People interested in recreational and competitive running and athletics are invited to join the
Western Massachusetts Athletic Club based in the Berkshire County area. The Club was organized in 1979 when a group
of competitive runners came together to form a club capable of fulfilling any runner's needs. We are active in trail
running, snowshoeing, road racing, mountain running, bicycling, and whatever may interest our members. The Club's
purpose is to promote sports activities for enjoyment as well as for competition. All are welcome to join.
The Club holds two annual trail races having a long history and tradition: the Mount Greylock 1/2 Marathon
and the Monroe Dunbar Brook race, each with an accompanying 5K or shorter concurrent race.
WMAC also hosts the Grand Tree series of trail races,
a consortium of about 20 races put on by running clubs in New England. Runners run as many races as they like,
and may compete for best six scores or for total points. In addition to the trail races, WMAC also holds various
road races, including the Fall Foliage 5k and the Turkey Trot 5k.
Winter is not a deterrent as the club hosts the North Adams Fat Ass 50K and the Dion Snowshoe Series of
roughly fifteen snowshoe events each season. The emphasis is on exploration of the many underused state parks
in Western Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont. Locales change from year to year but standards are
the South Pond Shuffle, Greylock Glen, Hawley Kiln Klassic, and the Moody Springs. The Moby Dick, a 16-30
mile fun run/snowshoe known for its extreme weather conditions, is held in any year hardy runners feel
inspired.
Come to chat with runners at the WMAC group training runs Wednesday evenings, year round in Adams, MA -
check the website main page for details. Weekend training runs of longer distances are common during the
"off" season. During the racing season there are many opportunities for group travel throughout
New England for racing events. The club also has many members who run a spring or fall marathon, most often
traveling as a group. If ultradistances interest you, the club has many ultra runners who venture
up to the 100 mile distance. This doesn't mean that runners of shorter distances should feel discouraged from
joining - there is a place for runners of all abilities and distance desires. The only common thread is that
most of us seem to enjoy trail running.
Membership in the club includes discounts at local sporting goods establishments, links
to training and racing, and new found friendships. A Christmas party is held each December to end up the year.
Officers 2004
Officers elected for the 2004 season are as follows:
President: Ed Saharczewski
Vice President: Denise Dion
Secretary: Ellen Mach
Treasurer: Fran Mach
Webmaster: Rob Higley
WMAC Address
WMAC, P.O.Box 356 Adams, MA 01220