Boston’s Run to Remember has a new date for 07!
The only race to tour Boston’s storied landmarks kicks off its 3rd year with a new calendar slot.

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By Christopher Russell
Posted Saturday, 6 January, 2007

New date – same great race
Boston’s premier destination half marathon and 5 miler – Boston’s Run to Remember - will move its celebration of Massachusetts heroes to Memorial Day Weekend this year.

Memorial Day weekend is a perfect time for Boston's Run To Remember. The warm and sunny weather will maximize the beauty and speed of this course while allowing organizers to integrate more elements of the Seaport district from harbor cruises, restaurants, concerts and more.

May is also National Law Enforcement Month as both nationally and locally fallen law enforcement officers are remembered for their sacrifice. Additionally, Memorial Day weekend is the official kick off to summer when funding for Kids At Risk Programs is most at need.

"Memorial Day weekend both functionally and symbolically is the perfect time for Boston’s Run To Remember. The spring weather will further enhance the beauty and speed of this amazing race course while May is a more appropriate time to honor our fallen heroes” said race director Tony Pallotta.

Leave the long-johns at home - it’s the same great race – without the chance of snow!

“I liked this course. Running along the Charles and through downtown Boston was certainly fun.”- frankgeo

Come to Boston!
Welcome to the Hub of running. Beautiful Boston is a jewel of a city decorating the coast of Massachusetts with a deep running history. The Run to Remember introduces you to Boston with a half marathon and a 5 miler that wind through the storied streets. The half marathon course also features a beautiful eight mile section along Memorial Drive. Make this a destination race for the spring. It will be a long weekend and the old town will be hopping.

“I had a great time at the race--really loved the course” - lise211

Boston is unique among American cities. Boston is an old city with lots of history, from the Pilgrims to the American Revolution. But Boston is not some stale old museum town. The annual migration of hundreds of thousands of college students sees to that. It is a vibrant happening place, especially in the spring time.

A characteristic of New England cities and New Englanders is the orgiastic way we celebrate the coming of spring. As I write this we have just turned back the clocks and won’t see the sun again until April. This Autumnal deprivation – 6 months of darkness and ice – makes us crazy when the sun returns. Memorial Day is our celebration of Spring and Summer. We dance in the streets like pagans worshipping the Sun God. It’s a great time to hold a race, there is so much going on.

Make this your spring time goal…
Half Marathons are gaining in popularity. The half marathon distance is a good step up for people leery of the full 26.2. Historically there haven’t been too many races on the calendar to fill the slot between 10k and 42k – that’s quite a leap for some folks. Moving the date to May will allow us to avoid training in the dismal depths of winter when you set this as your goal race. It is also a great race to set as a goal and help you get out this winter and shed those unwanted pounds from the holidays.

“WOW! What a fun day in Boston. My first Half and I blew away my personal training record by roughly 20 seconds less per mile!” - rickwjr

In the old March time slot people would use The Run to Remember as a warm up to a spring marathon – like the big one they run out in Hopkinton on Patriots Day. The new date has its advantages. If you have run a spring marathon, you can use that conditioning to smoke this flattish course for a PR. The nice weather and holiday weekend will make it much more comfortable to run.

The courses for Boston’s Run To Remember are absolutely beautiful and fast. The addition of warm spring weather will allow participants to see just how pretty Boston is from the flowers of the Public Garden to the inspirational view of downtown Boston along Memorial Drive. Let’s also not forget how fast this course has proven during the frigid winter months. Removing the tights and jackets and ice from the roads will make this course that much faster.

Run Boston!
One of the best things about Boston is that it is a walking city – and by association a running city. The geography is small and densely packed. You can see the whole city in an hour-and-a-half run. And that’s what the Run to remember offers! It’s a Duck Tour – without the Duck! All that’s missing a tour guide giving running commentary in that outrageous accent over a scratchy microphone. “…and on yooah riaght is the habahhh…”

"I did my first half today (third race). It was so great to be able to see the city from that perspective. I've never actually had the time to look at things since I'm usually zooming by everything in a car." – chicnfngas

If you haven’t participated in the Run To Remember yet you are in for a treat. This race runs through the best parts of Boston and is like a living, running postcard tour of Beantown.

