary Parise.
This year’s group of recent alumni or current Staples athletes includes Morgan Samuel, Will Boberski, Oliver Samuel, Jonas Varnas, Michael Bernier, Ben Buchalter, Alex Price, Luke Rabacs, Daisy Seaborne, Preston Siroka, Nate Hordon, Mikhail Mikhalchuk, Oliver Galin, Connor O’Neill and Samuel Zwick Lavinsky.
All are today’s Unsung Heroes.
But Laddie Lawrence wins this week’s gold.
(Unsung Hero is a weekly “06880” feature. To nominate a hero, email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)