Happy as a Clam 5K
Essex, MA
- 5K, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Sponsored by the Friends of Essex Elementary, the Happy as a Clam 5k Race, Walk and Fun Dashes is open to anyone who wants to support a community school and all the wonderful enrichment programs the students hope to enjoy throughout the year. The 5K route meanders through the beautiful … MORE
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Sick as a Dog
This is a Friday evening 5K in Essex, MA on the North Shore that is a fundraiser for an elementary school. This race worked out perfectly for me as I … MORE
This is a Friday evening 5K in Essex, MA on the North Shore that is a fundraiser for an elementary school. This race worked out perfectly for me as I work on the North Shore on Fridays about 20 minutes away from the race. Unfortunately I got sick during the week with some sort of URI that is not covid. Sick as a dog may be an exaggeration but I was definitely not 100% for the race but felt good enough to walk it. There was a helpful pre race email sent out with instructions. Parking was a pain (but this was described in the email). The race started at 6 and I didn’t arrive until around 5:30 and I parked about 1/2 mile away at the backup parking that was suggested. My warm up was the walk. Packet pick up was easy and included a nice long sleeve shirt though it is white which isn’t my favorite. I didn’t have time to go back and forth to my car so had to tie it around my race. The race are was very fun with the clam mascot and some food trucks. There was also a walk at 5pm before the run and a kids 5K.. The race started behind a timing mat. The course is a loop with an out and back portion. It was a very pretty course through wooded neighborhoods. Not super exciting but pleasant and pretty. However it was quite hilly. I think there was more elevation gain in this 5K than the entire half marathon in NJ. Course was well marked though roads were open to traffic. They had course marshals at the crossings and the roads were mostly quite so it was safe. There was a water stop halfway. Since there was the earlier walker start I was one of the last finishers. I had to mostly walk though I occasionally jogged some downhill. My time was pretty terrible but I survived. Everyone was nice even though I was slow and there were a handful of spectators in the neighborhood. The finish is the same as the start. There is no medal which is typical of New England. There was fruit and water at the end along with food from the food trucks for purchase. Overall this was a nice 5K that I would do again as long as I was not traveling on Friday.