NEW BALANCE FALMOUTH ROAD RACE TO BE RUN "AT HOME" THIS YEAR
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2020 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - Used with permission.

(30-Apr) -- For the first time in its 47-year history, the New Balance Falmouth Road Race won't be held on the famous coastal, 7-mile course from Woods Hole to Falmouth Heights this August. Instead, race organizers are organizing an "at home" edition for what would have been the 48th running of one of America's most iconic road races, founded in 1973 at the beginning of the original running boom.

"With safety always the top priority, we see an 'At-Home' event as the ideal option for 2020," said Scott Ghelfi, president of the Falmouth Road Race, Inc., board of directors through a statement. "Although it's sad to think of a summer in Falmouth without the usual race spectacle along our shores, conducting an 'At-Home' event will not only give runners from everywhere the chance to experience the Falmouth spirit but also give Falmouth Road Race, Inc., a way to show support for the town, our medical community, and our Numbers for Nonprofits participants, who are raising funds that will be needed now more than ever."

Race organizers had little choice but to move to a "virtual" event.  The Falmouth Board of Selectmen just implemented a "no large event" policy through the end of August.  The race was originally scheduled for Sunday, August 16.

Registration for this year's at-home event will commence on May 18, and the first 5,000 runners to enter will guaranteed a spot in the 2021 edition of the event.  Under the at-home format, runners will have two weeks, from August 15 to August 29, to complete their 7-mile runs.

Not holding the race will be a big blow to the hotels, restaurants and other local business which regularly welcome the nearly 12,000 runners and their families who come to Cape Cod each summer to run the race.  To soften the blow, the race plans to purchase $25,000 in gift cards from local businesses which will be randomly distributed to race entrants.  The race also plans other charity activities.

"Running at home, together but apart, is the best way for all of us to show that we care about Falmouth --the town, its people, the race and its tradition-- in 2020," said Ghelfi.  Referring to the late race founder Tommy Leonard, Ghelfi continued: "Tommy Leonard wouldn't want it any other way."

Runners can still run on the Falmouth course this year in an organized event, however.  The low-key Falmouth in the Fall, which uses the same course, is scheduled for Sunday, November 1.


IMAGE: The 2020 Falmouth At Home logo