Weather buoys runners in Tufts race
7,000 turn out for annual 10K
Though spectators may have suffered in the rain and cool weather yesterday, the 7,000 runners and walkers in the 31st Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women road race were buoyed.
"It's actually good running weather," said participant Jennifer Maholchic, 17, of Milton. "It's cloudy, it's not that hot."
Boston EMS Captain Bob Haley, who was responsible for keeping the runners safe, said he was relieved it was so cool. Sunday's Chicago Marathon was run in sweltering heat; one runner died and dozens were hospitalized.
"That was scary," he said.
Race spokeswoman Sheila Green said "blisters on feet" was the biggest complaint from Tufts participants.
In the middle of the crowd, the Westborough High School cross country team chanted to rev themselves up. Team members said they would sing throughout the race to keep pumped.
"When we get halfway there we sing the 'halfway song,' " Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer," said Ashley Johnston, 17.
After finishing the race in just under 40 minutes, Allison Belanger, 25, and her friends recalled funny memories from past runs.
Once, Belanger said, she was beset by shrubs.
"My college friend and I were running and we kind of got off the beaten path and there were all these bushes," she said. Embarrassed about getting lost and worried that they might have accidentally shortened their course, Belanger said, she and her friend fibbed when their trainer asked how they had scratched up their legs on the run.
"We told him we were attacked by wild squirrels," Belanger said, laughing.
Others at the finish line complained about the crushing crowd of runners. Michelle Garland of Somersworth, N.H., running in her first race, called the experience claustrophobic.
Friend Rachelle Hennessy, 31, of Epping, N.H., agreed.
"It felt like I was in
Erin Ailworth can be reached at eailworth@globe.com. 