PRESS KIT: Story Ideas for Media re: 2014 TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race

Story Ideas for Media

Topics:

Race Beneficiary Changes Lives   Host Families Welcome World   Sports Medicine Symposium   iResultsLive Display Feature Expands for Runners  Race Director Dave McGillivray Turning 60 with Story to Tell  Race Expo Expands   Wedding Bells After the Race   Going for Gold with Greening Efforts   TD Bank Among Corporate Partners who Fuel the Race   Legendary Runner: Joan Benoit Samuelson   Elite Field Includes American Heavyweights   Showcase Event for Maine Runners   Windham Soldier Back from Afghanistan and Ready to Run   Volunteer Effort   Kids Fun Run on Friday Night   Past Beneficiaries Enjoy Gift that Keeps Giving   Town of Cape Elizabeth Rises to Occasion

 

Race Beneficiary – Rippleffect

This year’s beneficiary of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K is Rippleffect, a youth leadership development organization that uses adventure, exploration of Maine’s coast and an outcomes-based curriculum to give Maine youth an opportunity to build self-confidence, connect to their communities and the environment and physical skills that can last them a lifetime. 

Rippleffect (www.rippleffect.net) serves youths ages 8-18 of all social and economic backgrounds in Cumberland and York counties with a focus on the greater Portland area.

Founded in 1999 as an adventure kayaking program, Rippleffect was designed to give local youth the opportunity to experience Maine's beautiful coast without social or economic barriers. Initially, expeditions took place off East End Beach and Mackworth Island.  In 2001, with broad community support, Rippleffect purchased Cow Island.  Since that time, thousands of Maine children and families have enjoyed its programs – exploring Maine’s coast by kayak, learning self-confidence, acquiring a greater sense of community through adventure, and experiencing an environmentally sustainable lifestyle, organic garden and solar power of the island.

In 2009, Rippleffect began offering year-round programming. Rippleffect Outdoor Leadership Education (ROLE) is a six-week after-school program for high-risk middle school students and combines leadership development, environmental education and school engagement. Offering school-based programs allows Rippleffect to reach young people who may not otherwise participate in outdoor leadership opportunities.  This has grown into school vacations and treks into the White Mountains year round, increasing the impact on the schools and communities.

A Boy Named Garret
One specific example of Rippleffect’s success involved a 7^th-grader from Portland named Garrett. After becoming inspired by one of Rippleffect guides at his school, he signed up and participated in the organization’s five-week leadership developments program, which also included a three-day Cow Island expedition.

The experience proved transformational for Garrett, a quiet, contemplative boy who had been alienated at school and did not take part in sports or other extracurricular activities. As part of the Rippleffect program, he learned the fundamentals of outdoor survival and how to be part of a team. His confidence grew. For the first time, he spent the night away from home at camp on Cow Island, playing active games and spending time quietly with his friends in his new community.

The night of his graduation, his mother noted that she had never thought to sign him up for a “leadership” program, as he is not the type of child you would typically see at the front of the group.  But she and Garrett both learned that leadership comes from within, it is a strength that grows for the rest of your life.  

“One of the great strengths of our programs is that we bring together children from all backgrounds to create a community that reflects the one on the mainland,” said Anna Marie Klein Christie, Executive Director of Rippleffect.

“We have a unique opportunity giving young people shared experiences – it does not matter where you come from if you are tipped in a kayak for the first time, or are standing at the top of the zip line ready to take your first jump, or climbing to the top of our climbing tower, or simply exploring our beaches,” she added. “We believe that this kind of experience, teaching the kids to overcome their own challenges, is transformative for the children and has a Rippleffect into their communities once they have returned.”

For more information, contact Guide Scottie Leighton of Cumberland, Garret’s Rippleffect ROLE manager who has been coming to Rippleffect himself since he was 10. Scottie also is the manager for the organization’s summer programs. He can be reached on his cell at 207-310-8795 or at Scott@rippleffect.net.

