Thousands take their mark for the 48th annual St. Patrick's Road Race

the highly anticipated parade weekend is finally here and earlier today thousands of runners gathered in the Holio in Holio for the 48th annual St Patrick's Road Race 22 News reporter Julia O'Keefe was there to catch up with the runners as they took their mark Energy is always great I think it's always great for the community on St Patrick's Day weekend Thousands of runners gearing up to tackle the 48th annual Holio St Patrick's Road Race It's the beginning of a spirited weekend here in the city where the streets are flooded green and Irish music rings on No matter if you're Irish or not everybody's Irish this weekend Each year the road race brings 7,000 runners from all over the world right here to downtown Holio Everyone's dressed in their green with their running sneakers laced up and ready to go But before the big 10K run the shorter and more familyfriendly kids fun run kicked off the day So everyone got their taste of the excitement What are we most excited about uh I don't know Probably just running It may be the biggest running event in Western Massachusetts but it's the tradition of race day the cheering the outfits and the block parties that make this race unlike any other in the region people within the neighborhoods just like really throw out a party and it just like amps you up to just keep going Even with the long hills you still just want to push through and have fun and it's a party And it's that tradition that the St Patrick's Committee hope shines through year after year You know even tonight you look through social media and all you see is pictures of people having fun You know it's why we're here It's why we do this And whether runners have taken to the hills of Holy Oak for the 6.2 two mile race before or they're giving it a try for the first time There's no question race day sets the right tone for Sunday's much anticipated parade Happy St Patrick's Day working for you Julia O'Keefe 22 News