Marathon News - Road Mile To Debut Boston Marathon Weekend

Mar-16-2009

Road Mile To Debut Boston Marathon Weekend
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

It's only about 1/26th the distance, but a new road mile to be held in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood the day before America's oldest marathon could be just as exciting in its own right.

The first B.A.A. Invitational Mile will be held on Sunday, April 19, and incorporate both professional athletes, including Olympic bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan, and high school runners from the seven towns through which the Boston Marathon will pass the next day. The event will use a criterium course, finishing at the Boston Marathon finish line on Boyleston Street.

The pros will be competing for a $14,500 purse, including $3,000 for the winners.

"The B.A.A. Invitational Mile is another event we're excited to add to race weekend this year," said the B.A.A.'s executive director, Guy Morse. "It's a great opportunity to give the young athletes from our host cities and towns the chance to compete on the homestretch of the Boston Marathon course, and we're especially proud to carry on a B.A.A. tradition of hosting scholastic races. Add to that the professional miles and the B.A.A. 5K, and we expect a fun and successful day."

The invitational miles will follow a three-loop course, beginning on Boylston Street, left on Dartmouth Street, left on Newbury Street, left on Exeter Street then left onto Boylston. The invitational miles will follow the new B.A.A. 5-K which will start at 8:30 a.m.; the miles will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Nearly 22,000 runners finished the Boston Marathon in 2008 making it the third largest marathon in the United States after New York and Chicago.