Back Cove Training Run with Joanie July 28
There will be a Team Rippleffect training run with Joan Benoit Samuelson beginning at 5:30 on Monday July 28 at Back Cove in Portland. This event will feature Joanie running with the kids from Rippleffect who are running as a team in this year’s TD Beach to Beacon. The group will gather in the parking lot at Back Cove across from Hannaford and then run around Back Cove, making a great photo and/or feature on the beneficiary. Rippleffect staff and race officials will also be available for interviews.  

Multi-cultural Program Expands Borders
Rippleffect’s multi-cultural programs offer another potential human interest story. Three Portland high school schools students who are Iraqi immigrants (a boy named Salim from Deering HS and two girls, Haneen and Maryam, from Portland HS) will be on Cow Island later this summer, according to Klein Christie. They will be joined by Kian, an immigrant girl who has been participating in Rippleffect programs for several years. Kian said the Cow Island program has inspired her, taught her about her new home and provided her with a connection to her peers, Klein Christie said.

Pious Ali, Youth and Community Engagement Specialist for the Muskie School of Public Service, has been involved with Rippleffect over the years. He also has many stories to tell about opportunities for young people who have suffered devastating loss of family, home and community and have come to Maine to find a new life. These include kids from Sudan and the Congo, and many others who have come straight from refugee camps, facing the challenges of boats for the first time.

“Imagine growing up in a desert and taking the ferry for the first time,” Klein Christie said. “Then to arrive on this beautiful island where there are gardens, a climbing wall and a zip line, and then overcoming fear of the water in a kayak with friends. 

For more information, contact Pious Ali (who can find/serve as a translator as there are many parents who do not speak English). He is from Ghana and his phone number is 207-807-4283.

Media Contact: To do a story on Rippleffect, visit Cow Island or interview participants, contact Anna Marie Klein Christie, Executive Director of Rippleffect at anna@rippleffect.net or at 207-712-0508. Rippleffect can arrange transportation to Cow Island if doing a story.

 

Host Families Welcome World-class Athletes to Cape Elizabeth

Each year, families from Cape Elizabeth and surrounding areas open their homes and their arms to the top runners of the world. Elite athletes arriving from Kenya, Ethiopia, Japan, Romania, Russia, Great Britain and elsewhere around the globe stay with families in Maine. The race’s home stay program is one of the most popular and talked about in the community of world-class athletes. It’s a major reason why some athletes want to return year after year.

We can help arrange interviews with families or help media do a story on the program itself, which serves as a cultural exchange for the athletes and the host families as they swap recipes, customs and stories. More and more local families from the area get involved each year; however, there are some families who have participated for many years now. And those bonds between athlete and family are growing stronger and more connected.  We can supply names of families and their runners.

Two athletes who may make interesting features are Diane Nakuri-Johnson and Gemma Steel.

After competing for Burundi in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney as a 15-year-old, Diane fled the country a year later to escape the civil war. She was granted asylum and living in Canada before settling in the U.S., learning English and receiving a scholarship to Iowa St., where her athletic career continued to flourish and she received a degree in communications. The holder of every significant Burundian middle-distance record, Diane also competed for her native Burundi at the 2012 London Games. Diane, who will arrive in Maine a few days before the race, can be reached via Twitter @dnjbdi or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/diane.n.johnson.1?fref=ts.

Gemma has written and illustrated a children’s book inspired by her week in Maine at the 2013 TD Beach to Beacon. The book is called Spots vs. Stripes and it's a tale of six animals divided by appearance – spots versus stripes – but united in one dream to be crowned king of the jungle. The book was “born in the U.S.,” she said. “I was working on it at my host family’s house in Maine and even at the airport waiting for Larry (Barthlow, elite athlete coordinator).  I also was inspired staying on a farm between the two races – the TD Beach to Beacon and Falmouth," she said.

Gemma, who also is the illustrator of her twin sister Louise’s books, said art is “good for the spirit and a good distraction from running and I can let my imagination run wild.”  She and her sister both studied art. “Even though we both have followed different paths - she a journalist and myself an athlete - we have that telepathic link that I think all twins share when it comes to creativity.” Indeed. To see the books and illustrations, follow this link on Lulu.com.

