Running favorites return with Tarentino Strong, Worcester Firefighters and Girls on the Run Spring races on horizon

As the weather heats up in late spring, so does the Central Mass. running scene.

Three events come upon us next month before June is 10 days old, all paying tribute to worthwhile community services. Two honor first responders who sacrificed their lives on duty, while the other helps in the valuable development of our youth.

The Tarentino Strong 5K returns this year on June 9 in Auburn, the Sunday after the Worcester Firefighters 6K at Institute Park and Girls on the Run Spring 5K at Polar Park on the 2nd.

And yes, the hearty runner can take part in all three. The WFD 6K starts just before noon, while the GOTR 5K goes off earlier in the morning.

Tarentino Strong 5K and Kids Run

After a year off, the Tarentino Strong 5K Road Race is back, with the Auburn Elks (754 Southbridge St.) serving as start and finish on June 2.

The event honors the memory of Auburn Police Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr., who tragically lost his life while conducting a traffic stop in 2016 at age 42, and raises valuable funds for the Tarentino Charitable Fund.

"It's just amazing to attend the race and be a part of the community," said Tricia Tarentino, Ron's widow and president/chairman of the board of the Tarentino Charitable Fund. "Year after year seeing many of the same peiople coming out and honoring Ron. It has been so much fun."

Last year, the road race took a hiatus, with a 74-mile benefit bicycle ride in its place, honoring Ron's badge number.

"It was an amazing opportunity that came along," Tricia Tarentino said, "and as a board, we reached out to a different opportunity for our community. We like to keep things fresh."

While the bike ride was an enjoyable success, it's back to the road race on the Charitable Fund's roster of events, which includes Sunday's Tarentino Strong Car Show, also at the Auburn Elks.

"There are only so many events you can have," Tricia said. "People were saying, 'What, you're not doing the run?' We're thrilled to be bringing the run back."

Linda Luthman, in her first year as Tarentino Strong race director, reports 325 entries as of last week, complete with 22 teams already, from the Worcester Police Department, Auburn Police Department and Central Mass Striders, among others. The Worcester Police Academy team has 31 registered, the Auburn Fire Department have 12 on board.

"We've got the race shirts on order," Luthman said, "along with a custom water bottle, and we have levels of sponsors — at the Lieutenant, Sergeant and Patrolmen levels.

Runners should be pleased with the course. "It's a pretty easy route," Luthman said of the layout with plenty of downhill. "People won't feel too much pressure."

Since its inception in 2018, the Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr. Charitable Fund has distributed $380,000, to first responder and military families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty or from tragedy or illness, to community families going through life-altering circumstances, to scholarships, to children and adults at risk for basic needs, to help local food pantries and shelters, senior citizen programs, and in support of veterans and active military.

"When there's a real need, we try to help," Tricia Tarentino said.

There's a pre-race bib and race pickup from 5-8 p.m. June 7 at Bay State Brewing. The Sunday race begins at 10 a.m., after the 9:30 fun run for kids 8 and under.

All is coming together for a successful event on June 9.

"It's tremendous how people pull together," Tarentino said. "We couldn't do it without people like Linda."

For registration, visit runsignup.com/Race/MA/Auburn/TarentinoStrong5K. For more information on the Tarentino Charitable Fund, visit tarentinocharitablefund.org.

Worcester Firefighters 6K

While one of the featured attractions of the Worcester Firefighters 6K will be missing for a second straight year, several traditions thrive on in the 24th running of the event. This year's WFD 6K is set for June 2 at Institute Park.

The thrill of running through the Johnson Tunnel on Main Street will have to wait another year because of ongoing construction, but the course adjustment hasn't altered the field's enthusiasm for the WFD 6K. About 1,000 participants again are expected for this highlight on the Central Mass. running calendar.

"People have enjoyed it either way," said Worcester Fire Lt. Pat Chviruk, now in his seventh year as race director. "People love the tunnel, but understand that the city is doing a rehab project on the tunnel. They know the tunnel will come back. People have been understanding."

Yet the traversing the tunnel is just about the only tradition missing from the event this year. Runners and walkers continue to start and finish under a large American flag, draped by two aerial WFD ladder trucks, and the block-party style, post-race festivities bring together community warmth under the early June sun (we hope).

The poignant pre-race presence by the Worcester Firefighter Pipes and Drums evokes emotion and pride, honoring the lives of fallen firefighters, including the six lost in the Worcester Cold Storage blaze — Paul Brotherton, Jerry Lucey, Joe McGuirk, Jay Lyons, Tim Jackson and Thomas Spencer. Also remembered are those who died in the line of duty since — Jon Davies, Christopher Roy and Jason Menard.

The 25th anniversary of the Worcester Cold Storage fire is Dec. 3.

"We still get a huge amount of support from the community," Chviruk said. "And we get a ton of support from members of the fire department and a lot of the retirees, who have helped volunteer and have been there every year. It's a kind of homecoming."

The WFD 6K continues to raise money for its primary charities — NEADS World Class Service Dogs, the Genesis Club and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The event has raised more than $600,000 for nonprofits over the years.

The Sunday 6K race begins at 11:30 a.m., following the 1K kids' race going off at 11. Preregistration and packet pickup takes place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Sneakerama, 12 Lake Ave., with race-day signup beginning at 9 a.m. at Institute Park.

For more information and registration, visit wfd6k.com.

Girls on the Run Spring 5K

A thriving Central Mass. running community is proving there's plenty of room for two huge events on June 2.

The WooSox may be out of town, but Girls on the Run is drawing an enthusiastic Polar Park crowd for the first Sunday in June.

The Girls on the Run Spring 5K is expecting to draw about 1,500 participants, "which is pretty exciting," said GOTR executive director Karen Spencer.

This is the event's third time at Polar Park but indeed a greater charm. As the Worcester Red Sox are on the road that weekend, the Polar warning track will be site of the 5K's finish, with no competition from any pregame warmups on the field.

The Spring 5K wraps up another stellar season for Girls on the Run, one in which young girls began a 10-week program, starting in March and meeting twice a week, learning not just about running but about life skills and empowerment, a well-rounded development program.

Some 655 girls grades 3 through 8 will be running, representing 45 teams from all over Central Mass, from Blackstone to Barre, from Worcester to Athol.

Community involvement has been a key to the success of Girls on the Run in Worcester County.

"Definitely a lot of people have been hearing about us more and more, and not just as another running program," Spencer said. "We're starting to get more strategically focused for the past year and a half. We're trying to reach every girl that we can, trying to provide for every girl, regardless of cost.

"We're not just teaching girls how to run, but teaching these girls for a lifetime of confidence."

Girls on the Run in Worcester County celebrates its 10th anniversary in the fall.

"We've grown our staff, moved into a bigger office (in Whitinsville), with a new curriculum, new coaches' training," Spencer added. "And we're making great partnerships as we go through this journey."

The race goes off at 9 a.m., following celebration activities for the girls beginning at 8. Registration is open to the public, and all finishers receive a commemorative medal.

All proceeds benefit Girls on the Run and its confidence-building program. For more information on the event and volunteer opportunites, visit gotr-worc.org/5k.

—Contact John Conceison at john.conceison@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ConceisonJohn.