Fast-filling Boston’s Run to Remember Awarding Commemorative Medals to All Finishers of 2016 Race

Created to honor fallen police and first responders, the popular May 29 road race runs through historic downtown Boston

BOSTON (March 30, 2016) – Every finisher of the 2016 Boston’s Run to Remember will receive a two-piece commemorative medal this year that runners will personalize to honor either the Police, Fire or First Responders, race officials announced Wednesday.

The May 29 Boston’s Run to Remember, the only half marathon race through historic downtown Boston to honor those who lost their lives protecting and serving others, already has 7,195 registered runners and organizers are encouraging runners to register now at their newly revamped website bostonsruntoremember.com.

As an added bonus this year, every finisher of the event’s half marathon and 5-miles races will receive a commemorative medal with a special inner Challenge Coin.

“Our 2016 finisher medal has two parts - there is the medal itself with a recessed area with a magnet. As a runner, you'll have a choice of one of the three Challenge Coins to place into the medal, honoring either police, fire or first responders,” Race Director Steve Balfour said.

“This collector’s coin is backed with an image of indelible Boston landmarks, which add to its historic relevance. It’s a fitting way to honor what Boston’s Run to Remember is all about.”

Last month, Boston’s Run to Remember organizers announced the creation of the First Responder Challenge, where teams with a minimum of five runners from any first responder department in the U.S. compete in the half marathon for a chance to win bragging rights and be one of the three fastest departments to split a cash prize of $10,000 for the charity of their choice. The challenge in the past had been limited to police departments only.

Any first responder department entering the challenge can have a team – regardless of skill level – as long as they have five or more runners. Departments can field multiple teams if they choose. All runners that are a part of the First Responder Challenge must be sworn, active officers, firefighters or service personnel at the time of the race. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams in the half marathon. For more info on the challenge, please contact Brigit at BostonRuntoRemember@gmail.com

The event’s half marathon and 5-mile races, set for Sunday, May 29, start at the Seaport World Trade Center in downtown Boston. The event’s expo on May 28 is also a popular event.

This is the 12th year for the annual charity event, created as a tribute to Massachusetts law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Boston’s Run to Remember is produced by a handful of police officers, detectives and their supporters who volunteer their time to create, organize and manage the race. Proceeds benefit the community and children’s programs of the police department running club.

Race organizers are planning for a field size of approximately 10,000. Last year, 9,438 runners crossed the finish line in the two races.

Both races feature scenic loop courses that start at the Seaport World Trade Center and wind through historic downtown Boston, with the half marathon crossing over the Charles River along Memorial Drive in Cambridge before looping back.

For additional information, find the race on Facebook or Twitter and visit the website at www.bostonsruntoremember.com. For those who cannot run this year but want to take part, donations may be made to Boston’s Run to Remember and sent to P.O. Box 760670, Melrose, MA 02176. 

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