For more information, contact Gemma at gemborunning@gmail.com or thru her agent at Dave.Scott@stellargroup.co.uk. She is expected to arrive in Maine on July 31, but  is available before that via e-mail.

Media Contact: Kathy Tarpo, Host Family Coordinator, can provide info about which athlete is staying with what family as well as when they come into town. Contact Kathy at kmtarpo@gmail.com or Larry Barthlow, the elite athlete coordinator, who can assist in reaching runners, at larry@worldeventnetwork.com,

 

Sports Medicine Symposium Appeals to All

The highly-skilled medical team for the TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race is conducting a Sports Medicine Symposium on Thursday, July 31, aimed at medical personnel as well as runners and anyone interested in fitness. The free symposium, which will take place at the Dana Center Auditorium at Maine Medical Center from 5 to 8 p.m., features expert speakers such as race director Dave McGillivray, covering a range of topics, including:

Dave McGillivray – “Heart to Heart” (5:30-6 p.m.)

• Dave McGillivray is a U.S.-based race director, philanthropist, author and athlete. Race director of the TD Beach to Beacon and the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, Dave and his team at DMSE, Inc. have organized numerous mass participatory fundraising endurance events since he founded it in 1981.

Kate Anagnostis ATC, LMT – “Massage Keeping You in Motion” (6-6:30 p.m.)

• Kate Anagnostis, ATC, LMT is the head athletic trainer at Mt Ararat HS and a licensed massage therapist who has traveled internationally as part of the massage team for the Athens Olympics.

Jeffrey Brown, MD – “Crisis Management in Race Medicine” (6:30-7 p.m.)

• Jeffrey Brown, MD is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Outside of his private practice, Dr. Brown is the psychologist for the Boston Marathon medical team and is on Runner’s World magazine’s scientific advisory board.

Michael Baumann, MD – “Preparation is Key - The B2B Medical Tent—What to Expect” (7-7:30 p.m.)

• Michael Baumann, MD is an attending physician at Maine Medical Center and is the Chief of Emergency Medicine. He has been a medical director of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K since 2009.

The event is free and open to medical volunteers as well as runners. To reserve a spot, contact Chris Troyanos at troyanos@comcast.net.  

 

iResultsLIVE Display Feature Expands for Runners

The live iResultsLIVE feature for runners that quietly debuted at last year’s race will be enhanced and expanded this year. In addition to the large iResults Screen, which has a built-in RFID reader that can read a bib number and display results simply by walking up to the system, a number of iResults iPads will be added to help runners look up results soon after crossing the finish line.

With the iResults iPads, runners can search either by bib number or by last name, and also view overall results and results for each age-group. The aim of the iPads is to eliminate the need for posting paper results. The system is wireless and waterproof and the iPads will be mounted in steel housings bolted to a table for security. In addition, runners will be able to utilize an iResults Clock, a custom-built digital race clock that is integrated into the iResultsLIVE system. Once a specific finish time is “sent” to the clock, runners will be able to take photos and pose next to their time – anticipated to be a popular feature.

For more information, visit the company website at www.iresultslive.com

Media Contact: Inventor and iResults owner Steve Dulahunty is available at steve.delahunty@gmail.com.

 

Race Director Dave McGillivray Not Slowed by Heart Issue

Dave McGillivray and his DMSE team make it look easy, but there are endless steps, countless details and innumerous obstacles in making the TD Beach to Beacon happen. In addition to the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, DMSE directs the New Balance Falmouth Road Race on Cape Cod and 30 other major race events throughout the U.S. and overseas.

This year, McGillivray will run the TD Beach to Beacon to be able to “critique” the race from a runner’s point of view vs. the motorcycle he usually rides. He has run several DMSE races this year, including Run for the Dream in Williamsburg, Va., the Bellin Run in Wisconsin and all three races at the Runner’s World Heartbreak Hiil event in June. He recently wrote a column on the topic in Runner’s World “Ask the Race Director.” The Boston Globe also recently published a list of his race director “pet peeves” about runners.

