An Cu Liath "Historical perspective" Run

An Cù Liath Irish Pub

AKA "The Grey Hound"
11 Kelley Square
Worcester, Massachusetts 01610

Click here for the 3 mile course map

Click here to ask a question you may or may not get an answer to

Nice night to be running those mean streets of Worcester. Comfortable temps, nice breeze, and cool people. It is the An Cu Liath City Run, and it happens every Monday night without fail. It has so since January 22, 2007. That's when this whole charade began. Well sorta, more in minute. The charade is that what appears to be a weekly road race is really just an excuse to get out of the house, eat a great home made meal complete with lots o' baked goods, drink beer, and hang out with a group of nice people. In order to legitimize the "Run" part of this, we actually do run, 3 miles to be almost exact. Nobody's ever measured the course but almost is good enough for us.

Now back to where it all began. Jan 8, 2007 was the very first An Cu Liath City Run. This was supposed to be a one night event, a Road trip spawned from another weekly run from which the ACL run would eventually be born, well sorta, more in a minute. The night was such a success that the forefathers decide it should be a permanent replacement for "Paulies House Run" and as such a new Worcester Road race had come to life. The first official weekly ACL run was held Jan 22, 2007, and a Monday night has not passed without runners in Kelley Sq since.

Now back to where it all began, well sorta, more in a minute.  Paulies House Run held it's inaugural run on October 3, 2005 with a whopping 9 runners. "Allegedly" anyway, if one were to view the official results. Having been there perhaps the actual turnout was several less than that but who's counting. PHR was held through the winter of '05 all of '06 and right through to Jan '07. The final PHR was held Jan 15 2007.

Now back to where it all began. This time for real. July 19, 2004 was the day our grand pappy was hatched. The "Castle Hill Park" 3 miler was held high upon a hilltop in Worcester. The official results show 10 people but again, that may be an embellishment. Regardless, without that night you would not be reading this. It was there that Paul Collyer, (if you don't know "Paulie" you have not spent much time in the New England running circles as of late) set forth on a journey that sought to change the landscape of Worcester road racing. Held in a rundown inner city park, the goal of the race was to bring people into the 'hood and transform the park from drug den to what a park should be. By all accounts it worked. Week after week the race was held and the participation grew. The park was cleaned up and the riff raff was pushed out. Kids races were held, barbeques happened post race and everybody had a good time.

After two summers of the Castle Hill park run, Paulie sought to continue the run year round. He invited us to run from his house that fall, and we did. Right through the winter and we stayed for the summer. At that time we picked up a new "regular" by the name of Cyndy Curley. Ms Curley was in the process of opening an Irish Pub in Kelley SQ with her hubby. At some point it was suggested that we run from the bar sometime, and we did. As that was deemed a success, and renovations on Paulies lair had swung into gear, it was suggested that we run from the Pub every week, and we did.

So, the point of all that rambling? Next week, Monday June 21 2010, we return to Paulies house for a one night 3 Mile reunion event!  Everybody is welcome! New runners, old runners, new friends, old friends, old women, children, dogs, and even Rob Marhefka.  Whatever happend to that guy?

Come join your favorite weekly run " The An Cu Laith City Run"as we celebrate our roots. We'll start at 7:00 pm sharp, and the location is 224 1/2 Chandler St. which is by the Living earth, Evo and John and Sons restaurant. Plenty of parking is available . . . . . . . . Edited to add link to Boston Globe feature on Paulies House Run.. www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/08/24/a_running_start_to_revive_neighborhood/ .

3 Mile results

PLACE	TIME	NAME	HOME TOWN	CLUB
1	17:48	John Pajer	Leicester	CMS
2	18:00	Ryan Graves
3	21:43	Al Barrera	Worcester	CMS
4	21:52	Scott Schaeffer Duffy	Worcester	CMS
5	21:57	Joshua Meduna	Worcester	KBRC
6	23:06	Jack Goolsky	Worcester	CMS
7	23:07	Joe Carpenter	Leicester	CMS
8	24:40	Scott Stevens	Holden	CMS
9	24:40	Patricia McKeon	Holden	CMS
10	24:40	Lisa Winters	Worcester
11	25:26	Eddie Sanborn	Worcester	GEN
12	25:41	Roberto Walker	Worcester
13	27:00	Kim Wamback	Worcester	CMS
14	27:26	Mike Keating	Worcester	CMS
15	28:12	Tracy Flynn	Shrewsbury	CMS
16	29:30	Bob Lubenow	Grafton	CMS
17	30:04	Karen Pajer	Leicester	CMS
18	30:07	Cyndy Curley	Sterling	CMS