“CELEBRITY MILE” TO HEADLINE 2017 DMSE SPORTS CLASSIC HALF MARATHON, 10K, 5K EVENTS ON JULY 22-23

ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE

National, Local Celebrities to Participate at DMSE Sports Classic Weekend

What do a NASA astronaut, a Boston Police Commissioner, a singing State Trooper, a 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Gold Medal winning ice hockey player, and a champion long-distance swimmer have in common?

The Answer – they’re all scheduled to participate in the 2017 “Celebrity Mile,” as part of this year’s DMSE Sports Classic, a weekend full of races for every level of runner, to be held at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA on July 22-23, 2017. The events include a Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K races or, for some, the “Hat Trick” of running all three. The DMSE Sports Classic is family and kid-friendly, as there are special Kids’ fun races included in the festivities on July 22.

Runners can visit www.dmseclassic.com to register for any of the races and the public is welcome to come out and enjoy the festivities at the annual “Celebrity Mile,” which is sure to be entertaining for runners and spectators alike.

The list of national and local celebrities for the July 22nd “Celebrity Mile” race is nearly finalized and it includes American astronaut Sunita Williams (NASA), Boston Police Commissioner Billy Evans, Massachusetts State Trooper Dan Clark (aka “The Singing Trooper), 1980 USA Hockey Olympic Gold Medalist David Silk, and Diana Nyad, the famed long-distance swimmer who holds the record for swimming from Cuba to Florida.

In addition and as previously announced, the inspirational story of Boston Marathon bombing survivor JeffBauman and the continued support of Bauman and other survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing by the Greater Boston running community is among the many human interest stories surrounding the DMSE Sports Classic weekend, which includes the second running of the “Celebrity Mile” on July 22, 2017. All will be joined by a long list of other celebrities from the media, sports, running, and the New England business communities.

Last summer, Dave McGillivray brought back the “Celebrity Mile” after a 32-year absence from running events in the Greater Boston area. This year’s edition promises to continue the new tradition with a turnout of many friends and acquaintances of McGillivray from his years of staging (and running) hundreds of events in the Boston region. A complete list of the celebrities scheduled to participate is included at the bottom of the release. The celebrity race is scheduled for July 22 at 11 a.m.

Participants will be able to mingle with the celebrities including Max Lane, former New England Patriots offensive lineman; Karen Smyers, Ironman Triathlon world champion; Becca Pizzi, World Marathon Challenge champion; and Carlos Arredondo, the Boston Marathon bombing responder who helped save victims that day and helped inspire Bostonians in the aftermath of the attack.

The “Celebrity Mile” field will also feature its share of running industry legends, such as 1968 Boston Marathon winner, Amby Burfoot, who will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of his feat next April, and he will be joined by Jack Fultz, the Boston Marathon champ of 1976. Participants will run alongside the likes of Bart Yasso, the Chief Running Officer of Runner’s World Magazine and a huge supporter the Boston Marathon and all New England running events.

“The ‘Celebrity Mile’ was the highlight of the 2016 Classic and this year’s edition is scheduled to have even more national and local celebrities,” stated McGillivray. “The Classic is fast approaching and we’re proud to be staging a stellar weekend full of events – there’s truly something for everyone.”

The weekend-long DMSE Sports Classic is open to runners of all levels with entries possible in each or all of the various running events, including the Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K races, or a runner can earn the “Hat Trick” medal with completion of all three. Other runners choose to do the “Five and Dime” and can earn a medal for running the 5K and 10K races. The kids’ fun runs are on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

Registration is open. Runners can visit www.dmseclassic.com or click on the link provided for direct connection to registration HERE.

About DMSE Sports

Founded by Dave McGillivray in 1981, DMSE is a well-recognized leader in sports event management, specializing in creating, marketing, and producing mass participatory athletic events throughout the United States and abroad. DMSE works with the B.A.A. operations team in overseeing the logistics and technical operations of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, and also manages the TD Beach to Beacon in Maine; the New Balance Falmouth Road Race on Cape Cod; the Finish at the 50 at Patriot Place; the Feaster Five; the Bellin Run in Green Bay, Wisconsin, among others. For additional information on McGillivray and DMSE Sports, please visit DMSESports.com or the pages on Facebook and Twitter.

CELEBRITY MILE ENTRANTS

NAME                                                AFFILIATION

  • Billy Evans Boston Police Commissioner

  • Adrianne Haslet Boston Marathon Survivor

  • Tom Grilk B.A.A. Executive Director

  • Steve Cooper Ch. 7 News Reporter

  • Max Lane Former New England Patriots Offensive Lineman

  • Eric Fisher Ch. 4 Chief Meteorologist

  • Lisa Hughes Ch. 4 News Anchor

  • John Young Elite Little Person Paratriathlete/Marathoner

  • Dan Koh Boston Mayor’s Office – Chief of Staff

  • Bart Yasso Runner’s World Chief Running Officer

  • Jeremy Gibson Merrimack College Athletic Director

  • Erin Hamlen Merrimack College’s Women’s Hockey Head Coach

  • Mark Dennehy Merrimack College Men’s Hockey Head Coach

  • Bill Burt Lawrence Eagle Tribune Sports Reporter

  • David Brown Former Meteorologist Ch. 5 – Chief Advancement Officer Massachusetts Association for the Blind

  • Jeff Bauman Boston Marathon Survivor

  • Dick Hoyt Father of Team Hoyt

  • Karen Smyers Ironman Triathlon World Champion

  • Becca Pizzi World Marathon Challenge Champion

  • Steve Buckley Boston Herald Sports Columnist

  • Dan Clark Massachusetts State Trooper – The Singing Trooper

  • Bill Richard Martin Richard Charitable Foundation

  • Hank Morse WROR – Radio Personality – Loren and Wally Show

  • Brian Bell WROR – Producer – Loren and Wally Show

  • Jamie Staton Ch. 9 Sports Anchor/Director (Manchester NH)

  • Jack Fultz 1976 Boston Marathon Winner

  • Scott & Jack Middlemiss Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation

  • Sunita Williams American Astronaut

  • Coach Bill Squires Coach to Greater Boston Track Club and numerous Olympians

  • Shira Springer WBUR/NPR Reporter

  • Bob Sweeney Executive Director Boston Bruins Foundation

  • Charlie Helfrich New Hampshire Special Olympics Silver Medalist

  • Amby Burfoot Runner’s World Writer at Large & 1968 Boston Marathon Winner

  • Erin O’Malley Mix 104.1 Host

  • Sue Brady Mix 104.1 Host

  • David Silk Member of 1980 U.S.A. Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team

  • Diana Nyad Champion Long Distance Swimmer

  • Carlos Arredondo Boston Marathon bombing responder