Registration is still open for the annual Peanut Butter Chip Chase in Temple on Jan. 1.
Souhegan Lions Club, which serves Temple, Greenville, Mason and New Ipswich, organizes the 5K walk/run road race. The race is a fundraising event for the Lions Club, and the money raised goes to organizations and programs that provide help to community members like the Greenville Food Pantry, local nonprofits, emergency funds and college scholarships.
“We’ve been doing this for nearly 50 years,” club vice president and race coordinator Paul Clifton-Waite said.
A number of local businesses sponsor the race, and a lot of volunteers are involved.
“A couple dozen volunteers step in to make this happen,” Clifton-Waite said. From calling sponsors to ordering T-shirts to working the course, there are “a lot of people doing many, many things,” he said.
According to Clifton-Waite, the race is challenging and scenic. It passes by the Town Common and a horse farm. It’s a mix of pavement and dirt roads with a hill at the end.
“This is definitely a community event,” he said, “We get runners from all parts of the community, and volunteers.” Clifton-Waite said they see a lot of returning runners, and people who look forward to the race all year.
This is Clifton-Waite’s first year coordinating the event. Michele Siegmann was the coordinator in previous years, and this year she has spearheaded an effort to encourage racers to bring their own reusable water bottles in order to reduce plastic use.
“If we could use less plastic in this one race, it does make a difference,” Clifton-Waite said.
People who bring their own water bottle get a cup of hot apple cider.
Race results are broken down by age and gender, and winners of their divisions get peanut butter chip medals.
There’s a children’s race for runners 8 and under at 11:30 a.m. led by a police car around the common before the adult race at noon, and there is soup and food offered at the end. There’s also a raffle with prizes, and the event is usually over by 2 or 3 p.m.
“Runners get in their first run of the year,” Clifton-Waite said, “It’s good fun.”
Online pre-registration for the race ends at midnight on Dec. 28, and there is a $10 discount for those that pre-register. Clifton-Waite encourages racers to sign up early, but there is same-day registration offered, as well. Participants can register at runsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=67819.
“It’s a fun event and a major fundraiser for us,” Clifton-Waite said.
The Peanut Butter Chip Chase is part of the Monadnock Regional Milers Winter Chiller Series, a selection of five winter races. People who participate in four of the five races will receive a prize.