McGillivray’s athletic background is also extensive, as well as his work as a motivational speaker, author, and commitment to children’s fitness and charitable organizations. In 1978, McGillivray ran across the U.S. for charity and since DMSE was founded in 1981, McGillivray and DMSE events have raised more than $50 million for charity.

A feature on McGillivray or the DMSE effort during the week of the race could be a compelling story with strong visuals as the Route 77 start, race course and Fort Williams are transformed into a major international running event. Steps include the Start Line Painting the Sunday before the race, tent and fencing set up at the finish area next to the Portland Head lighthouse to signage along the course, plus press trucks, the Medical Tent, awards area, etc., not to mention the quick breakdown at the conclusion of the race.  

Also, last fall McGillivray learned he had coronary heart disease and since that time has spoken out about getting healthy and going in for heart tests, even if you think you are healthy and in shape. (He is a featured speaker at the Medical Symposium on the Thursday before the race.) McGillivray was recently profiled in the Boston Globe about his medical condition. http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/style/2014/03/20/dave-mcgillivray-marathon-transformed/Le74Cv04u34yBTdqLFJkyO/story.html

McGillivray has lost 27 pounds, dropped his cholesterol level by over 70 points and has been following a very, very strict and healthy diet, which he credits as having given him his health back and now feels he is in his best shape in 15 years. In fact, he is training for a return to Kona, Hawaii in October to participate in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship for the ninth time - but for the first time in 25 years.

Before that, in August, McGillivray will complete his annual birthday run – running his age in miles. This year is his milestone 60^th birthday, adding special meaning to the run.

Media contact: Beryl Wolfe, beryl@wolfenews.com or Dave McGillivray, DMSE Sports, dmse@dmsesports.com

 

Top-notch Expo Expands for 2014

Like almost all aspects of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K, the race’s Expo rates right up there for variety and the sheer number of vendors. There is something for everybody.

This year, 50 vendors, including various retailers, non-profits and race sponsors, will set up booths to offer helpful information, merchandise and giveaways. The exhibitors are:  Northeast Delta Dental, Cabot Cheese, Hannaford Bros., BonTon, Nike Factory Store, Mainely Tubs, Anthem National Running Center, Spandits, Oculus Eyewear, Scarborough Family Chiropractic, Coastal Wellness Chiropractic, Black Bear Medical/This Active Life, Bondi Band, Vitamin Sea, Fleet Feet Running, Cameron Clan Kettle Korn, Janji, TriSac, Mainely Chiropractic, Coldwell Banker, Handy Spandy, Green Circle Press, Bermuda Marathon, Thos. Moser, Maine Today Media, Oakhurst Dairy, Dead River, Coffee by Design, Poland Spring, TD Bank, Spectrum Medical, Fit Planet, Terra Cotta Pasta, AAA, Nike, Rippleffect, Falmouth Rotary, Cape Business Alliance, Community Cancer Center, Be the Match, Museum at Portland Headlight, Moose Pond Half Marathon, Maine Track Club, Moving Me Forward, 26.2 with Donna, Riverview Foundation, and Ocean Elements.

Expo hours run concurrently with registration, from 4-8 p.m. Thurs., July 31, and from 2:30-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1 in the gym at Cape Elizabeth High School. The Expo also houses the race shirts for registered runners who pick them up after checking in at registration, so media can easily find runners at the Expo.

The Expo is full, and space fills quickly, but businesses and non profits who did not secure a spot this year may try for 2015 by obtaining a vendor contract online in early April.

With the flurry of activity and interesting exhibits and giveaways, the Expo and registration are an ideal pre-race photo op.

MEDIA CONTACT: The coordinator of the Expo is Marji Adams, who can be reached at marji.a.adams@gmail.com or by calling (207) 671-4522.

 

Wedding Bells After the Race

Marigan Bishop will cap her first-ever TD Beach to Beacon 10K by heading to Lost Valley in Auburn, Maine after the race to get married. She and her husband-to-be, Casey Cribby, live in Biddeford with his 5-year-old son Royce. Marigan is originally from Presque Isle and Casey grew up in Westbrook. The couple, who will be married by Casey’s mother, met three years ago playing soccer and continue to lead active, athletic lives.  

