Walk ‘n Mass Volkssport Club Holliston Walk
Submitted by Karen Kolaczyk
Saturday, Aug 22nd – The Walk ‘n Mass Volkssport Club invites walkers to complete a 5km or 10km (3.1 or 6.2 mile) marked route in Holliston, Mass. This is a walk-at-your-own pace, just-for-fun event “in your own backyard.”
The start point is the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine (picnic area), 101 Summer St. Holliston, MA 01746. Registration for the 5km and 10km is 9:00–12:00 noon. Admission is free and donations are accepted. There is a $3.00 fee for those participating in the AVA/IVV achievement program.
Please wear face coverings/masks and follow social distancing protocols when at our outdoor start/finish, checkpoint, all points along the trail, and in parking areas. If you wish, bring gloves and/or a pen to use in completing your Registration Card.
Both routes are primarily on the Upper Charles Rail Trail, a flat rails-to-trails project with a packed stone dust surface. The 5km route, is also the first section of the 10km route which goes out on the Upper Charles Rail Trail from Holliston in the direction of Milford.
The second section of the 10km route begins with the paved Rosary Walk at Fatima Shrine before crossing Summer Street to enter Wenakeening Woods and exploring several natural trails, connecting to the Upper Charles Rail Trail and traveling towards Cross St. in Holliston before turning around to the Finish via the Rail Trail.
The 5km route is on groomed, stone dust trails and is suitable for baby strollers, but difficult for wheelchairs. The 10km route includes natural paths, stone dust trails, as well as some paved surfaces making it difficult for both baby strollers and wheelchairs.
Volkssporting events sponsored by Walk ‘n Mass Volkssport Club promote fun, fitness and friendship through non-competitive walking and biking free to the public. There is also an achievement awards program through the American Volkssport Association (AVA). For further information contact Bev at 774-279-0740 or visit www.walknmass.org.
3 Comments
This is the club’s FIRST event this year, having had to cancel three walks this spring. We have modified our sign-in process and setup to comply with current social distancing and sanitation guidelines. Since the sign-up time is a 3-hour window with a finish by 3:00 p.m., and folks will set out to walk as they register, we anticipate (and will monitor) remaining within the 50-person max gathering number at any one time. Looking forward to greeting folks (behind masks) and sharing the trail.
registration is 9 to 12. what is the starting time for the 3.1 walk?
Thanks for asking, Paul. You may start anytime between 9 and 12 — finish by 3:00. Most folks can complete a 3.1-mile route within 60 to 90 minutes. We will have written directions and the route will be marked with arrows and streamers (which we take down at the end of the event).