Bridget Staffileno & the St. Patrick's Day Races

“One of the things about Jolt Credit Union is that we want to be a part of the community, and we know that a healthy community is going to serve our members. We say healthy community, healthy membership. And when it comes to the St. Patrick's Day Races, it's more than a race, it's a community event and community celebration. A bucket-list item.

A lot of times the St. Pat's Race, especially for people in our region, is people’s first 5k and that is pretty impressive. So, whether they're walking or running, it's like a family tradition. You see family members, who get up, have brunch, come out here, run the race, and then stay after and watch the parade. Over the years, we’ve seen it really evolve because it’s an event that belongs to the community.

It is an inclusive event. At the expo on Saturday, there is a Leprechaun Run, and you don't even have to be little to participate in it. We've had people that have had bypass surgery that said, ‘You know what, I just want to do one mile’ or ‘I want to do a half.’

You can walk it, you can run it. You can be an extremely elite runner or you can just take your time.

With the St. Pat's race, we were trending at about 7,000-8,000 people when we had to cancel in 2020 with COVID. Those are people that are just participating, plus the people that come to watch. It is amazing and for 50 years, this has been going on. It was started by Al Kayner, who was a Bay City Central track and cross country coach. He created this five-mile run from Veterans to Winona or something like that. For that to still be active, what a legacy. I talked to his daughter and I said, ‘For your father to create such a legacy of this running for 50 years to where now it's part of the community.’

I tell people all the time and time again, if you get people to come to Bay City for this event, they’re coming back. I guarantee it. There’s so much community pride on display and there's nothing like seeing 6,000 people on the corner of Center and Washington getting ready to run down Center Avenue. 

One thing I really love about the St. Patrick’s Day Races is myTEAM TRIUMPH, a nonprofit with a chapter in our area. For people who don't have the ability to walk or run but still want to participate in the races, they have these chariot buggies pushed by people called ‘angels’. The person in the carriage is called a captain. Deb Militello said to me, ‘Bridgette, there's something I think you might really enjoy.’ And when I saw what they were doing, I said, ‘Enough. That's enough! Absolutely! I'm in!’

To see the faces of the young kids or adults who are in these carriages because they’re able to participate is just amazing. I get chills even now thinking about it. That is why I love this race–it's for everybody and anybody.

“For the St. Patrick’s Day Races, every 50th person who registers gets a $10 gift card to use at any of Bay City restaurants: Downtown Bay City  does $5 and Jolt Credit Union does $5.

I always tell people, you don't have to run. It's just getting your body moving. It releases endorphins. It releases stress. I've been asked, ‘Why do you love running so much?’ Honestly, running has never let me down, no matter what was going on in my life. I can always put my shoes on, lace them up and head out the door and it helps. It really helps.

But that can be for walking, too. It doesn't matter how fast you get to it. It helps and it makes you feel so good.

One of the things the Bay Area Runners Club wanted to do was hold these events at a reasonable price. The Bay Area Runners Club is a nonprofit, and all the money they raise from races after expenses goes back into the community. They’ve put in over $250,000 into the community: parks, kids’ soccer and other stuff.

For now, it's $28 and Jolt has offered $5 discount codes over the course of registration at different times. We’ll have it open again for a few days and we stopped and we'll do it again. When it was originally announced it was $25, so it's only $20 with the discount and you get a shirt, a bib, some great cookies and Shine Water because they are also a sponsor. Our big sponsors Covenant HealthCare for the expo, Labourdais Orthodontics is the Leprechaun Races sponsor, and other sponsors are our friends at Runners Athletic Company, Shine Water and Cumulus Radio Station. They're all in on it.

If you just Google ‘Bay City St. Pat's Races’, and they will take you to our page and it has all the information you need to know with a link to register. Saturday the 18th at Bay City Central is our Health and Fitness Expo.You’ll have different vendors there like chiropractors, massage therapists, and different organizations. 

We have more and more people coming and saying, ‘Hey, can we be a part of it?’ They understand that this is an opportunity to show you're supporting the community. There you can pick up your bib that goes on your shirt the day of the race. It has this little thing on the back that once you cross over these mats, it starts timing you.

You can register that day, too. You’ll go there, get your shirt, get your bib, and visit with the vendors. That closes down at two o'clock and you register that day until then. Then, we are inviting people to head out to the track, because that's where the leprechaun races are. These little kids get shirts and they each have their own little bib with a number one on it and it's so cute. They have different heats, depending on how far you're running, walking, etc.

Then the following day are the races. You can register ahead of time on the website or the morning of. The 8k starts at starts at 8:30, and then the 5k starts after that. 

The 5k, for those who don't know, is 3.1 miles. People can walk or run. That starts around 11. Then there also is an Irish Double. The Irish double is someone who participates in both races. First, they’ll do the 8k, dry off because and then do the 5k after that. 

It's just a lot of fun out there and people are set up all down Center Avenue."

- Bridget Staffileno, Jolt Credit Union and Bay City's St. Patrick's Day Races