“People who know me are not surprised I'm doing this,” said Marigan, who has run multiple 5Ks and tough mudder races.  “I have never done a 10K and have heard so much about this race, so I figured why not.  And what better story to tell then to say I ran a 10K the day of my wedding?  So that's why I decided to run.  My family is trying to convince me that perhaps it's not the best idea to run it the same day of my wedding but they will support me in the end.  I just hope I can get out of there in time and get back to Auburn to get ready for my wedding!”

A groomsman, Joe Shep, also is running the race that day, and Casey and Royce will be on hand to cheer her on.  Marigan will be easy to spot – she’ll be the runner wearing a t-shirt that says BRIDE across it.

Media Contact:  Marigan Bishop can be reached at marigan.bishop@gmail.com or 207-408-3802.

 

Going for Gold with Greening Efforts - New Collection Plan and Bike Corral Location

Thanks to its green corporate sponsor, Fairchild Semiconductor, and green consulting partner, Athletes for a Fit Planet, the TD Beach to Beacon 10K has a long history of commitment to the environment.

Two years ago, the TD Beach to Beacon earned Silver certification to the Council for Responsible Sports’ “ReSport” standard – a significant achievement. This year the race is  going for the gold! The standard covers environmental sustainability issues, such as waste diversion and the event’s carbon and water footprint, as well as social and economic sustainability issues, such as community involvement, support for non-profits and the inclusion of underserved communities.

For more information visit the green page on the race website at www.beach2beacon.org/green.

New for 2014, in addition to continuing all the 2013 sustainability practices, the TD Beach to Beacon has moved the a free and secure bike corral for runners from the start line to the finish area and is implementing a new and improved method to collect recyclables:

Improved Recycling Stations. For the past few years, the TD Beach to Beacon 10K has had a comprehensive program of recycling and composting in place. This includes the parties, the Kid’s Race and the 10K. The race has achieved an overall waste diversion rate of close to 70 percent in recent years. This goal for 2014 is 90 percent – and a new method of collecting recyclables on race day is going to help achieve that goal.

The race this year will take the responsibility of sorting recyclables and compost out of the hands of runners. At Fort Williams, four “stations” (tables arranged in squares) will be staffed by “Green Team” volunteers who will sort waste left on the tables by runners. Runners and spectators are asked to look for the flags marking the recycling stations, where they will leave cups, bottles, plates and food refuse, etc. on tables. The volunteers will sort returnable bottles, with proceeds going to Rippleffect; compost food waste; recycle paper and other materials; and make sure non recyclables like certain food wrappers, go into the trash. Athletes for a Fit Planet implemented a similar collection method at the Houston Marathon earlier this year and saw the waste diversion rate shoot up to 93 percent.

Bike Parking at the Fort Williams  The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is providing free and secure bicycle parking at Fort Williams with shuttle bus service for runners to the starting line. New for 2014, the corral is being located at the finish at Fort Williams rather than the start line area. The complimentary bike service will be located inside Fort Williams Park, near the shuttle bus area for runners. The re-location adds convenience for runners who choose to bike to the race as they no longer will need to ride a post-race shuttle bus back to the start to retrieve their bikes. Runners can drop off their bikes at Fort Williams starting at 6 a.m. and need to pick them up by 2 p.m. Bike parking helps cut down on road congestion and lightens the CO2 footprint of the race. Those interested in the service are asked to register at http://www.beach2beacon.org/bike-valet-program and for more information, email info@afitplanet.com.

