{"id":673,"date":"2025-08-08T10:39:24","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T10:39:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/arca\/?p=673"},"modified":"2025-08-08T10:39:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T10:39:25","slug":"josh-billings-runaground-2025-ramping-up-and-returning-to-roots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/arca\/josh-billings-runaground-2025-ramping-up-and-returning-to-roots\/","title":{"rendered":"Josh Billings RunAground 2025 Ramping Up And Returning To Roots."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Mike Walsh, The Berkshire Eagle, July 18, 2025<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Brian Berkel may be in his first season as race director of The Josh Billings RunAground, but he\u2019s calling 2025 \u201cA big return to tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCamp Mah-Kee-Nac was a fantastic host. There were just some logistic issues,\u201d said The Josh\u2019s new director. \u201cSo, we\u2019re so grateful that Tanglewood has invited us back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Berkel, who retired four years ago as a detective lieutenant with the Massachusetts State Police, was brought on as race director in January and has spent the last six months both getting up to speed and getting The Josh back on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe final stretch will be right there at the main gate, that\u2019s the finish for runners,\u201d he said in a recent interview at The Eagle. \u201cKids race will be right there in the West Lot. Bash and awards ceremony right there in the East Lot. Parking is abundant, greater access in and out for everybody, easier for family and friends to come. This worked out wonderfully. That is the biggest change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Josh has spent the past few years finishing at Mah-Kee-Nac, but for the bulk of its soon-to-be-48-year history, the finishing archway was at Tanglewood in Lenox. On Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, that\u2019s where runners will return to after completing their portion of the course from the Stockbridge Bowl hand-off from paddlers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other important changes: The race will start earlier, with an 8:30 a.m. gun time for cyclists from the start line in Great Barrington. Per Berkel, that will save them some time on the back end with the awards ceremony and getting everyone out of Tanglewood safely in time for other events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Berkel said that he, new president Chris Calvert and The Josh committee have heard from participants from 2024 and all the way back to some of the event\u2019s founding fathers. Former director Abby Chaput stepped down following last fall\u2019s event after two years leading The Josh. Prior to that, Patty Spector was director for 21 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe ceremony is going to be well-done,\u201d Berkel promised, acknowledging some of the complaints that stemmed from last year. \u201cI\u2019ve heard loud and clear. Recommendations have been heard. Live band, lots of food, some masseuses, Andy Huh has GetHuht, a mobile sauna. He\u2019s a local entrepreneur also bringing cold dips. We\u2019ve got the awards thing down, podium, we\u2019ll keep it moving smoothly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Housy Shakers will provide live music at the post-race bash, and finishing categories have been streamlined down to 33 divisions. The Josh will also debut some new ceramic mugs in a slightly different style, which Berkel was bullish on. Mugs will be presented in different sizes for first, second and third place finishers. In another return to tradition, the race will be timed by Platt Systems Timing, which had previously served as its timer from at least 1996 through 2022. The 2023 Josh Billings RunAground was canceled due to weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Josh is the oldest continuously run-bike-paddle triathlon in the country, and with the 48th RunAground now less than two months away, and the 50th on the horizon, that return to tradition was important to all involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to realign everything so that 50 is a real celebration,\u201d Berkel said, pointing to the committee\u2019s first appearance in Pittsfield\u2019s Fourth of July Parade. \u201cWe want to draw attention back to the event. We\u2019ll be appearing at some different road races and bike events, clinics will begin soon. Paddle clinic is Aug. 6. Cycling and running clinics will be after that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Berkel grew up in the Berkshires and spent most of his career here. Since retirement, he\u2019s split time between a series of part-time gigs and working with various non-profits from the suicide prevention coalition to Berkshire HorseWorks to the Lions Club. In fact, it was at one of those volunteer spots that he heard about The Josh opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been in my orbit, but a co-worker at one of my part-time jobs is on the committee and mentioned they were looking for a new director,\u201d Berkel said. \u201cI thought it was a good opportunity to throw my hat in the ring, see how I could help out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Berkel is a former marathoner and remembers volunteering at the boat ramp in the 1980s and watching The Josh cyclists go by his childhood home. He said his understanding of the athletes training and professional background made him a good candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy background in law enforcement, supervising and operational things I\u2019ve had to put together,\u201d he noted. \u201cSafety is our No. 1 priority, always, it\u2019s a major factor, but I\u2019ve also got a lot of non-profit experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Josh remains a 501c3 organization and continues its relationship with the Berkshire United Way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI felt like it would be a good challenge. It\u2019s been fun. There\u2019s a lot of folks on the committee with a lot of institutional knowledge, some new folks with new ideas, it\u2019s a good generational mix,\u201d Berkel said. \u201cGood advice where I need it. Been in touch with some founding fathers, spoken with them, gotten a better sense of where it all started. People are passionate about this race. There are a lot of opinions, recommendations, I\u2019m taking it all in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For now, the push is on to gather registrations, sponsors and volunteers, and just generally get the word out that The Josh is coming. T-shirts recognizing sponsors and donors, for instance, will go to the printers in mid-August. And training for competitors is, of course, ongoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have a sense of what goes into the training and the logistics of getting it started and finished,\u201d Berkel said. \u201cI know the anxiety, anticipation, fun, stress, I recognize all of it. I want to get word out early. September comes, and suddenly you see it, \u2018I want to do that next year,\u2019 because you\u2019re not prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got your faithfuls, come back every year, but others who have always heard about it, wanted to try it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The that idea, he said The Josh committee is pushing a new initiative with some new partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe recognize that there are kids in this county who might not have much of an opportunity to get out of Pittsfield, don\u2019t have access to equipment like a kayak or a race-worthy bike. We\u2019ve asked these organizations to identify any kids who might be interested in forming a team, and we\u2019ll help match them up with equipment,\u201d said Berkel. \u201cHoping to help bridge that access. We want to build a future participation base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the great things about The Josh is that you\u2019re outdoors, experiencing these back roads, the lake, Tanglewood, all these fantastic cultural and natural beauty locations. The sense of community, those who come out to support it, we want to broaden the spectrum of those who can participate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Berkel said the website JoshBillings.com is the best resource for anyone looking to participate in any capacity. His email is also a great starting point (Brian@JoshBillings.com). He says he\u2019s available to help direct you in any way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI knew it existed,\u201d said Berkel of the enthusiasm around the race. \u201cPeople are very passionate about it. Which is great, fantastic. It is great to have this great competition, but people should know that you don\u2019t have to be a world-class athlete by any stretch. This was meant to be a fun time. That\u2019s why we use that quote from Josh Billings, \u2018To finish is to win.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was me doing marathons, I was in it to finish. That\u2019s what we\u2019re trying to build here.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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