It starts and ends at the Seaport World Trade Center. It runs through the city, right around the public gardens (Boston Common) and along Memorial Drive on the north side of the Charles River. Both the half marathon and the 5 miler truly are tours of Boston.

The course is extremely flat and with the warmer weather date should produce some fast times.

"I ran the Run To Remember yesterday also. It was a really well put together race. I ran in 1:54 which is my fastest half marathon thus far." – BlueCord

The Logistics
The Race is a 2-day event that starts on Saturday morning and runs through Sunday afternoon. The races themselves start around 8:15 Sunday morning. The event takes over the Seaport World Trade Center for the whole weekend. Everything is right there – within walking distance of downtown. There will be celebrity guest speakers, demonstrations, a Sports and Fitness Expo, children’s activities and live local bands jamming. Fun for the entire family is the name of the game.

The Seaport trade center is right on the harbor front. This is an excellent base camp to explore Boston. You can hang out and enjoy the music at the Expo or walk uptown. Faneuil Hall Marketplace is only about a half mile from there – with the New England Aquarium, harbor tours, the Old North Church and all that other stuff you’ll see in post cards of Boston.

"Fantastic course that encompassed many of the historic spots. On a day like this it has PR potential. Nicely organized." – kayman

You can also jump on the T – the underground – and get to anywhere in Boston fast and easy. Maybe take a ride out the Green Line to Prudential to see that other famous finish line, or cruise up to North Station for some pre-race pasta in the North End. Leave the car at home or park it somewhere because Boston is a city best experienced on foot.

There are a ton of hotels in the area and the race has some discounted rates for the weekend. Come and stay in the city. Enjoy the nightlife. Have a great time, come back with great stories to tell, and cap it all off on Sunday with a race.

Kudos to Tony and all the race organizers! I hope this becomes a permanent fixture in the Boston race scene for years to come. – tallie

If you stick around - Saturday the doors open on the Sports and Fitness Expo and packet pick up at the Trade Center. There are a good number of vendors and product demos for all those last minute Gu’s and ointments. Saturday will be salted with free seminars and they have a ‘Children’s Alley’ for the kids. As always the popular Harpoon Beer Garden will be featuring those yummy local micro-brews and local bands will be rocking.

Great weather, it was a kick running through Boston, Longfellow Bridge, right past my office building, Public Garden. Congrats everyone. – dmichaels

On Sunday the half marathon kicks off at 8:15 and the 5 mile starts at 8:30. The races are followed by awards, a free concert and more beer in the Harpoon beer garden.

Keeps getting better every year…
The race is in its 3rd year and is rapidly becoming a big event in the city. Last year – in the second running – 7,500 runner showed up; 5,000 ran the half and 2,500 ran the 5 mile. This is an amazing accomplishment considering the race is only in its 3rd year - and it’s only getting better.

Awesome race. Well planned, organized and executed – Imnotscott

Local phenom Dave Hinga won the half marathon with a nice, crisp 5:22 pace. Another Massachusetts native Sharon Tillotson, from Salem, led the females in the half with a 1:25:53 – 6:34 pace.

The 5 mile race was full of elites and they ran some fast times. George Kirwa won with a 4:38 pace! The female winner was Eunice Cepkurui with a 5:18 pace! These folks are fast.

I enjoyed the race… I will be back next yr. - Jay2

That’s the cream of the crop but there were plenty of mid-packers like you and I too. The participants were from all around the country and the world. 55% were women with 45% men. The age breakdown is below:

Many people treat this as a destination race and participation is broad based with runners from almost every state in the US. Participants also came from Canada and Mexico.

The Cause
The event is a memorial for officers who have fallen in the line of duty in Massachusetts. As you can imagine this garners plenty of support on the course on off from the City and the Law Enforcement agencies honored. You can sense the pride and commitment as you make your way along the course.

I agree. Great race. I too PR'd - Bean93

Net proceed benefit Kids at Risk programs in the City of Boston. This is a preventative program that targets kids who are at risk before they get in trouble. This is done by funding camps and other youth programs that focus on kids at risk. Over $125,000 has been raised the past two years.

Finish line…
Treat yourself to the Boston’s Run to Remember this year. It’s a great event in a super city. With the new date it will be even better! Come on down and join us all in Boston on Memorial Day weekend.

Related info:
Event Website

Event Registration

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