Here are some of the other activities taking place:

• Give worn-out shoes a brand-new life. Instead of throwing old sneakers out, participants are encouraged to toss them into the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe bins at the Expo and at Nike’s booth at the finish. They are then recycled to be used in new places to play and train - like tracks, field, courts and playgrounds. Athletic shoes only, any brand OK, no damp or muddy shoes, no metal, cleats or dress shoes, no sandals or flip-flops. Visit www.nikereuseashoe.com  for more info.
• Rideshare to the race. Every mile driven produces about a pound of CO2. To help reduce the race’s carbon footprint, runners, family and spectators are encouraged to share a ride to the Expo and the race.
• Eco-friendly portable toilets. They use only recycled paper and non-toxic chemicals.Satellite parking. Race organizers are providing transportation to and from the race from satellite parking lots at the Hannaford corporate headquarters in Scarborough and SMTC in South Portland as well as from the Cape Elizabeth High School and Middle School lots.
• Non-toxic paint. Brite Stripe Ultra-Friendly, the turf industry’s only VOC-free paint and the only one to receive EPA approval, is used for the Start and Finish lines.
• Paperless registration. Runners register online only, and the majority of the race’s communications to runners are conducted via e-mail and through its website.

For more information about eco-initiatives, visit the Green Page at www.beach2beacon.org/green

MEDIA CONTACT: Contact Bruce Rayner, Chief Green Officer at Athletes for a Fit Planet – (508) 380-0868 bruce@afitplanet.com. Athletes for a Fit Planet is a leading provider of eco-services for athletic events in the U.S. and Canada. The company advises event organizers on cost-effective strategies, and products and services for reducing, recycling and composting waste, reducing and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, and minimizing the impact of the event on the local environment. Also available is Karl Moulton at Fairchild Semiconductor, karl.moulton@fairchildsemi.com (800) 341-0392.

 

TD Bank Leading the Corporate Partners who Fuel the Race

Without the help of title sponsor TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank^®, and the race’s other corporate partners, the TD Beach to Beacon 10K would not be the world-class event that it is. TD Bank former president and CEO Bill Ryan met with Olympic Gold Medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson 17 years ago to create this premier running event in her home state, beginning in 1998.

Corporate partners Nike, Hannaford, Poland Spring and MaineHealth jumped on board that first year and have supported the race ever since. Other long-time sponsors are Fairchild Semiconductor, IDEXX, Northeast Delta Dental and WCSH6. Dead River Company and Olympia Sports signed on in 2014.

“Just like the world-class runners we attract each year, our sponsors include some of the most recognizable and trusted names in Maine, the region and around the world,” said Race President Mike Stone.

He added, “It’s hard to describe just how grateful we are for the generous and vital support we receive from our sponsors, new and old. In addition to being a world-class road race, the TD Beach to Beacon 10K truly has grown into a celebration of health and fitness for the entire region. The stature of this race would not be maintained without the continued support we receive from all of our sponsors. We can’t thank them enough.”

The race beneficiary, Rippleffect, will receive a check for $30,000 from the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank^®. TD Bank has now donated $510,000 to Maine charities over the history of the race.

Larry Wold, President of TD Bank in Maine, will be among the 131 returning legacy or “streak runners” to run the race for the 17th time this year. Wold, 55, a Freeport, Maine resident, is an active member of the community and is involved in a number of fundraising events and causes. He joined the company in 1991. If interested in a story about someone who is a leader at TD Bank AND has run the race all 16 years, Wold would make a great feature story. Plus, he’s no slouch as a runner. His 2013 time of 43:37 placed him in the top 10 percent of all runners overall! (We can also arrange for a photo or interview while he does his practice runs at lunch around Back Cove, sometimes with Joanie).

MEDIA CONTACT: FMI, contact Beryl Wolfe at beryl@wolfenews.com or visit the race website at www.beach2beacon.org or the bank’s site at www.tdbank.com

 

Joan Benoit Samuelson

TD Beach to Beacon founder Joan Benoit Samuelson, 56, is a running icon who remains Maine’s most admired athlete. She is an inspiration and a role model for girls and women around the globe. Her quiet determination, on display for the entire world to see during her marathon victory at the 1984 Olympics, played a key role in making her dream of staging a major road race in Cape Elizabeth a reality.

Joan works tirelessly on the race that she started as evidenced by her race-day activities, which includes presiding at the start, personally greeting hundreds and hundreds of runners at the finish, posing for pictures and welcoming dignitaries, and quite often helping with the post-race cleanup.

