LYNN — You could say it was the perfect night to sit on the couch under a blanket. Perhaps a great date night; dinner and a movie. Anything to avoid the rain. 

Not for the dedicated Lynn Woods runners and volunteers who showed up with grit, determination, and towels to dry themselves off at recent races. Forty-nine runners showed up, including some “newbies” and regulars who clocked their fastest times yet. 

The volunteers, also known as the Lynn Woods Crew, make this happen every week. There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes that people might not know about.

Course organizer Bill Mullen, master of timing Joe Abelon, and Al “Pete” Peterson (toting snacks, drinks, and a recycle bin) have been faithfully showing up — week after week; year after year — to keep the Lynn Woods races strong for 60-plus years.

At recent races, the ratio between runners and volunteers was about 3:1. There were timers (Freddi Triback and Jeff Cook), finish-line recorders (Bonnie Hallinan and Dottie Thibodeau), the runner delivering results to the van (Jimmy Leon), the bib number shouter (Brian Walfield), the apprentice timer (Paul Stoey), registration workers (Thibodeau and Paul Gouthro), the custodian (Mullen), and sweepers (Lee Ann Ferrari Faessler and Amy Amirault). 

Other notable volunteers during the May-to-October season: trail masters who provide challenging courses that highlight parts of the woods rarely traveled upon (Pete Orrall, Rich Lally, Deirdre Lowe, and Mike McKie), course markers (Ferrari Faessler, Walfield, Cook, Mullen, Mike Doyle, Jeff Hixon, Chris Smith, and Jim LaMothe), the map creator (Mark Rosenblum), photographers (Mike Fitzgerald and Roger Perham), the website designer (Mullen), the DJ/announcer and children’s T-shirt designer (Liam Brady), as well as T-shirt coordinators (Gouthro and Kelly Morris). Finally, when they aren’t racing, other volunteers who step up when needed include Julie Haynes, Anne Marie Catherine Noga, Mark Brennan, Kelly Ann Pheulpin, William McClory, and Ralph Viger. 

While the kids race stayed the same last week (out-and-back; 1.59 miles), Mullen decided to shorten the long and short courses. 

In the 5.2-mile “Gate to Waycross” out-and-back long course, 20 runners toed the line. Tommy Fogarty of Peabody took the win with a time of 33:51. Matt Viega of Lynn was second, followed by Martin Buras of Medford with times of 34:20 and 36:35, respectively. For the women, Christy Durden of Medford (51:02) was first, Judy Tasker of Melrose (55:06) second, and Lee Ann Faessler of Lynn (55:47) third. 

The 2.2-mile “Goat Path” short race also came with 20 runners. Peter Swain of Wakefield (15:22) edged out second-place runner Reid Pacini of Medford (15:25). Lynn’s James Wolsoniv placed third with a time of 16:58.

Six runners competed in the kids race. The top four hailed from Salem and in first place was Brynn Lunt (12:39). Conor Hill (14:01), Nora (14:13), and Vinnie Devoe (15:09) followed. Lynn natives Ivan and Jason Lynott rounded out the top six with times of 20:47 and 20:48, respectively.