LIKE
Friday March 29, 2024


Click the logos
for news and info
about these companies

Non-Profits & Special Events








Products & Services










Banking & Finance




Construction &
Real Estate






Travel & Tourism








Public Affairs











Top Headlines

For Immediate Release
November 12, 2003

Contact:
Meg Dempsey, Peoples
(207) 828-7055
E-mail: jason@wolfenews.com

Jason Wolfe
(207) 883-6083

Web Site: http://www.beach2beacon.org

Peoples Beach to Beacon 2004 Date Set; Race Moved to Sunday, August 1

CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine - One of New England's marquee road races, the Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, will be held on Sunday, August 1 in 2004.

The new date breaks from the race's traditional first Saturday in August schedule, which has been in place since its inception in 1998. Race officials decided to make a change for next year as a result of a number of factors, including scheduling of other major road races and Maine Track Club events. The impact on local businesses, churches and residents also received thorough review.

The Cape Elizabeth Town Council, in a 7-0 vote on Monday, approved the new race date. Councilors commented on the success of the race and credited race organizers with their efforts to first reach out to church leaders and other groups to discuss concerns and issues about shifting the race to a Sunday morning.

In its relatively brief history, the Peoples Beach to Beacon has grown to become one of the most popular events on the road race circuit, drawing 5,000 runners from throughout the region and the world to the small coastal community in Maine.

"Changing to Sunday, August 1 makes the most sense on a number of different levels," said David Weatherbie, president of the Peoples Beach to Beacon race. "The change accommodates local and regional runners as well as the elite athletes who participate, and it has the support of local businesses and churches, whom we want to commend for their willingness to work with us."

Race officials considered a number of factors before settling on Sunday, Aug. 1 for 2004. One of the main reasons to change from Saturday, Aug. 7 was to avoid doubling up on a weekend with the 31-year-old Falmouth (Mass.) Road Race, which is held on the second Sunday in August and will take place on Sunday, Aug. 8 in 2004. Much of the Peoples Beach to Beacon elite field and hundreds of runners throughout the region compete in both races, traditionally on successive weekends.

But moving the Peoples Beach to Beacon back to the previous Saturday, July 31, would have conflicted with a number of smaller races in Maine, including the Peaks Island 5-miler.

And the Saturday before that, July 24, would have run the Peoples Beach to Beacon up against another major race for elite runners, the Bix 7 in Davenport, Iowa, as well as the Maine Track Club's Clam Festival 5-miler for local runners.

"Our goal was to come up with a date that would best accommodate the varied interests of local runners, our many volunteers from the Maine Track Club, regional runners and the elite runners." Weatherbie said. "Collectively these constituencies make our race special, and August 1 is least disruptive to the group as a whole."

For many elite runners, he added, the change to Sunday, Aug. 1 will preserve their regular schedule of competing in Bix, the Peoples Beach to Beacon and Falmouth on successive weeks.

Weatherbie, Race Director Dave McGillivray and Race Founder Joan Benoit Samuelson have spent the past two months working out the logistics of a date change. Among the chief concerns were the road closings and making sure parishioners were not hindered in getting to services on Sunday morning. There are three churches along the race route.

As a result, road closings will be revised and the race starting time may be moved up to 7:45 a.m., though those decisions will not be finalized until next spring, Weatherbie said.

"Our company is pleased that the race committee has put careful thought into this decision," said Meg Dempsey, director of public affairs at Peoples, the raceÕs lead sponsor. "We will continue to work closely with them and the town of Cape Elizabeth to ensure the continued success of this community event."

Each year, the race benefits a youth organization chosen by the race committee. Last year, the organization chosen was Seeds of Peace, and the year before it was the Kids First Center. The organization chosen for 2004, which will be announced by the bank in early January, will receive a $30,000 cash donation from Peoples and will further benefit from fundraising and publicity valued at more than $40,000.

The field for the 2004 race will again be limited to 5,000 runners. Online registration begins in mid-March and usually fills by late May or early June.

More than $50,000 in prize money is awarded to the top finishers and place winners in the various categories for men and women. The event also features a children's 1K race with 500 kids participating. More than 700 volunteers help make the race a premier event and spectators number in the thousands along the race route, which begins near the Crescent Beach entrance on Route 77 and ends at the Portland Head lighthouse at Fort Williams Park.

# # #





NOTE: Wolfe News Wire is an online source for news and information about noteworthy companies and organizations. We invite you to share this content and/or leave a comment. Background info and past news items from a specific organization can be found by clicking the side logos. For more info, please email info@wolfenews.com. Thank you!



Terms of Use and Privacy Policy




©2015 Wolfe Public Relations. All Rights Reserved.