She also continues to inspire on race courses around the country by competing at a high level still, setting numerous age-group records along the way. For example, in April, Joan completed the B.A.A. Boston Marathon in 2:52:10 to win her age division and finish 58^th overall among women – 31 years after her record-setting win  (2:22:43). But Joan’s legacy goes well beyond her records. She is a strong advocate for the environment, children and healthy choices.

MEDIA CONTACT: Wolfe PR has organized a “Media Morning at the Fort with Joanie” from 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, July 30, where media can schedule one-on-one, 15-minute interviews  with Joanie. Contact Beryl Wolfe at beryl@wolfenews.com (520) 399-5770 to schedule a time. 

Top Americans Take on World Elite

The TD Beach to Beach 10K Road Race continues to attract some of the top road racers from around the globe. This year will be no exception, but the field also will include the strongest field of American athletes in the history of the race – headlined by inspirational Boston Marathon champ Meb Keflezighi, Olympic medalist Shalane Flanagan and southern Maine native Ben True making a triumphant return to his home state.

See http://www.beach2beacon.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.details&ArticleId=103 for details about this year’s world-class field. PLEASE NOTE: Stanley Biwott has withdrawn from race due to injury and been replaced by Kenyan Stephen Kosgei Kibet, 27, who finished second (28:02) to Biwott at the 2012 TD Beach to Beacon.

MEDIA CONTACT: FMI on the elite field, contact Larry Barthlow, the elite athlete director, at larry@worldeventsnetwork.com.

TD Beach to Beacon Showcase Event for Maine Runners

The elite distance runners from around the world who come to Cape Elizabeth get much of the attention, but the growth and competitiveness of the race among Maine's top runners is also a worthwhile story. One thing has become clear over the years, Maine produces a number of runners who can compete on the national stage (see Ben True), and many have showcased their talents by winning the TD Beach to Beacon 10K to earn the title as the state road race champion.

On the men’s side, Louie Luchini of Ellsworth, the 2011 Maine champ (30:36), is returning this year and will share the “favorite” label with Will Geoghegan of Brunswick, a Dartmouth All-American who finished second last year (30:34). Jonny Wilson of Falmouth also is back, determined to improve on his third place (30:49) finish in 2013, which followed two consecutive runner up finishes. Defending champ Riley Masters is not in the race this year as he focuses on his budding professional career as a 1,500-meter specialist.

For the women, defending champ Erica Jesseman of Scarborough (34:17.6), who narrowly missed the course record, is expected to face stiff competition from Michelle Lilienthal, a professional runner from the Midwest who recently moved to Maine and now lives in Portland. Lillenthal got the best of Jesseman at the LL Bean 10K and has her sights on her first Maine Resident title. Other contenders include a pair of former Maine high school phenoms now running collegiately – Abbey Leonardi of Kennebunkport (Oregon) and Emily Durgin of Standish (UConn). Three-time champ Sheri Piers of Falmouth also will be in the hunt.

MEDIA CONTACT: Former race president David Weatherbie, dweatherbie@seafax.com, can provide valuable insights into the stature of the race among Maine runners, and can help locate top runners for interviews.

 

Windham Soldier Back from Afghanistan and Ready to Run

Adam Davis’ return to Maine on July 1 after his deployment in Afghanistan means he will be able to run the TD Beach to Beacon this year with his wife Katie, who ran for the first time in 2013.

Adam missed last year’s race while preparing for his deployment with the 133^rd Engineer Battalion. The Windham, Maine couple, who are both avid runners, are looking forward to running the TD Beach to Beacon together for the first time.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the course, atmosphere and the people involved with the B2B therefore it was important for me to do it again – this time with Adam,” Katie said. Look for the couple training on the roads of Windham this month.

Media Contact:  Katie Davis can be reached at kd82512@yahoo.com.

