‘CELEBRITY MILE' PART OF NEW RUNNER'S WORLD CLASSIC ROAD RACE DEBUTING IN ANDOVER, MASS. IN JULY

Event manager DMSE Sports organizing Boston celebrities and VIPs in sports, politics, and media for July 16 loop around Merrimack College campus

BOSTON — The Boston region’s newest summer road race, the Runner’s World Classic, will include an event that hasn’t been staged in more than 30 years – a Celebrity Mile, made up entirely of celebrities and VIPs in the sports, political and media world as well as other inspirational runners from in and around Boston.

As many as 25 local personalities – including Boston Police Commissioner Billy Evans, Boston Marathon survivor Jeff Bauman, former Patriots lineman Max Lane and Becca Pizzi of Belmont, recent winner of the World Marathon Challenge – are expected to take part in the Celebrity Mile on Saturday, July 16 during the weekend-long Runner’s World Classic that also features a Kids Run, 5K, 10K and Half Marathon.

Rodale Inc.’s Runner’s World and DMSE Sports, a well-known Boston-area sports event management firm founded and led by B.A.A. Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray, have partnered to develop the Runner’s World Classic on July 15-17 in Andover, Mass., a new event that celebrates running and all that goes with it.

In addition to the various running events (runner’s doing all three races – 5K, 10K and Half Marathon – will earn a special Hat Trick medal, and those who double up with the 5K and 10K receive The Five & Dime medal), the weekend highlights include a speaker’s series, a health and fitness expo and a post-race festival of food, drink and entertainment at the race headquarters on the campus of Merrimack College.  Numerous local charities will also be involved. Registration is open at www.RWClassic.com.

Each of the race courses start and finish at Merrimack College in North Andover and include tree-lined, shaded residential streets. The 10K also will take runners through historic downtown Andover, while half marathoners will run past the famous grounds of Andover Phillips Academy.

The Celebrity Mile will follow the Runner’s World Classic 10K on Saturday morning (approximately 11 a.m.). The VIP participants will run one loop around the campus. As many as 2,000 spectators are expected to be on hand for the event, McGillivray said.

McGillivray last staged a Celebrity Mile in 1984 in his hometown of Medford to promote the opening of his running store. Participants that day included former New England Patriots Ron Burton and Jim Nance, Derek Sanderson and Ken Hodge of the Boston Bruins, Olympian Tina Noyes, former Boston Celtics Henry Finkel and Steve Kuberski, and media personalities Paula Zahn, Bob Lobel, Robin Young,  Bob Gamere and Toni Reavis.

“We had a lot of fun putting this together back in the early 80s and decided a 32-year gap between Celebrity Miles was long enough, so why not, let’s bring it back as part of the inaugural Runner’s World Classic,” said Dave McGillivray, whose legendary running, fundraising and event management career spans 40 years. Virtually all of the local celebrities invited to participate are friends and acquaintances McGillivray has met or been inspired by along the way.

Participants entered as of May 7 include:

  • Billy Evans - Boston Police Commissioner

  • Adrianne Haslet - Boston Marathon survivor

  • Amby Burfoot - 1968 Boston Marathon champion

  • Steve Cooper - WHDH Channel 7 Assignment Reporter

  • Max Lane - Former New England Patriots lineman

  • Eric Fisher - Chief Meteorologist – WBZ Channel 4 News

  • John Young - Elite Little Person Paratriathlete / Marathoner

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

  • Bart Yasso - Runner’s World Chief Running Officer, the “Mayor of Running”

  • Jeremy Gibson - Merrimack College Athletic Director

  • Bill Burt - Lawrence Eagle Tribune sports reporter

  • Geoff Smith - Two-time Boston Marathon champion

  • Heather Abbott - Boston Marathon survivor

  • David Brown - Former Meteorologist at WCVB Channel 5, new Chief Advancement Officer, Massachusetts Association for the Blind

  • Jeff Bauman - Boston Marathon survivor

  • Dick Hoyt - Father of famed father and son Team Hoyt

  • Karen Smyers - Ironman Triathlon World Champion

  • Becca Pizzi - Recent winner of World Marathon Challenge – first American woman to complete feat, from Belmont, MA

McGillivray said he is still awaiting confirmations from a handful of other VIPs for the non-competitive event. Anyone interested can contact McGillivray at dmse@dmsesports.com. The celebrities are welcome to participate in any of the other competitive races in addition to the Celebrity Mile, he said.

“Excitement for this first annual Runner’s World Classic is really starting to build now," McGillivray said.  “Everyone seems to be talking about it, especially about doing the Hat Trick and earning five unique medals in just two days.  We are now accepting team entries, too.  Anyone can form a team with the idea being to make this an attractive social experience as well. Come run and then socialize with your friends.  And, we have a fun activity zone for the kids. Fun, family, friendly - runners are not going to want to miss this one.”

About DMSE Sports
DMSE Sports is a leader in sports event management, specializing in creating, marketing and producing mass participatory athletic events throughout the U.S. and abroad. In addition to the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, DMSE manages more than 25 major road races per year, including 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 Bellin Run in Green Bay, Wis., the Feaster Five Thanksgiving Day Road Race and the Across the Bay 10K in Annapolis, Maryland, among others. For more info, visit www.dmsesports.com.

About Runner’s World
Rodale Inc.’s Runner’s World, the largest and most influential media brand in the running space, is the essential guide for everyone who runs. The brand provides all runners—men and women, from beginners to hardcore marathoners—with the advice and information they need to pursue their goals, the inspiration and entertainment they crave, and a sense of authentic community they won’t find anywhere else. Runner’s World is everywhere its readers and customers are—in print, online, on-screen and on the ground. Through authentic events such as the award-winning Runner’s World Challenge, the award-winning Runner’s World Half & Festival (www.RWHalf.com), and the Runner’s World Heartbreak Hill Half & Festival (www.HHHalf.com), Runner’s World editors forge deep connections and have meaningful interactions with our readers as an organic part of the running community. Runner’s World publishes 18 international editions: Argentina, Australia/New Zealand, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States. For digital updates, visit www.runnersworld.com, Twitter (@runnersworld), Facebook (Runner’s World Magazine), Instagram (@runnersworldmag), and Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/runnersworld/).

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