There are several possible reasons why Dyngus Day dashers join a 5K of the same name every year: They’re proud of their Polish heritage, are serious runners or just want to have lots of fun.
Whatever it is, all of this is happening April 11 during the sixth annual Dyngus Dash 5K walk/run at the North Park Boathouse.
“Some participants are Polish and come to celebrate our culture with The Chardon Polka Band, pierogis and camaraderie among other Polish racers,” said Mary L. Ellena-Wygonik, co-president of the Kosicuszko Foundation Pittsburgh Chapter, which sponsors the race.
Enthusiastic runners love the 5K, which uses an official timekeeper and a verified race route, she said.
“We also have a cadre of race supporters who just hang out, enjoying the music, the mascots and each other,” said Ellena-Wygonik of Richland.
Registration costs $45, and all proceeds of the race go to support programs and scholarship funds of The Kosciuszko Foundation, Pittsburgh Chapter.
The Kosciuszko Foundation organizes cultural events to promote local Polish culture and traditions.
Last year’s race raised about $4,000 for the nonprofit, according to Michele Mrozek, a race organizer.
Whether racing or cheering on the runners, there is much to offer at the Dyngus Day Dash, including returning favorite The Chardon Polka Band from Cleveland.
The “really fun, quirky” modern polka band has been part of the race from year one, according to Mrozek, who grew up in Aliquippa where her Polish grandparents first settled.
Also returning are local mascots Pierogi Pete, Evie Eagle and Riverhounds AMO.
New this year, a stretching practitioner and a chiropractor, along with other health and wellness professionals, will be on-site to share some healthy tips and information, according to race organizers.
Race finishers will be treated to pierogies from Pierogies Plus in McKees Rocks, which prepares the beloved staple “in the Polish tradition by Eastern Europeans,” according to pierogiesplus.com.
Coffee and food trucks will have items for purchase.
In true Pittsburgh-Polish spirit, every runner who crosses the finish line will get a Dyngus Dash towel based on the Steelers’ terrible towel, said Mrozek, who now lives in Arlington, Va., but travels back for the race.
A specially designed T-shirt by the group’s “loyal and dedicated” Pittsburgh long-time artist Kristen Barczynski, a long-time Pittsburgh artist, is guaranteed for those registering by March 28, according to Mrozek.
The shirt will then be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
And for anyone planning to wear their “You bet your pierogi I’m Polish,” T-shirt, don’t worry. Ellena-Wygonik has seen it all, including some folks who run in full Polish folk costume garb.
Dyngus Day dates back to a Polish tradition, where men would gently toss water on the women or tap them with a pussywillow as a way to show affection, Mrozek said.
While this traditionally occurred on the first Monday after Easter, women would get to return the favor the next day by throwing dishes at the men, as noted on dyngusday.com.
Like Dyngus Day, there are many reasons to celebrate the culture, as Poland has come a long way since World War II, Ellena-Wygonik said.
She referenced the work of Lech Walesa, the former Polish president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who co-founded the Solidarity trade union.
Poland “has broken the chains of Communism to become one of the most successful economies in the European Union. Poland has helped and is continuing to help its brothers in Ukraine. The government and the citizens are determined to keep the memory of the horror of the Holocaust alive lest history repeat itself,” Ellena-Wygonik said.
The country is now a “politically, economically and culturally significant part of the EU and of the 21st-century world order.”
“Many Americans share Polish roots; understanding their history and significance is essential for contemporary U.S. citizens to more fully comprehend events in a complex world,” she said.
For questions about the race, email Mrozek at mmrozek@frpark.com. For details about The Kosciuszko Foundation, visit thekf.org.
To register for the race, visit dyngusdash.com.
