Race Date Set for 2003 Peoples Beach to Beach 10K Road Race in Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Peoples Heritage Bank has announced that the 2003 Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race will be held Saturday, August 2, along the picturesque shores of Maine's rocky coast in Cape Elizabeth.

The field size for the event, which was increased last year in celebration of the race's 5th anniversary, will remain at 5,000 runners. The race is expected to fill up by early summer. Registration will begin in mid-March.

Last summer, the popular race included elite athletes from all over the world and crowned a new champion in another exciting women's race as Adriana Fernandez of Mexico defeated four-time champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya. James Koskei of Kenya won the men's race, defeating Henrick Ramaala of South Africa in a dramatic sprint for the finish tape. Among Maine runners, Andy Spaulding of Freeport and Christine Snow-Reaser of Dayton each repeated as champions.

The beneficiary for the 2003 race is Seeds of Peace, a group that promotes tolerance and understanding among youth around the world. Peoples will provide a cash donation of $30,000 from race proceeds, and Seeds of Peace will further benefit from fundraising opportunities and publicity valued at more than $40,000.

The Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race was founded by Joan Benoit Samuelson, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist and two-time Boston Marathon champion from Maine. Samuelson serves as a spokesperson for the bank during the year to promote the race and the bank's "Peoples Promise" program, which benefits Maine youth with scholarships, sponsorship programs and charitable gifts.

"It's just been an outstanding effort on the part of the bank and the people of Maine to create this phenomenal event, and we're particularly pleased to help a youth organization each year," Samuelson said. "We anticipate that the 2003 race will be as exciting as all the others."

The Peoples Beach to Beacon has quickly become a "must" event on the schedules of many elite runners worldwide as well as top runners locally and across New England. Its race director since its inception, Dave McGillivray, also directs the Boston Marathon. For additional information, visit the race web site at www.beach2beacon.org or the bank's web site at www.peoplesheritage.com.

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