Veterans Road Race offers changes in course for safety
Published on November 5th, 2008
STONEHAM, MA -This year’s annual Veterans Memorial Road Race will feature an altered course in order to accommodate safety concerns over the race route’s traditionally close proximity to an I-93 off.
According to Natale Webb, an Air Force veteran and director of the nation’s only 11 kilometer running event, organizers were forced to revise the path of the race after state officials refused to continue closing off the I-93 off-ramp nearby Elm Street in Medford.
Traditionally, the race started in front of Town Hall, traveled down Main Street to Pond Street, and then snaked around Spot Pond, with participants running down Elm Street and then hoping back onto Route 28 North towards Stoneham Center.
“There was a big safety issue with the egress on I-93. We talked to MassHighway and they said they will not close that ramp any longer,” explained Webb, who worked all summer to measure out and certify a new course.
“We finally got certified just this Oct. 2. It took that much time to get the logistics down right and get it measured,” the road race director continued.
This year, the Veteran’s Memorial Road Race will start at its traditional starting point in front of Town Hall and proceed as is custom down Main Street and onto Pond Street/Woodland Road.
However, runners will now run around Molyneaux Circle near the Flynn Rink and run back down Woodland Road/Pond Street before turning onto Summer Street. Participants will then turn onto Pleasant Street and merge onto Central Street, where the finish line is situated.
As with every year, the race will kick-off with the blast of a cannon at 11:11 a.m. next Tuesday morning.
In addition to the larger event, which will include runners participating as a team and jogging in military formation, there’s also a toddler trot at 10 a.m. for children aged three-to-five years old, a kid’s fun run for youngsters 12 and under, and a variety of exhibitions and raffles.
Most importantly, given the nature of the holiday itself, there will be ceremonies led by the town’s veterans’ organizations to commemorate the nation’s day of remembrance.
“We wouldn’t be here today unless we had veterans protecting our freedoms,” said Webb, who urged local citizens to attend the race. “So it’s good to take the day off and honor and remember those who served our country.”
“One of the biggest things is the education piece,” furthered Webb, who believes that the race helps children and youngsters understand the meaning of Veteran’s Day. “They’ll know that 11:11 means something and that’s significant.”
This year, the following restrictions will be placed on local roadways and municipal lots:
• Parking will be prohibited on both sides of Main Street from Franklin to South Street next Tuesday;
• The municipal lots adjacent to the Town Common will be closed from 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10 until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11;
• Central and Emerson Streets will be blocked off from 8 a.. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday;
• Common Street will be closed for 45 minutes on Tuesday between 9:45 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.;
• Pine Street, from Pleasant to Franklin, will close from 9:45 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
At 7:30 a.m. vendors and volunteers will host a Breakfast Coalition before open registration for the race begins at 8 a.m. The Veterans Day procession will then start at 10:45 a.m. A post race gathering with food and refreshments will be hosted at the Redmen on Franklin Street at 1 p.m.
According to Webb, although Veterans Day falls in the middle of the week this year, she is still hoping that at least 200 runners will participate main 11K road race.
Last year, over 400 people registered for the various events. Since its inception in 1999, participation in the program has climbed.
For more information about the 9th Annual Veterans Memorial Road Race, logon to www.we-remember.org.
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