A welcome change: New 10-mile course has locals singing

If it's getting a little crowded on High Street these days, there is a legitimate reason. About this time of year, the runner population in town seems to double.

It's difficult to walk a single block down Newburyport's busiest street — even one block — and not see someone running. That's because the 49th running of the Yankee Homecoming 10-Mile and 5K Road Races are slated for Tuesday; the 5K starts at 6:25 and the 10-mile at 6:35.

Always a staple of the New England summer road running circuit, the races — particularly the 10-mile — stir quite a buzz each year. In fact, Tuesday's race could draw its largest attendance, both in the race and along the course.

After 10 years, the 10-mile race is reverting back to its original course: starting in front of Newburyport High and ending on the 50-yard line of World War Memorial Stadium. The 1.5-mile stretch of Hale Street has been cut out.

"This course was the favored course for at least 15 years," said Jon Pearson, who is in his 28th year as race director. "Just that people were asking for it was the main criteria. It's been warmly received by everyone."

In 1998, the 10-mile course was adjusted to divert runners from the Storey Avenue shopping center due to traffic reasons. Tuesday's traffic will be briefly detoured to Low Street.

With the adjustment, runners were shifted down Turkey Hill Road and left on to Hale Street, across Low Street to Toppans Lane and finishing at the high school.

Hale Street was the race's version of the Boston Marathon's Heartbreak Hill. After running by thousands of cheering supporters offering water and hose showers, the last stretch of the race was Hale Street — 1.5 miles of hills, silence and desolation — undoubtedly the toughest part of the course.

"It was endless. It was the longest part of the race," said Nancy McCarthy, who estimates she has run the 10-mile race 20 times. "You would see a lot of people walking. It was the longest part of the course, really unpleasant. People are not going to miss it."

McCarthy, who is training 30 people for the race, isn't the only one praising the "new old" course. Seemingly everyone in the area running circles is singing about it.

"It's the last stretch where you're completely beat," said Chris Kealey, president of the Winner's Circle Running Club, who has run the 10-mile, admittedly, too many times to remember. "Now you're on Storey Avenue with all those people lining the course. That part is slightly downhill. You didn't have that with Hale Street. I think the times might be slightly faster, anywhere between 15-30 seconds faster," Kealey noted.

One other change, albeit small, with the 10-mile course is within the first 1.5 miles. After the start on High Street, the course turns left down Marlboro Street, where previously runners went left down Bromfield Street.

Pearson said the change has enabled the race to finish at the 50-yard line of the football field. It has also been met with unanimous approval.

"There are going to be a lot of people sitting in the stands at the football field," McCarthy said. "That will be a blast. It is definitely a better finish."

Largely because of the course changes, Pearson said that pre-registration for the 10-mile and 5K is up from any previous year. He still expects a large walk-up Tuesday.

"We always have 1,000 to 1,200 register on race day," Pearson said. "There will be people just getting out of work, making sure the weather is OK."

Another reason is that the 10-mile race is the fourth stage of the United States Track and Field Association (USTFA) New England Grand Prix. Alas, the race is guaranteed to showcase a renowned field.

Alene Reta, 25, of New York City, won the men's 10-mile last year in 50:49, a 5:05-mile pace. Claudia Camargo, 36, of Danbury, Conn., won the women's title in 58:50. In the 5K, Steve Plouffe, 22, of Methuen, successfully defended his 2006 title in 15:26. Jessica Flinn of Sandown, NH won the women's crown in 17:44.

The top local finishers last year in the 10-mile were Ryan Spinney of Newburyport (36th, 58:33) and Theresa Soracco of Newburyport (22nd in the women's division, 1:12.06). The top 5K locals were Newburyport's Chris Kealey (11th, 17:00) and Meghan Shanahan, also of Newburyport (second in the women's division, 18:23).

A plethora of awards will be dispersed for the top runners in a host of categories for both the 10-mile and 5K. The male and female winners of the 10-mile race will each receive $500 while the top open male and female in the 5K receive a pair of Etonic running shoes compliments of Rick Bayko's Yankee Runner. Additionally, the top male and female Newburyport residents, as well as the top male and female masters division winners from Newburyport, will be awarded Etonic running shoes.

Photos

Runners race down High Street at the start of the Yankee Homecoming 10-mile race. Staff photo