Gordy's First Race to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield

Gordy's First Race to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield is held in Westfield, Massachusetts, on January 1, 2027. Two distances start together at 11:00 a.m., a 10K (6.2 miles) and a 5K (3.1 miles), and the race is organized by the Boys & Girls Club with volunteers from the Westfield Half & 5k. It honors the legacy of Gordon Bates, a dedicated local runner.

A shared start for both distances means the field runs together early, so know your own plan before the gun and let the 10K runners settle rather than chasing them through the first mile. The 5K is the more forgiving option on January 1, particularly if December was light on running; the 10K rewards anyone who kept a weekly long run going through the holidays and wants a real effort to open the season. Either way, warm up indoors if you can and keep a dry layer for the finish.