 

Volunteer Effort

The volunteer effort at the TD Beach to Beacon 10K is huge and is often taken for granted. It shouldn’t be. Coordinating more than 800 volunteers is a monumental task that requires patience, perseverance and a certain amount of guile. Volunteer Director Maya Cohen and her right hand, Angela Best, both of Cape Elizabeth, developed and each year execute a program that involves coordinators that oversee volunteers in more than a dozen different areas, from the Kids Fun Run and the Medical Tent to water stations, parking, security, course set up and breakdown, and directing traffic.

Media Contact: FMI, contact Maya Cohen at (207) 838-8816 or mmcohen@maine.rr.com.

 

Kids Fun Run on Friday Night Before the Race

The Kids Fun Run will again complement the TD Beach to Beacon the evening before the race. Open to children 12 and under, with different distances for different age groups, the event will be held in Fort Williams Park at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1. The races will be run in heats according to age. Refreshments and finishing prizes will be handed out after the races. Again this year, the race will donate 30 kids’ bibs to Opportunity Alliance for children who may have barriers to participating, such as lack of transportation, concern over cost, unfamiliarity with running and language. Partnering with Opportunity Alliance – last year’s beneficiary - allows the race to reach these families that would not otherwise participate. The race provides transportation and waives the fees, and Opportunity Alliance helps with registration, organization and arranges chaperones. For additional information on this program, contact Morgan Merrie Allen at Opportunity Alliance at merrie.allen@cppcmaine.org.

Media contact: Morgan Lake Adams at 207-329-7522 or mlakeadams@gmail.com.

 

Past Race Beneficiaries – A Gift that Keeps On Giving

Getting named the beneficiary of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K is a great help to Maine’s non-profit community – and it doesn’t end on race day. Each beneficiary receives a $30,000 donation from the TD Charitable Foundation in addition to the publicity and prestige that goes with the title. But this is a gift that keeps on giving.

A story idea might include talking with some past beneficiaries about how the race did and continues to benefit their non-profit organizations. A list of past beneficiaries can be found at http://www.wolfenews.com/releases/PRESS-KIT-Variety-of-materials-re-2014-TD-Beach-to-Beacon-10K-Road-Race/03340/.  

TD Bank has now donated $510,000 to Maine charities over the 17-year history of the TD Beach to Beacon, while many past beneficiaries continue to raise significant funds each year through the race’s charity bib program.

A survey conducted in 2012 found that past and present race beneficiaries had raised more than $300,000 over the previous two years (2011 & 2012) through their association with the race. All of the prior race beneficiaries are provided the opportunity to fundraise with 25 entries. The bibs are sometimes auctioned or awarded to individuals who reach a designated fundraising threshold on behalf of the specific organization.

“It’s extremely gratifying to see the positive impact this race is having on these organizations, some for more than a decade after they were named the race beneficiary,” said volunteer Race President Michael Stone. “This truly is a gift that keeps on giving as they are able to find ways to continue to raise money to help fund their programs that are so vital to the well being of Maine children and families.”

Media Contacts:  Erin Nadeau,The Opportunity Alliance (207) 523-5004; Sam Beal, Big Brothers Big Sisters (207) 773-5437; Peg Libby, Kids First Center (207) 761-2709; and Tory Dietel-Hopps, Riding to the Top (207) 892-2813 are ready and willing to talk about the race and its impact.

Town of Cape Elizabeth

The Town of Cape Elizabeth continues to come through for this event. Police, fire and municipal officials serve on the 60-plus-member Organizing Committee and are involved from the time they begin meeting in January to the day in early August when the field of 6,000 runners and thousands of spectators line the streets of this coastal town.

Media Contact: For more information about the town’s involvement, call Town Manager Mike McGovern at Cape Elizabeth Town Hall at 207-767-3323.

NOTE TO REPORTERS/EDITORS: For more information or assistance with any of the above items that do not contain contact info, please contact Beryl or Jason Wolfe at Wolfe PR – (520) 399-5770 or 5097, or by e-mail, beryl@wolfenews.com, jason@wolfenews.com. Also, bios, a Fact Sheet, past results, statistics, news releases, a course map and other race materials are available at www.wolfenews.com and on the race website. Thanks!

Here is more information about the TD Beach to Beacon 10K