A USA Track & Field sanctioned, wheel-measured 5K race last year drew in nearly 300 runners and brought about a victor who dominated the competition in finishing the race in 17:01 (good for a 5:29 mile per hour rate).

But despite the race's high level of competition, Walter's Run has also served to bring families and neighbors out to celebrate the season and the life of the man for whom the race is named.

"It's a holiday event for the area," said Walter's Run director Keith Shields. "It's on the calendar for West Roxbury every year, like a tradition."

"It's been my goal," he added. "…to make the race into a family friendly activity."

The race's 2010 edition will take place on Sunday at 11 a.m., starting and ending at the West Roxbury YMCA. Turnout for the event, according to Shields, looks to be quite high.

As of last Tuesday, more than 125 runners had already registered for the race. Given that the race, according to Shields, generally sees 50 percent of its runners register the morning of the race, this year's event looks like it may see its highest number of participants yet.

"At this point, registration is up higher than it ever has been before," Shields said.

But the race itself is only part of the event. Santa Claus and Christian the Clown will be on hand before and after the run, a Kids Race will take place at 10:40 a.m., and neighbors are encouraged to come out for the event even if they don't plan on running.

"We hope people will hang out after," he said.

The event, organized and run by the Parkway Running Club, has occurred annually in the neighborhood since 1994, but was originally called the Santa Scamper 5K. It was renamed Walter's Run in 2004 in honor of Walter Burgess, a devoted member of the club who served as Club Secretary and its Newsletter Editor. Burgess passed away suddenly in late 2003.

Burgess's memory lives on through the race, Shields said.

"He was the kind of guy who ran with a smile," he said. "He typified what a runner is. He's somebody who celebrated the sport."

In conjunction with the race, the club established the Walter Burgess Scholarship Fund. Proceeds from the race – registration costs $20 per runner – have been split between that fund, the Boston Globe's Globe Santa charity initiative, and the YMCA of Boston Reach Out Campaign. In 2009, the event raised a best ever $6,300.

According to Shields, the club has always been able to raise enough money from its sponsors to cover its costs.

"All money raised has always been able to go to the three charities," he said.

Last year's race saw Cambridge's Bernat Olle blow the competition away, beating the closest competition by more than a minute. The race honors the top three finishers amongst men and women in six different age groups.

But the race is secondary to the event at-large, which aims to cultivate holiday spirit in the neighborhood.

"It's more than a race," Shields said. "It's a holiday tradition for West Roxbury."