The Pascack Valley softball team is hosting its third annual Shamrock 5k Run and Walk to raise money for team equipment and a donation to Meadowbrook Elementary School at Meadowbrook and Stonybrook Swim Club at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 24.

“It’s a fun way to support your team, and what else are you doing on a Sunday morning?” said Lauren Bascik, the PV softball coach and event coordinator. “It’s not expensive, you get a t-shirt, you get some breakfast out of it. There’s no obligation to run.”

Originally, the purpose of the event was to raise money for dugouts for the softball team, but they were able to reach that goal last year and are waiting for the Board of Education to approve the construction.

The softball team stands and cheers for the race participants while holding up arrows and writing messages in chalk throughout the course.

Bascik said that in past years, the team is always “screaming like crazy” which creates a feeling of excitement.

“Anyone can do it, there is no age limit or gender restrictions,” Bascik said, “It’s for people who want to come and support the [softball] team while having a good time.” 

Trophies are given out to the overall top three runners and metals are given to the top three males and females for each specific age group.

While the race starts and ends at Stonybrook Swim Club, depending on the weather, the runners are able to go across the street and stay in Meadowbrook Elementary School.

“The weather can be a little scary in March, so I wanted somewhere that people could stay warm as long as possible,” Bascik said. “Meadowbrook School has always been really great.”

Bascik took inspiration from a previous 5k event in Hillsdale that stopped running five years ago, called the “The Rover and Clover.” She decided to bring it back with a “new spin”.

The race is open to everyone and has had runners from South Jersey, New York City, and upstate New York participate in the event.

“I know when people hear about running they immediately hate it, but a lot of people walk it,” Bascik said, “and it ends up being a really fun event each year.”